For some reason, the popularity of the croton is growing like wildfire. The Croton is a tropical plant, meaning that it is native or grows best between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn. Lucky for you, however, that this little beauty has been adapted to flourish indoors.
The leaves of this colorful plant actually start out green, but then develop their bright yellows, reds and oranges as a response to a strong light source. A good tip is if the existing leaves are staying green there is probably not enough light, or you are over fertilizing, especially during the summer. Fortunately, both problems are easily corrected.
Starting a Croton is easy. The best method is to go down to Visser’s Florist in Anaheim and buy one. We have them all year long, with prices starting at $2.99.
However, for the adventurous types, it is pretty easy to propagate one from an existing plant. According to the Croton Society start by cutting off a stem, at least a few inches long. Remove the lower leaves and flowers. Keep the stem wet (like in a baggie with water) until you are ready to propagate. Place cuttings in a container with water, for a couple of days in bright light, not in full sun. Next, plant the cuttings in a pot, mist the leaves, water well and seal with a clear plastic bag until it starts to root, maybe 4 or 5 days. Then repot and care for normally.
Crotons grow best in bright light and warm temperatures, but not blazing sun. Also, if the leaves turn yellow and start falling off, you are probably overwatering the plant. Finally, use a fertilizer regularly.
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