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How to Care for Croton Place croton in a sunny location such as an eastern, southern, or western window. Keep the soil evenly moist, but let it dry out between waterings. If humidity is low in your home, mist around the leaves with water once a week or keep a tray of wet gravel near the plant.
How do you care for an indoor Croton?
Crotons appreciate a generous amount of humidity. You can boost the humidity by misting the leaves, placing a humidifier nearby, or adding a pebble tray. This plant prefers temperatures between 60-70 degrees. Keep your Croton Petra away from drafts and cold areas like a windowpane in the winter.
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.
Does Croton need direct sunlight?
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.
How do I keep my Croton happy?
As with most indoor plants, Crotons love moisture in the air — the the wetter, the better. The goal should be a 60% humidity level throughout the year. You can place your plants atop a tray filled with water and pebbles or use a humidifier. Misting their leaves is a temporary help, but usually doesn’t suffice.
Are crotons easy to care for?
The croton is an easy-to-grow houseplant known for its variegated foliage covered in green, scarlet, orange, and yellow splotches.
What is indirect sunlight?
Indirect sunlight is when your plant is in a shady area within an area that receives bright sunlight. It may be behind another plant or a piece of furniture. Partial sunlight is when the light is direct only during certain times of the day, such as in the morning or late afternoon.
How do I know if my croton is overwatered?
Crotons are sensitive to overwatering. Normally when a plant’s leaves are wilting this means it needs more water, however, if you notice your Croton Petra’s leaves are wilting, you may be watering too much. If the bottom leaves of the plant dry out and fall off, you are not watering enough.
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.
Is croton a good indoor plant?
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.
How can I make my croton grow faster?
Tip. Crotons have a slow to moderate growth, at up to 12 inches in a growing season. Consistently warm temperatures, regular watering and bright, filtered light encourage faster growth.
Do crotons clean the air?
Houseplants are known to help purify the air in your home and Crotons provide the same benefit. While absorbing toxins, indoor plants also release fresh oxygen back into our homes.
Why croton leaves fall off?
If you accidentally let your Croton’s soil dry out completely, you may see some leaves drop. It will benefit from a good soak in the sink or tub to properly rehydrate the soil. Keep in mind that when the soil goes from bone-dry to saturated, it can cause stress for your Croton and cause leaves to drop.
Are coffee grounds good for crotons?
Can I add used coffee grounds to the soil of my croton plant? Yes, you can use coffee grounds, they help with growth. Try not to use a lot, as coffee grounds hold in a lot of moisture and can become moldy.
How cold can crotons take?
Though crotons can withstand short periods as low as 40 or as hot as 100 degrees, they prefer, and do their best, where the temperatures remain between 65 and 95 degrees. That does not mean you can’t grow them in your garden here. You just have to be prepared and committed to taking special precautions.
How do you save an overwatered croton?
To revive crotons locate the plant in bright, indirect light, ensure that the soil is evenly moist yet well draining, and mist the leaves regularly to create a humid micro-climate that emulates the humid conditions of the crotons native environment.
How long do croton plants live?
She is also a Master Gardener with over 40 years’ experience; writing for over 20 years. The croton plant (Codiaeum variegatum) has colorful variegated foliage and nearly limitless leaf forms.How to Grow and Care for Croton Plants. Common Name Croton, garden croton Toxicity Toxic to humans and animals.
Is light through a window indirect sunlight?
What Is Indirect Sunlight? Indirect light is sunlight that either passes through a medium—a window shade or the leaves of a tree—or reflects off another surface before reaching a plant. Most indoor settings only provide indirect light.
What direction facing window is best for plants?
Best Windows for Plants Check the direction of the sun as it relates to your windows. North-facing windows will offer lower light and therefore the hardiest plants that don’t require much will do well here. East or west-facing windows will offer medium light. South-facing windows usher in the brightest daylight.
How do I get more sunlight for my plants?
Ways to Increase Lighting for Plants Bright Southern Exposures. A south-facing window provides the best light for sun-loving indoor plants. Sunlight Bounces Back. A location where light reflects back at the plant significantly increases the amount of available light. Lighting Up the Indoors. Signs of Light Deprivation.
How do crotons grow new leaves?
Give it plenty of water and fertilizer, then when it is growing vigorously, cut it back severely. You can even lop it off below the bottom leaves, Bender says. It will soon respond with a new crop of colorful foliage. A croton in a container can be maintained as a small, bushy shrub by pinching it back frequently.
