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.
What plants are red and green?
Houseplants with Red and Green Leaves
- Anthurium. Botanical Name: Anthurium andraeanum.
- Poinsettia. Botanical Name: Euphorbia pulcherrima.
- Red Heart Philodendron. Botanical Name: Philodendron ‘Red Heart’
- Salsa Rex Begonia. Botanical Name: Begonia Rex ‘Salsa’
- Lipstick Echeveria.
- Red Gold Aglaonema.
- Red Pagoda.
- Paddle Plant.
What plant has maroon and green leaves?
Atlas Coleus
(Solenostemon ‘Atlas’) is a stocky shade-tolerant foliage plant with purplish-maroon leaves splashed with a contrasting bright green center.
How do you take care of a croton plant?
Crotons need plenty of bright light, a consistently warm spot and high humidity. They can take some direct sunshine but keep them away from direct midday sun. Keep the soil moist from spring to autumn, and provide some humidity by misting regularly or standing on a tray of moist pebbles.
What is the name of the plant with red and green leaves? – Related Questions
How long do Crotons live for?
How long do crotons live? 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. A plant living outdoors in the correct zone in ideal conditions will live longer.
Do crotons come back every year?
Yes, croton plants are perennials. The word ‘perennial’ itself means “through the years.” A perennial plant like the croton will live through many growing seasons. Even if part of the plant dies (usually during the winter), it will use the same root system to regrow in the spring.
How often do you water a croton?
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. The ideal humidity range for your Croton plant is between 40% to 80%.
Do crotons like sun or shade?
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 much sun does a croton plant need?
Crotons need a lot of light (up to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day). Your croton will do best if you put it in the brightest spot in your house.
Do crotons like Miracle Grow?
How to Feed Croton Plants. A month after planting, use Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food to give croton plants the nutrition they need for best growth. Once a week, apply directly to the soil and water as normal, following label directions. Use 1 pump for small pots and 2 pumps for larger pots (over 6 inches in diameter).
Do crotons like small pots?
Select a pot with good drainage.
When choosing a container size, look for a container that’s about ⅓ larger than the plant’s root ball. If you live in hardiness zones 10 and 11, such as southern Florida, you can skip the container if you want to plant the croton directly into the garden.
Where is the best place to put a croton plant?
Crotons are relatively easy-going plants in the landscape, but they don’t tolerate wet feet well and should be planted in well-drained soil. They will thrive in either full sun or part-shade locations, though in shadier spots their colors may be more muted.
Can crotons take full sun outside?
Many crotons grow best in full sun, but many cultivars can tolerate, and even prefer, light shade partial shade. Crotons are best grown in subtropical South and Central Florida. Frosts or freezes will damage them, but they quickly recover. When used outdoors this plant looks most attractive when grown in groups.
Can Crotons stay outside in 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.
What temperature is too cold for Crotons?
Since Crotons are Tropical Plants (not sub-tropical) they cannot tolerate cold spells, or extended ones—when the temperature drops down to 32 or lower—so we must add protection, and in particular for young plants.
Why are Crotons hard to take care of?
Care and Planting
There are multiple reasons this plant’s leaves drop, which are what make this type tough to grow. The trickiest part of keeping a croton happy is watering correctly. Crotons will drop their leaves if given too much, or too little, water (or if the temperature is too low).
Should crotons be trimmed?
Pruning crotons is an optional aspect of care that we do on an as-needed basis. The best time to prune is in the spring, when vigorous growth promotes the speediest recovery. However, you can snip stems or leaves as needed at any time. Wear gloves to avoid contact with the milky sap, as it may irritate your skin.
Are crotons low maintenance?
Croton shrubs are low maintenance, and can be pruned to keep them at a manageable size, even as small as three feet high. Plant the same type together for a more uniform color and look, or vary the type of croton for variety. They work well as container plants or grown in the ground.