Your brilliant indoor croton plant, the one you admire and prize, is now dropping leaves like crazy. Don’t panic. Leaf drop on croton plants can be expected any time the plant is stressed or out of balance. You just need to get to know your croton and how to give a croton what it needs to thrive. Read on to learn more about why croton leaves fall off.
Why is My Croton Dropping Leaves?
Change can be difficult for a croton plant. A croton plant dropping leaves is often a new plant’s response to being transplanted or transported from the greenhouse to your home. It’s natural for a croton to drop leaves as it adjusts to environmental changes. Once settled, in three or fourweeks, your plant will begin to produce new growth. If you haven’t changed the plant’s location recently and your croton leaves fall off, then it’s time to look at other possibilities. Heat and humidity – Croton plants are tropicals, meaning they thrive in warm and humid conditions. If your croton’s leaves fall off, it could be that it’s been exposed to cold or hot extremes such as open doors or air ducts. A humidifier or a regular misting with distilled water will help your croton feel at home. Light – Croton leaf drop and a lack of fiery color can be caused by insufficient sunlight. There are more than 750 varieties of croton plant, some needing more light than others. In general, the more variegated the plant, the more light it craves. Water – The watering schedule for your other houseplants may not be suitable for your croton.
- Overwatering can damage the roots and cause croton leaf drop. When the soil on top feels dry, water until the overflow begins to pool in the tray. To prevent root rot, use a pebbled tray or pour off any pooled water after 30 minutes.
- Underwatering can also cause leaf drop on croton plants. If you’re watering and misting consistently and your croton still seems dry, consider transplanting it in fresh, high-quality potting soil that includes peat moss to help retain moisture.
Diseases and pests – If you think you’ve taken care of every possible environmental reason your croton plant is dropping leaves, look again. Inspect underneath the leaves for signs of disease or insect pests and treat accordingly. Here’s the best news: crotons are tough. Even if your croton is brown and leafless, it doesn’t mean that your lovely plant is gone forever. Gently scratch the main stem. If the tissue underneath is still green, your plant is alive and may recover. Continue to care for your plant’s watering and environmental needs. In several weeks, it’s quite likely that your patience and care will be rewarded with the first of new, bright leaves.
FAQs
Crotons prefer to have consistently moist soil, but be sure to not over or underwater your plant. Be sure that your watering schedule is consistent–water when the top 2”-3” of the soil are dry. If you accidentally let your Croton's soil dry out completely, you may see some leaves drop.
Will leaves grow back on croton? ›
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 to bring a croton back to life? ›
Check the soil regularly to make sure it is moist, but not soaking wet. If the soil is dry, water your plant thoroughly, allowing the water to drain out of the bottom of the pot. Next, make sure your plant is getting enough sunlight.
How do I get more leaves on my croton plant? ›
You don't have to prune croton plants, but if lower leaves have fallen off and you want to encourage fresh growth, simply snip off the branches or stems at the desired height and the plant will soon fill out. To encourage a bushier plant, snip off the growing tips of each stem.
What does an overwatered croton look like? ›
Overwatering is a common culprit for mushy Croton leaves. If your plant's soil feels like a wet sponge, it's time for an intervention. Cease watering immediately and let the soil dry out. Check the roots; if they're brown and slimy, it's root rot.
Will croton come back after losing all leaves? ›
A croton plant dropping leaves is often a new plant's response to being transplanted or transported from the greenhouse to your home. It's natural for a croton to drop leaves as it adjusts to environmental changes. Once settled, in three or four weeks, your plant will begin to produce new growth.
Is croton dead if all leaves fall off? ›
Most of the time leaf-drop is totally normal, but occasionally something bigger is at play. Here are some issues that might be causing the leaves on your Croton to drop. Crotons prefer to have consistently moist soil, but be sure to not over or underwater your plant.
What kills Crotons? ›
Remember that just as crotons should not be allowed to dry out, neither should they be kept too wet. Too much water can rot the roots and kill the plant just as easily as if it had been left too dry.
Do Crotons like sun or shade? ›
Croton has the best color in bright, indirect light. Croton does best in fertile, well-drained, moist soil. They need bright, indirect light when grown indoors. Outdoors they thrive in partial shade, and in cool climates can tolerate full sun if kept moist (and are acclimated first when moved from inside).
How often should you water a croton? ›
Caring for a croton plant
Keep the soil moist (but not soaking wet) at all times from spring to autumn. Use tepid water and make sure any excess has drained away. Water less in winter, allowing the top few centimetres of compost to dry out between waterings.
Crotons Prefer Palm Fertilizer.
Plants love high-quality palm fertilizers which contain micro nutrients—in short, of the chemically rendered (as contrasted with bio-derived) fertilizers, palm fertilizer is the Rolls Royce of garden fertilizers for all ornamental plants.
What's wrong with my croton? ›
Potential Cause: Improper Watering and Lack of Humidity
If the leaves of your Croton Petra are turning brown and feeling crispy, the most likely cause is improper watering habits and lack of humidity. However, f you see small brown spots trimmed in yellow, your plant might have a Leaf Spot Disease.
How do you tell if your plant is under or overwatered? ›
If the soil is wet, it's overwatered - if it's dry, it's underwatered. Browning edges: Another symptom that can go both ways. Determine which by feeling the leaf showing browning: if it feels crispy and light, it is underwatered. If it feels soft and limp, it is overwatered.
How to make a croton plant more colorful? ›
Those grown in full sun will have the best color with some exceptions – too much light will actually cause red and orange leaf colors to fade. Croton leaves begin green and then color-up as they mature if they get enough light. For indoor use, crotons have less light, but can still maintain their color for months.
What to do when croton leaves fall off? ›
If your croton's leaves fall off, it could be that it's exposed to cold or hot extremes such as open doors or air ducts. A humidifier or a regular misting with distilled water will help your croton feel at home. Light leaf drop and a lack of fiery color can be caused by insufficient sunlight.
Will Crotons come back after freeze? ›
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. Use them to accent green shrubbery and add a splash of color to any yard or container.
When should I cut back my croton? ›
Spring is the prime time for pruning your California Croton. It's like the plant's New Year's resolution to grow more leaves, and your shears are its gym membership. Early spring aligns with the plant's natural growth spurt, setting it up for a burst of new, healthy foliage.
