Am I Taking Good Care Of My Croton Houseplant?

Is your croton planted in a container that isn't easily tipped over?

Is your croton placed somewhere where they can get at least 6 hours of sunlight?

Is your croton planted in a pot with a well-drained potting mix?

Are you making sure that the soil is dried between waterings?

Does your home have high humidity?

Have you been wiping dust from your croton leaves?

Have you been fertilizing your croton every spring and summer?

Are you keeping pests away from your croton houseplant?

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.

Place croton in a sunny location such as an eastern, southern, or western window. If croton is getting too little light, its newer leaves will be less colorful.

You should use a well-draining potting mix as soil for croton. Croton likes to be kept moist, but not overly wet.

You should let the soil dry between waterings to minimize the chances of root rot. The soil in the pot should be evenly moist when watering.

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.

Apply a low-nitrogen, slow-release, granular fertilizer, such as a 3-1-2, to the soil at the base of the croton plant in early spring. Wait until midsummer and apply a second application of granular fertilizer to the soil.

Good job! You are taking good care of your croton houseplant.

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