Croton Care Guide

Crotons are popular plants for keeping indoors, and are sold in many different colors and varieties. Croton (Codiaeum variegatum) belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family of plants. This plant produces beautiful hues of red, yellow and green on its thick leaves. Their thick, leathery leaves are easily damaged by heat and sunlight, so crotons are best grown under medium light conditions. The roots can be damaged by freezing temperatures, so grow your croton in a warm room or a greenhouse when the weather turns cold.

Croton plants need high light to support their colorful variegation. Bright, indirect light is preferable. Low light exposure can cause these plants to lose some of those vibrant colors.

Croton plants like to dry out just a bit between waterings. Once the top 2” of soil looks and feels dry, your plant is ready for more water. A well draining yet absorbent soil is a must, and this can be achieved by amending a standard potting mix with perlite and peat moss.

Croton plants prefer temperatures between 65 degrees F and 80 degrees F. Temperatues below 60 degrees may be damaging to a croton plants foliage, and should be avoided. While this plant will do well in the standard humidty found in an average home, it would certainly be appreciative of added humidity.