Why are my croton leaves turning yellow

Every plant in a landscape finds its place due to a special feature. For flowering plants it’s the beautiful flowers whereas, plants with medicinal properties find their way in as they appeal to health enthusiasts.

Crotons, on the other hand, are planted for their leaves and the vibrant colors they come in. So here is all you need to know how to Care Croton Plant leaves. Why are my croton leaves turning yellow?

Just like landscapes crotons are an excellent addition to balcony gardens as they spice up the place with the hue of color, they bring in. On the other hand, they are perennials, hence you do not need to wait for flowers to bloom to add color to the place.

Croton plants are classified as low maintenance plants, but from time to time some questions pop up with regards to upkeep. This article will aim at answering the most common questions posed.

Why is the colour of my Croton diminishing?

Colour loss in crotons is common during winters and in cloudy months. This is because crotons are native to tropical climates and thrive in sunny and humid conditions.

They are at their best in full sun when planted outdoors or in bright indoor light. So, if your croton plant is diminishing it means that it is not getting enough sunlight.

Alternatively, some variants of the croton plant fade when exposed to excessive direct sunlight. We suggest you gather enough information about the variant you would have planted or like to plant, along with the amount of sunlight it requires.

This will help understand the exact reason, and you will be able to find a permanent solution and to care for croton plant leaves.

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Why are the leaves on my croton falling off?

Most evergreen plants shed their leaves when it’s time for new foliage to emerge. So, the shedding of leaves in most cases can be a natural occurrence.

Another reason why the croton plant sheds leaves is stress. These plants are sensitive to being transplanted or relocated. If you have bought the plant from a greenhouse or a local nursery, it will take time for it to adjust to the new setting.

Give it time, it will get back to normal once it is used to your balcony garden. It normally takes about three to four weeks for croton to get settled, during this time it will grow new leaves.

If you have not recently purchased the plant, moved it or it isn’t the natural time for it to shed its leaves, then it’s time to look at other possibilities. 

Heat and Humidity: Crotons are tropical plants, which means that they thrive in hot and humid conditions. If the conditions they are in are too cold or too hot, they will lose leaves.

If these plants are kept indoors check if there is an air duct close by or if they are on an extremely breezy balcony.

If the city that you live in is not humid enough it could also cause the leaves to fall off. If this is the case a humidifier will do the trick, you could also mist the plant regularly with room temperature water, to make them feel at home.

Water: Crotons are sensitive plants and it may so happen that your watering schedule might not be suitable for the plant. Try changing the watering time, if you generally water them early in the morning, the water might be a little too cold for crotons to handle.

Try watering them later in the day. If that isn’t possible invest in a self-watering mechanism or you could try making one yourself. 

Underwatering is another cause of crotons losing their leaves. On the other hand, overwatering can pose another issue, these plants like to be kept moist but not soaked.

Hence overwatering can cause damage to the roots and cause the leaves to drop. 

Soil: If you are watering right and are misting regularly the problem should come into control. But if the plant appears dry and continues to shed leaves change the soil to a more nutrient-rich one.

Use a high-quality potting mix with a good amount of peat or moss to retain moisture.

Diseases and pests: When Crotons are planted outdoors a good downpour helps get rid of dust and grime and at the same time washes away most of the pests that linger on the leaves.

But when grown on the balcony they might not get the opportunity to get drenched in rain. Be sure to wash your crotons regularly to avoid house pests from lurking over them. 

Special attention needs to be paid to the bottom of leaves, check them regularly to make sure they are not infested with pests or are showing signs of disease. If you find something to treat it immediately. 

Good news though: Crotons are tough, there are no common diseases they are susceptible to but are affected by house pests and a few diseases at times.

The above points will help to care croton plant leaves.

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Why is my Croton turning green?

Why is my Croton turning green? Croton leaves have a beautiful color but they do not start off being colorful. If the leaves of your croton plant are green, it means that they are still young and tender.

After some time with the right amount of water, sunlight and nourishment they will start to turn yellow and eventually darker shades of red, orange, purple as the seasons’ progress. 

Why are my croton leaves turning yellow?

Why are my croton leaves turning yellow? The croton starts to turn yellow as they mature. When new leaves start to grow, they are green. This color fades over time turning them yellow and then as time progresses, they mature and the color deepens.

So, the yellow color on the leaves of your croton is not a sign of them withering but rather a sign of them maturing.  

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Should you cut off yellow leaves?

Should you cut off yellow leaves? While gardening it is a common practice to get rid of yellow leaves as they are a sign that the leaves have gone bad or are about to die. In croton plants, on the other hand, the leaves change color over time.

When a new leaf grows it is green, after a while it turns yellow and then proceeds to get darker turning into the vibrant color the particular variant is known for. 

So, if the leaves of your croton plant are yellow, it doesn’t need to be chopped off. Yellow leaves simply mean that the plant is healthy. But on the other hand, if the leaves stay yellow for a long time it could mean that the plant is not receiving enough sunlight.

In this case, you will need to transfer the plant to a sunnier spot so that the leaves can get their vibrant color. 

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Why are my croton leaves turning brown?

Leaves of the croton plant turn brown due to the following reasons:

Moving: these plants do not like being moved, transporting and transplanting causes stress to them and this reflects in the quality of their leaves.

Leaves, in this case, may fall off or start to change color. If this is the case, let it take its time and get accustomed to the new location. This will take about a month but it will surely be worth it.

Watering: these plants like to be kept moist and if they do not receive enough water, they will start to turn brown. If you notice that the leaves of the plant are turning brown water them sufficiently. 

Sunlight: Sun exposure is another reason the leaves of the croton plant turn brown. Most croton variants do not like the harsh afternoon sun blazing over them. This causes brown spots or burnt spots on them.

To protect your plant, keep them in a partially sunny place where they receive enough sunlight but are not harmed by it. 

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How to get rid of dead or damaged leaves in Croton Plant?

The leaves of the croton plant being the most important asset, it is important to care for them. To keep the plant looking healthy at all times, it is necessary to get rid of dead or damaged leaves periodically. This can be done easily in the following ways.

If half the leaf is damaged cut only the damaged part and let the rest of the lead be. Do not cut too close to the part that isn’t damaged, this will allow it to grow back faster.

If the entire leaf is damaged pull it from the base carefully. Damaged leaves come off easily and will not require much effort. If the leaf doesn’t separate from the stem you could snip it off using garden scissors.

Note: when working with the Croton plant be sure to wear protective gloves to avoid skin irritation.

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What do you do if you notice your croton leaves fading?

As discussed earlier most variants of the croton plant derive their color from being exposed to a good amount of sunlight. If you notice that the leaves of your croton plant are fading change their position.

If they are in the shady area of your balcony garden, move them to a partially sunny spot or the sunniest spot depending on the variant.

If you plan to move the plant outdoors from its original place inside your house, be careful. These plants need time to adjust and you will have to do it one step at a time.

First, move it to a shady spot and let the plant adjust to the wind and sun. you can then gradually increase the sun exposure.

On the other hand, if the variant does not like the sun and that is causing it to fade, move it into a shady spot. If your balcony is facing east or south and receives a lot of sunlight, you could consider moving it indoors.

This will help the plant recover from the damage done by the excessive sun exposure and the leaves will come back to their normal color in due time.

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How do you keep Croton leaves colorful?

Here are a few ways in which you can ensure that the leaves of your croton plant remain colorful.

• Crotons are tropical plants and love the sun. This being said if crotons are part of your balcony garden, be sure to place them in a sunny spot. See that they are not directly under the blazing heat of the sun as some variants detest it. The more sun exposure the deeper the colour.
• In terms of sun exposure be careful with croton variants that come in the shades of red and orange. These variants generally do not like all day sun and may require a little shade in the afternoon. If left in the sun all day the colour fades.
• See that the place crotons are in is sufficiently humid. They like humidity and a lack of it will make the leaves look dull. If the place you live in is not humid, invest in humidifiers or mist the plant regularly. This helps recreate the conditions they are native to bringing out the best results.
• Water crotons regularly as these plants love to be kept moist. Use the slow watering technique so see that the water is absorbed well. keep watering till the pot overflows.

Be cautious that the pot has drainage holes and the soil is one that can drain easily. If the water is not drained out the roots may rot.

• The best way to keep the plant hydrated is to keep the pot in a drip tray filled with pebbles. Leave some water in the tray. If the plant feels the need to hydrate it will suck in the water. This also helps to keep the area around the plant humid, helping leaves grow healthier and more colourful.
• Fertilizing the soil is very important, see that you feed the plant well with compost and fertilizers. Remember, a happy plant is a colourful plant. Be cautious about over fertilizing as this will damage the plants. Use liquid fertilizers or the slow acting pallets these work best with crotons.

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Conclusion

The leaves of the croton plant are its crowning glory. They make the croton plant stand out from among the other plants in a landscape or balcony garden. These leaves are beautiful and the care required for their upkeep – minimal. 

All they need is a good amount of sunlight, regular watering, and lots of moisture. Put them all together and you have a lovely colorful addition to any landscape or balcony. What are you waiting for? Plant a croton today…