Because their root systems aren’t invasive, feel free to plant them around foundations and close to your house. Tall How to Care for Croton in Freezing Temperatures, University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service: Codiaeum Variegatum, University of Florida, IFAS Central Florida Research and Education Center: Croton Production Guide. Water the plants well before the cold hits to help insulate the roots and cover the plant with a blanket or a sheet, or hang holiday lights on the croton to help preserve warmth. The plant additionally appreciates moist, you could mist it. Get it as soon as Mon, Dec 21. Wherever they plant their roots, they're bound to bring cheery brilliance with their vivid multitude of colors. Too much sunlight bleaches the colors of the leaves, actually many croton cultivers prefer, light shade partial shade. Croton is very frost tender and will not survive freezing temperatures. Check the root system before planting, and if it’s starting to wrap around itself, use your hands to gently pull the roots apart. There’s a croton variety out there for every color and leaf-shape preference! This will help protect roots from cold, prevent competitive weeds and slowly feed the plant as the material breaks down. The toxic substance in the plants is diterpene esters, which is only toxic when eaten in large quantities. However, best growth occurs when temperatures are between 65 and 95 F. If you live in zone 9, where unexpected frosts and freezes sometimes happen, you can still grow crotons in your garden, but the plants require protection during a cold snap. Croton Plant Care and Maintenance (Indoor and Outdoor) Croton is a striking tropical plant, ideal for growing in warm regions where the temperature ranges between 60°F (15°C) and 70°F (21°C). Crotons enjoy being kept evenly moist during summer months, with reduced watering during winter months. Their small, off-white flowers are barely noticeable and almost nondescript. Crotons plants are grown as an indoor or outdoor plants in indirect sunlight in most climates. We carry our products IN STOCK and ready to ship. This should save the plant and you can care for it indoors until the first warm rays of spring when it can go back outside after all danger of frost has passed. Also, place the plant where it will not experience cold northern winds. Use well-draining potting soil and a container large enough to encompass the root ball with a little bit of growing room. Crotons are thought to be native to Malaysia, India and some of the South Pacific Islands. Known for its lush leaves with brightly colored stripes and markings that look painted on, croton is a tropical plant native to India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, and parts of the Pacific islands. Croton Petra Live Plant in Candy Corn ... 'Petra' Croton Plant in black pot - 4 Piece (1) Model# HD7405 $ 41 47. The thing to remember is that these are tropical plants and are not suited for freezing temperatures which can kill the foliage and even the roots. The garden Croton plant needs high humidity to thrive. If you are planting a croton outdoors, select a spot with dappled light. The leaves come in many bright colors so they can add a lot of tropical flare to your garden. There are hundreds of varieties of crotons, so today we’ll highlight a few of my favorites. FREE Shipping. However, many crotons cultivars can grow best in full sun. If you want to grow them indoors you will need to dedicate some time since these plants can be tricky to grow inside of the home. It depends where your zone is located and what your average low temperatures are per year. Can you grow a croton outdoors? Humidity is also tolerated by the croton plant, so areas like Florida will present the perfect outdoor growing space. Crotons are tropical plants that thrive outdoors in warm temperate areas. Too much direct sunlight can cause leaf burning and scorching, especially on the lighter-color varieties. Crotons prefer a humid environment, so weekly applications of water, especially when conditions are unusually hot and dry, keep them happy and healthy. Tall (2) Model# 71461 $ 36 28. For best results, grow croton plants in well-drained soil. $39.99 $ 39. This easy-care shrub features color and low-maintenance for any size yard. Regardless of where you use them in the garden, crotons deliver eye-catching appeal and brighten even shady portions of the garden with their striking hues. to 30 in. Dip the cut end of the cutting in an off-the-shelf rooting hormone and plant them in a small pot. Since croton hardiness is limited to freezing and even slightly above, northern gardeners should not attempt to grow the plant outdoors except in the warmest days of summer. Check the plant label for your particular variety’s expected size at maturity. Feed with Miracle-Gro® Indoor Plant Food. Watch for pests and disease and handle immediately. (If you live in zones 10 to 12, they also make wonderful outdoor landscape plants for year-round enjoyment.) Where freezes are early and severe, grow plants in containers and move them in as soon as fall starts to arrive. To plant outside, choose a location with lots of indirect sun, such as under a tree that provides partial shade. But even ingesting a small amount can cause nausea, diarrhea and vomiting. Known for their robust color combinations and varied leaf shapes, crotons (Codiaeum variegatum) bring nonstop color to outdoor containers and areas of the landscape. If you're planting multiple crotons, space them approximately 3 feet apart. This is because sunlight evaporates moisture and wind has a tendency to dry out soil quickly. These plants respond well to trimming, so if a croton becomes leggy, prune it back hard … It’s probably best to play it safe and wear gloves whenever you prune or handle your crotons. Pot at 26 in. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! $59.85 $ 59. In areas with warm, humid summers, croton can be grown outdoors as a unique and colorful landscape plant. In general, the more variegated and colorful the croton plant, the more light it will need. For 20 years, she’s owned a garden center and landscaping/consulting business and holds numerous horticulture certificates. The number of croton choices available at your local garden center will surprise you, especially within their growing zones. Continue watching below to keep your croton plant for life time with its vivid gorgeous color. Plants grown outdoors in appropriate zones will need slightly more water than those inside. To propagate a croton plant, use a stem cutting that is 3-4 inches long and has 3 to 5 leaves. Pot at 26 in. Croton plants are famous for their colorful foliage. It produces green, red, purple,… 85. If you live in the southern United States, where it does not often reach low temperatures, outdoor croton plants can be covered to protect from frost. An unforgettable sight when exiting the airplane terminal at Cabo San Lucas are the huge brightly colored croton plants that line the edges of the buildings. 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The croton plants for sale come in a durable container that is weighted and measures 6.5 inches tall, 8 inches across the top and 5.5 inches across the bottom. The plants tolerate a variety of well-drained soil types, including acidic, alkaline, clayey, loamy and sandy, and have a high tolerance to drought conditions, despite the fact that their foliage wilts when they need a drink of water. Prune when the plant is getting too tall or the stems have gone bare. Any material works well for the container, but plastic and wood retain more moisture than clay types, which cuts down on the need for more frequent applications of water. Add water to the container immediately after planting until it runs from the bottom drainage holes and repeat this whenever the top inch of soil feels dry. But in reality, if you know to care properly for a croton plant properly, it can make for a resilient and hard-to-kill indoor plant. When considering croton growing, check the variety you have purchased to determine the light needs of your specific variety. It's a sturdy, low-maintenance perennial that has become popular as an indoor plant, effortlessly adding pops of color to anyone's household décor. Anyone who lives where there are temperatures that near freezing or 32 degrees F. (0 C.), even temperatures that hover in the 40’s (4 C.) can be damaging. of organic material. The recommended ratio of a fertilizer for growing a croton plant outdoor is 3-1-2, which means 3 percent nitrogen, 1 percent phosphorus and 2 percent potassium is required. Care of outdoor croton may also include covering the plant if it is in the ground. If none of these appeal to you, don’t stop looking. Although sunnier conditions promote the best blast of leaf color, crotons can handle growing in sunny to partially shaded sites. pictum "Petra") adds bright color to the garden in the form of long, leathery leaves with splashes of red, orange, pink, yellow and green. A well-grown croton keeps its leaves all the way to the soil level—and the trick to this is to provide steady warmth. The most distinguishing feature of crotons is their foliage. Crotons also attract butterflies, which makes them a useful addition to pollinator gardens.