Growing Croton

How to Grow and Care for Croton Plants

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The croton is an easy-to-grow houseplant known for its variegated foliage covered in green, scarlet, orange, and yellow splotches. Here’s how to care for a croton in your home or garden.

Croton, also called “garden croton,” are native to the tropical forests of southeast Asia and Oceania. In the wild, they grow as large shrubs, reaching up to 10 feet tall (in the home or garden, they stay a lot smaller).

Note: All parts of this plant are poisonous—especially the seeds—so it is not recommended for use in homes with curious pets or children. When damaged, croton produce a milky sap that can be irritating to the skin, too.

Planting

Planting Croton

When choosing a container for your croton, keep in mind that the plant will grow upright, which eventually may cause it to become top heavy. Pick a container that won’t easily tip over when the croton gets larger.
Use a well-draining potting mix. Croton like to be kept moist, but not wet.
In areas with warm, humid summers, croton can be grown outdoors as a unique and colorful landscape plant. They work well in tropical-themed containers or alongside annuals in the ground. When temperatures drop to around 50°F (10°C), croton will need to be taken indoors.

Care

How to Care for Croton

Place croton in a sunny location such as an eastern, southern, or western window. If a croton is getting too little light, its newer leaves will be less colorful.
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.
Croton leaves are dust magnets. Gently wipe the leaves with a moist cloth twice a month to keep them clean and dust-free.
Fertilize the plant in spring and summer.
New croton plants can be started with 4 to 6 inch long stem cuttings. Remove the bottom leaves and place the cutting in a glass of water. After roots have formed, plant in a small pot.
Repot the plant in the spring if it has grown too large for its current pot.

Croton 'Petra'. Photo by Karl Thomas Moore/Wikimedia Commons.
Croton ‘Petra’ (foreground). Photo by Karl Thomas Moore/Wikimedia Commons.

Pests/Diseases

Croton are usually pest and disease free, though they are susceptible to common houseplant pests such as mealybugs, spider mites, and scale insects.

Recommended Varieties

‘Petra’ is a popular cultivar. It has green leaves with red, orange, and yellow veins.
‘Gold Star’ has green leaves that are splashed with bright gold “stars.”
‘Eleanor Roosevelt’ has skinny leaves that range in color from burgundy to lime green. The leaves are mottled with bright yellow, as if they were spray painted.
‘Oakleaf’ has oak leaf–shaped dark green or bronze leaves with veins in yellow, orange, and red.

Wit & Wisdom

Croton are members of the Euphorbiaceae family of plants, which makes them relatives of the poinsettia and the cast iron plant.

Reader Comments

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Crofton petra

Do they like to pot bond?

repotting croton

According to some sources, crotons can be a little more colorful if slightly pot bound. However, they don’t do well if severely pot bound, showing signs such as slow/weak growth or being always thirsty. Check to see if roots are showing on top of the soil and/or through drainage holes. If so, it may be time to repot. Crotons usually don’t take kindly to changing pots and may drop some leaves after repotting until they get used to their new home. Repot only during their growing season, in spring and early summer. Be very gentle to the roots and select a pot that is only slightly wider but at the same depth as the previous. Use a soil similar to the original and water using tepid water. Wait for about 1 or 1-½ months before fertilizing.

I have a problem with the leaves drying up and falling off.

What do I need to do to correct that ?

drying leaves

Leaf drop can be caused by a variety of issues. For example, plant shock from repotting or being pot bound. Temperature that is too low, too high, or too variable can cause brown leaf edges, and brown tips may indicate not enough air humidity or not enough watering. Overwatering can cause leaf drop as well. Be sure to mist your plant regularly, or keep the pot propped up on pebbles in a tray filled shallowly with water and keep it away from cold drafts. A consistently warm and moist environment is key. Make sure that it has enough light, and check for pests. If environmental conditions are the cause, after correcting them, it may take several weeks or a few months for the plant to recover.

Croton plant (indoors)

Why are leaves drying up and falling off?

crotons

My crotons thrive in the summer when they are outdoors. I bring them indoors before we turn on the heat and mist every other day. I try to keep them watered regularly but numerous leaves fall off every time I bring them indoors. Suggestions?

Growing Croton

Botanical Name	Codiadeum variegatum
Plant Type	Houseplant
Sun Exposure	Full Sun, Part Sun
Soil Type	Loamy
Soil pH	Neutral
Bloom Time	Varies
Flower Color	White
Hardiness Zones	9, 10, 11
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Growing Croton

How to Grow and Care for Croton Plants