Croton Acubafolia 13cm

Regarding plant care, most crotons have their leaf angle at 45 degrees to the vertical radiating out from the stem. The plant indicates its need for watering when the leaves droop and become almost parallel with the ground. When you see this subtle drooping of the leaves, this is the point they need watering. Give them 1cm of water in the bottom of a ceramic pot or saucer, and within an hour the leaves will return to their normal position. You need to remember with crotons, they don’t like a lot of water, but they do need a constant supply! Most crotons fail in the home because they are either overwatered or become to dry.

Crotons are indigenous to Central America where the soils are very free draining. The reason the soils are free draining, is because they are shallow and contain large bulky organic material. Water passes through this very freely. The plants have adapted to this regular cycle of rain fall which can be very intense at certain times of the year. If you can replicate this natural watering cycle for your Croton in the home, you will have one very happy plant.

If your plant is happy with its growing conditions, it will reward you by growing up to 30cm in one year. At this point it will need repotting into a much larger pot to gain stability.

REMEMBER croton will lose their leaves if they get over watered, underwatered, to cold, or to dark. Manage these four things and you will have a plant for very long time which will create a real spectacle.

Crotons are real exhibitionists and thrive in direct sunlight. The more light they receive the more vivid the leaf colour will become. In Winter it is good practice to move these to a south facing window.

WARNING: May be harmful if eaten.