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Croton care
Codiaeum variegatum · Euphorbiaceae
Also called Joseph's coat, Garden croton, Variegated croton.
A tropical shrub from Malesia, the western Pacific islands and northern Queensland, grown for thick, glossy leaves splashed with yellow, orange, red, pink and purple. Hundreds of cultivars differ in leaf shape and colour. As a houseplant it stays around 0.6 to 1.2 m and needs bright light to keep its colours.
Light
Bright IndirectWatering
WeeklyDifficulty
MediumPets
Not confirmedHeight indoors
0.6-1.2 m
GrowthUnconfirmed
Moderate
Temperature
16-29 °C
Not below 10 °C
HumidityUnconfirmed
40% - 60%
Average room humidity
Soil pHUnconfirmed
6.0-7.0
Slightly acidic soil
Native to
- Australia
- Brunei
- Fiji
- Indonesia
- Malaysia
- Philippines
- Papua New Guinea
- Solomon Islands
- Timor-Leste
- Vanuatu
Through the year
Water when the top 1 to 2.5 cm of soil is dry, keeping it moist but never wet in the growing season. Water less from autumn to late winter.
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Spring
WeeklyPrune if leggy, repot into a pot 2-5 cm wider if roots are crowded, and start feeding.
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Summer
WeeklyWater regularly; it can go outdoors in light shade once nights stay above 10 °C.
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Autumn
Every 2 weeksBring it in before nights drop below 10 °C and acclimatise it slowly.
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Winter
Every 2 weeksGive it the brightest spot available, water less and keep it away from cold glass.
Feeding
Every 8 weeks in spring and summer. Balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer, just a couple of times between spring and late summer; feed more often only if you want to push faster growth.
Care tips
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Avoid sudden changes
Cold drafts and fast moves between light levels are the main cause of dropped leaves.
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Wear gloves when cutting
The sap can irritate skin and stains fabric for good.
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Prune in early spring
Cut leggy stems back hard before new growth starts to get a bushier plant.
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Wash off dust
Wipe or rinse the leaves now and then; it keeps them bright and discourages mites.
Common problems
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Leaf drop
What you seeLower leaves fall after a move, a cold draft or a dry spell.
What to doKeep it in one bright, warm spot above 10 °C and water before the soil dries out; it usually recovers once settled.
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Fading colour
What you seeNew leaves come out mostly green.
What to doMove it closer to a bright window; it needs strong light, with some gentle direct sun, to colour up.
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Spider mites
What you seeFine webbing and pale stippling, especially in dry indoor air.
What to doRinse the leaves regularly, raise the humidity and treat with insecticidal soap if mites persist.
Pets
Is croton safe for cats and dogs?
Not confirmed. Codiaeum is not on the ASPCA lists. Its closest listed relative in the spurge family, copperleaf (Acalypha godseffiana), is toxic to cats and dogs because of diterpene esters, causing drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. Extension services also warn that croton sap is irritating and poisonous, so keep pets from chewing it.
Good to know
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The genus name comes from kodiho, the local name for the plant on the island of Ternate.
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A single plant can carry leaves of several colours, and the colours often shift as the leaves age.
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Now and then a shoot appears with leaves that look nothing like the rest of the plant; growers call these shoots sports.
