Garden Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

How much light does a Garden Croton need?

Croton needs bright light for the best leaf color, with some direct sun. In too much shade it may lose its lower leaves. Bright, indirect light suits it indoors, and it tolerates direct sun. Outdoors, crotons prefer full sun or partial shade. In cool climates a plant outdoors can take full sun if it is kept moist.

• Light: Bright, indirect light; tolerates direct sun¹

How often to water a Garden Croton

Water your croton only when the top half-inch to an inch of soil dries out. Its recorded water needs run from dry to medium at the low end and up to medium wet at the high end. The soil it does best in is moist and well drained, and it can be occasionally dry. Outdoors in a cool climate, keep the plant moist if it gets full sun.

• Water: Dry to wet²

Best soil for a Garden Croton

Croton does best in fertile, well-drained, moist soil. Crotons also prefer humus-rich soil that drains well and is occasionally dry. The drainage record lists three conditions: well drained, moist and occasionally dry. Between waterings, the top half-inch to an inch of this soil should dry out. No cited source gives a preferred soil pH range for this plant, so that value is not documented here.

• Soil drainage: Well drained, moist and occasionally dry^1,3

Temperature and humidity

Bring your croton indoors when temperatures reach 50 °F (10 °C). That 50 °F (10 °C) mark is the point at which a plant kept outdoors should come inside. It does best with moderate to high humidity and warm temperatures. Humidity is recorded as high for this species. It is hardy only in USDA zones 11 to 12, and the listed range is zones 11a to 12b. Outside those zones, the plant is not recorded as hardy.

• Minimum temperature: 50 °F (10 °C)¹
• Humidity: High³

Fertilizing a Garden Croton

Fertilize your croton once or twice during the growing season, or more often for faster growth. The fertilizer record for this plant is a light feeding, about once a year. The source allows more frequent feeding when you want faster growth. No cited source names a fertilizer ratio or type.

• Fertilizer: Light, once a year²

How to propagate a Garden Croton

You can propagate croton by seed, stem cuttings and layering. The plant is easily propagated by air layering or softwood cuttings. Air layering is done in spring, and softwood cuttings are taken in summer. Seed is possible, but the offspring won't resemble the parent. Stem cuttings are one of three recorded methods, along with seed and layering.

• Propagation: Seed, stem cuttings and layering^3,3

Common problems

Croton has few pest problems other than the usual insects that commonly infest houseplants. Mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects are among the pests recorded. Records also list spiraling whitefly, woolly whitefly and fall armyworm. Recorded diseases include cotton root rot, xanthomonas leaf spot and impatiens necrotic spot virus.

• Common pests: spiraling whitefly, woolly whitefly, texas citrus mite, oriental spider mite, white peach scale, chilli thrips, red banded thrips, fall armyworm, tetranychus mexicanus, glassy winged sharpshooter, green shield scale, mealybugs, spider mites and scale insects^4,3
• Common diseases: alphanucleorhabdovirus melongenae, tomato chlorosis virus, impatiens necrotic spot virus, cotton root rot and xanthomonas leaf spot⁴

Questions and answers

Is garden croton toxic to cats and dogs?

Pet Poison Helpline lists it as toxic to both cats and dogs. Ingestion may cause mild irritation of the mouth and digestive tract, with drooling, vomiting or diarrhea. Cats and dogs are recorded separately, and the entries say the same thing.

How much light does a croton need indoors?

It needs bright light for the best leaf color, with some direct sun. It may lose its lower leaves in too much shade. Bright, indirect light is the recorded indoor setting, and it tolerates direct sun.

When should I water a croton?

Water it only when the top half-inch to an inch of soil dries out. The soil should be well drained and moist. It also does best with moderate to high humidity and warm temperatures.