Table of Contents
Croton is a small shrub used as a landscape plant in tropical climates. In its native habitat, croton is a branching, bushy shrub that grows up to 10 feet tall but those offered as houseplants are usually much smaller than the wild plant. The large, thick, leathery leaves are 2 to 12 inches long and quite variable.
How tall and wide do crotons grow?
Crotons as Shrubs Different varieties grow different sizes, but you can find types that grow from 4 to 10 feet tall and wide. Most are relatively slow growers as landscape shrubs and take well to pruning. Once established, crotons are relatively drought tolerant, so they are easy to care for.
Are crotons fast growing?
Growth Rate of Croton The croton grows relatively slowly, gaining less than 12 inches of height per growing season. The plant has coarse, dense leaves and usually grows to a height between 3 and 8 feet with a spread of 3 to 6 feet, giving it an upright, oval appearance.
How big can a croton plant get indoors?
This is a relatively low maintenance plant, and should not require much pruning, except when necessary, such as to remove dieback. These plants will grow to be about 6 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 5 feet.
Do croton plants like full sun?
Crotons need plenty of water. For the best color development crotons should receive good light but have some protection from full midday sun. Their color burns out in full sun and hardly develops at all in shade, Bender says. Even crotons bred for indoor use need as much light as they can get to hold their color well.
How big do croton Petras get?
Great for container, or can be used as an indoor plant, or mass plantings. Best in partial shade to full sun. When planted outdoors, may require more watering to maintain growth. Can grow up to 6ft tall.
What is the lifespan of a croton plant?
The average lifespan of indoor croton is two to four years. To keep your plant outliving its lifespan, take stem cuttings from a mature, healthy plant to propagate the plant.
Do crotons need a lot of light?
Croton plants develop their best colors when grown in bright light. As houseplants, they must be situated in a sunny window. They will tolerate medium light indoors, but won’t grow much and foliage may revert to plain green.
Are croton good house plants?
Croton Indoor Plant The croton plant is often grown outdoors in tropical climates, but also makes excellent houseplants. Crotons come in a wide variety of leaf shapes and colors. Some varieties of croton need high light, while others need medium or low light.
Is croton an air purifier?
Care, repotting, watering and exposure, are where you must focus your attention to make your croton even nicer. It makes our houses and apartments look lively with its elevated ornamental impact and unique foliage. And it also boasts a powerful air purifying capacity and effectively cleanses the air of formaldehyde.
How often should I water croton?
Watering a Croton plant depends on the situation. It can be daily or weekly because you should never let the soil stay dry for an extended period. However, check if the soil is dry before watering to avoid overwatering and root rot. Keep your Croton plant evenly moist in the summer.
Is croton an outdoor plant?
Crotons (Codaeum variegatum), also called garden crotons or variegated crotons, are perennial evergreen shrubs that do best outdoors in planting zones 9-11, but are also popular additions to indoor landscaping in greenhouses or as house plants.
Do crotons lose their leaves in winter?
Crotons are sensitive to cold temperatures which can be a common cause of dropping leaves in the Winter months even indoors. If the soil and air is too dry then the croton drops its leaves to prevent losing more moisture through transpiration (water loss from the leaves) as a survival strategy.
Are crotons invasive?
Crotons prefer a humid environment, so weekly applications of water, especially when conditions are unusually hot and dry, keep them happy and healthy. Because their root systems aren’t invasive, feel free to plant them around foundations and close to your house.
Should I mist my croton plant?
The soil in which the croton is planted should remain moist but not constantly wet during spring and summer when the plant is growing. Feel the soil and if it is dry to the touch, it may be time for watering. In a dry environment, the croton may require misting to maintain healthy leaf growth.
Do crotons survive the winter?
Croton is very frost tender and will not survive freezing temperatures. Southern gardeners in frost free zones should have no problem growing croton plants outside. Anyone who lives where there are temperatures that near freezing or 32 degrees F. Also, place the plant where it will not experience cold northern winds.
Do crotons flower?
Crotons are generally bushy plants with large, leathery, shiny leaves. They do bloom, but their tiny, star-shaped yellow flowers are insignificant, hanging down in long clusters between the large leaves. Crotons are native to southern Asia and certain Pacific islands, where they grow as semi-tropical plants.
Which crotons do best in shade?
Shade Favoring Crotons *Eburneum along with her 2 ‘sisters’: yellow/green Tamara and the white Lucia. **Petra & yellow Petra while they CAN take lots of sun, leaf definition is more pronounced when shade-grown.
