How to Care for Crotons

Crotons (Codiaeum variegatum) are tropical plants that can be found in many gardens around the world. They are popular because of their colorful leaves, which can be green, yellow, orange, red, or pink. Crotons need a lot of sunlight and water to stay healthy, and they can be propagated by division or stem cuttings.

In this blog post, we will discuss how to care for crotons so that you can enjoy their beautiful foliage for years to come!

How To Care For Crotons

Croton plants are native to tropical climates, which means they thrive in humid areas. The humidity levels in Central Florida rarely drop below 50%, making it an ideal location to grow and nurture these stunning plants.

Be sure to follow these tips for the best results:

Keep Them Moist

In order to keep your croton nice and moist, make sure to mist its leaves with a spray bottle regularly. Some owners opt to keep a humidifier in the same room as the plant for easier croton plant care.

A pebble tray is also a good solution to keep your croton happy. You can make one yourself by simply placing the plant on top of a shallow tray filled with small rocks/pebbles and some water. As that water evaporates, it will moisten your croton without oversaturating the roots. 

Give Them Good Sunlight

The next most important thing to consider as part of your croton plant care is sunlight. As you may already know, certain species of plants require shaded areas away from harsh sunlight in order to survive, while others actually thrive in the sun’s rays.

The croton plant just so happens to fall under the latter category. When placed in an area of your home that receives plenty of natural sunlight, your croton plant will erupt in beautiful shades of reds, yellows, and oranges

A croton can still grow to be full and healthy in an area that does not get as much sunlight, but you will notice that its foliage will emerge mostly green instead.  

Use Fertilizer

Experts recommend fertilizing your croton at key points in the year for best results. You might be tempted to fertilize the plant several times, especially when its growth seems to be dwindling, but you should really only feed your croton once in early spring, and twice in the summer (once early on in the season and then again halfway through).

Let Them Adjust To Their Environment

While crotons are fairly easy plants to grow and care for, there may be an adjustment period when you first bring your new leafed friend home. Don’t worry if you notice that some leaves have fallen within the first week. Moving these plants can sometimes cause some temporary stress, but once they are settled in they will usually continue to grow and adapt as long as they are given the proper croton plant care.

We Are Here to Help!

Still have some lingering questions or concerns regarding croton plant care? Our professionals at Sod Depot are here to help!

Let us guide you through the process of finding the right croton plant to take home with you and further inform you on all you need to know to help your croton live a long and healthy life.