Croton Plant Care

The croton plant has the reputation of being a tough houseplant and comes in varied colors such as red, pink, yellow, rust, orange and sometimes even purple; just like a rainbow! Before being used as a houseplant, the croton was popular for tropical gardening and was also used for decorating colorful arrangements. Its leaves were used to add color and decorate hotels' interiors.

The croton plant is basically a small shrub that can reach to a height of about 5-6 feet and the roots are the most sensitive part of the plant. There are about 750 species of the plant in the world and it is best suited to be grown in greenhouses or sun rooms. The leaves of this plant vary in their shape and size depending on the specific variety of the plant. Some leaves are wide, while some are narrower, and some bear leaves like oak leaves. Here are some aspects that should be taken care of, in a croton plant care.

How To Care For Croton Plant?

Moderate to high intensity sunlight is what a croton plant requires. So, place the plant within 3-5 feet of an east or west-facing window. This would provide the right amount of light the plant requires for its survival. Take care that the plant is not exposed to heat during mid-day. If the plant does not receive the amount of sunlight that it is supposed to, it loses its leaf color. So it is also important to keep an eye on the leaves in a croton plant care. During winters, keeping the light levels up helps the plant in producing better colors.

Heavy watering and high humidity environment favors the growth of a croton plant. However, heavy watering does not mean over-watering the plant. Moist and well-drained soil keeps the plant in good shape and so does watering with lukewarm water. If the plant does not get enough water, then its leaves would fall and start to slope downwards. If the tips of the leaves start taking a brown color, this indicates poor water supply to the plant. Over-watering of the plant is indicated by wilting. During winters, the croton plant would come to a halt in its growing process and so less water will be required.

Misting the plant once or twice a week also proves beneficial for croton plant care. However, if you live in an area with high-humidity levels, then you can mist the plant less often. A croton plant prefers growing in temperatures of about 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit. Fluctuations in the temperature is considered to be a problematic factor for the plant. If the temperature is too hot or too cold, it can be a reason for the leaves to fall off from the plant.

As with any house plants, croton plant also needs to be fed regularly, but during its growing season and less during the winters. Any good quality houseplant fertilizer may be administered every three weeks to make for the plant's feeding requirements.

Before bringing home a croton plant, it is wise to consider that the plant is toxic for many animals and even for humans. Having kids and pets at home raise concerns about a consistent and regular croton plant care. The plant when punctures, releases a whit sap that can leave stain on clothes or even irritate the skin. However, patience and diligent care of the plant helps prevent these small inconveniences, and helps the plant to add natural beauty to any décor!