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. To find your hardiness zone, you can look up a hardiness zone finder online.
Crotons that get too much direct sunlight may end up with scorched leaves.
A croton will not likely survive in cooler climates where the temperature gets lower than 40 °F (4 °C). [5] X Research source If the winter temperatures in your area drop below this, you can transplant the croton back to a container and bring it inside for winter, or treat the croton as an annual and let it die over the winter. If you do move your croton inside and outside depending on the season, be prepared for the leaves to drop. The ideal soil for crotons is a rich and well-draining soil that’s full of nutrients. To enrich your soil and improve drainage, amend it with aged compost before planting.
These tropical plants love plenty of water, but it’s important to have moist, damp soil rather than soggy or wet soil. During dormancy periods in late fall and winter, cut back on watering and let the soil dry out to a depth of 1 inch (2. 5 cm). [7] X Research source
It is possible to grow crotons outdoors, but only in warm climates with high humidity levels. If you live in a cooler or drier climate, grow your croton inside where you can control the environment.
Another way to generate humidity for the plant is to place the pot on a tray filled with pebbles that are covered in water. Replace the water as necessary to keep the pebbles wet. [11] X Research source To measure the humidity around the croton, you can use a device called a hygrometer. These are available at home, garden, and department stores.
The best fertilizer for crotons is one that’s high in nitrogen and potassium, such as an 8-2-10 mix, because these chemicals help plants grow strong stems and leaves. The numbers refer to the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the fertilizer. Don’t feed the plant during dormancy periods during the late fall and winter months. [12] X Research source
Repotting a croton can result in leaf drop, but you can minimize shock to the plant by only repotting in mid or late spring. [13] X Research source Instead of potting soil, you can also use a half-and-half mixture of peat moss and aged compost. [14] X Research source
Instead of repotting the plant, you can also top dress it to keep it healthy. Remove the top 3 inches (7. 6 cm) of soil each spring and replace it with fresh potting soil. [15] X Research source
Always choose a pot with good drainage holes to prevent overwatering.
Crotons need about 6 to 8 hours of bright, indirect sunlight every day to maintain their health and colors.
Repeat every few days as necessary until the mites are gone. Alternatively, blast the plants with a sharp stream of water once a week to control infestation.
