Fertilize in the spring and summer with either a slow-release or liquid fertilizer. In their native habitats, crotons like humid, warm conditions with dappled light and plentiful water. Fertilize the plant in spring and summer, while the plant is actively growing. After roots have formed, plant in a small pot. With proper care, your Croton will soon have lush, … Spring and summer are the right times to fertilize your croton petra houseplant. Never fertilize a Christmas cactus when the plant begins to flower because it can cause the buds to fall. Provide fertilizer. Speaking of fertilizers, they need to be well-balanced, 20-20-20 and every 2-3 weeks in growing months. Their striking red, orange and yellow-striped leaves make the extra work worthwhile. Crotons can survive all types of soil but require a well-drained soil type. Plant your croton petra in a bottom-heavy pot with drainage holes. During the spring, summer, and early fall, feed Codiaeum variegatummonthly with a fertilizer that’s high in nitrogen and potassium, but hold off on fertilize during the plant’s dormant period. During winter, you can fertilize your plants but make sure that it’s not excessive. Even so, croton plants make a real impact on the summer landscape. Fertilize a croton from March to August every 14 days with a liquid fertilizer for green plants. I have grown a few Aphelandra squarosa and they didn’t last long either. Reply. Choose a slow-release acidic fertilizer which will provide them with the nutrients over a longer period of time. Dilute 1 1/2 tablespoons of 12-4-8 fertilizer or a similar 3-1-2 fertilizer in one gallon of water. When the plant’s roots begin to grow outside of the pot’s drainage holes, it’s time to repot it. This will make the plant bushier rather than a a tall leggy plant. Apply a balanced liquid fertilizer (20-20-20) every two to three weeks. Codiaeum Mammy thrives in well-draining soils with the soil pH level ideally between 4.5-6.5 pH. Croton petra plants tend to grow upwards and can become top-heavy. Throughout the season, the best type of fertilizer to use when you are feeding your Christmas cactus is a blend with equal nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus. Crotons are acid- loving plants like azaleas and gardenias, says Bender, who suggests using an acid-producing fertilizer three times a year. Croton Plant Care: Pests and Diseases. When in dormant winter stage, fertilize the plant less, diluting the amount of feeding or extending the time between fertilizing (every 6-8 weeks). Though some varieties can reach heights of 12 feet, most croton plants are 4 to 8 feet high with a foliage spread of 3 to 8 feet. Before pruning again, allow more growth. Pro Tips. New croton plants can be started with 4- to 6-inch stem cuttings. So save some money (up to $12 for 32 oz. You can also revitalize leaf color by rubbing leaves with a mixture of oil and water. Fertilizer. These colors are often combined in patterns involving blotching and striping, and sometimes the color changes as the plant ages. Crotons also … Croton, a perennial with woody stems and roots, features leathery, smooth-edge, oval- or lance-shape leaves in bright colors. How to use eggshell as natural water fertilizer for any plants,It is source of Calcium,Magnesium and Nitrogen.Best homemade organic fertilizer for plants Croton can be grown outdoors in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 10b to … Nutrients Plants Need. 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. Remove the bottom leaves and place the cutting in a glass of water. In loose fertile soil, the Garden Croton will grow more lush. Crotons don’t like to be moved, so they may drop many leaves upon arrival. Do it in spring. Watch my NPK crystals video on youtube. Look for at least 1 drainage hole in the bottom of your pot to ensure that your plant can drain any moisture as it needs to. If you somehow start finding burnt leaves of your croton, move it to a shadier area. Repotting. Continue the pinching on all the new branches. Suitable for growing both inside your house and outside, many believe it to be a high-maintenance plant. For a lot of people, coffee is the go-to when they need a bit of a pick-me-up, but it can actually make some plants perk up, too. Food: Feed your Croton plant with a low-nitrogen, slow-release, granular fertilizer once during spring and summer. Due to the abundant flowing milky sap, after pruning, there is the danger that the plant bleeds. Few years. Croton plants should only be pruned to remove unhealthy portions of the plant or to maintain a certain shape.Dead leaves or branches should be cut back to their origin, but overgrown leaves or branches can be trimmed just above a node or leaf set. Line the bottom of the new container with one or two inches of a damp, peat-based potting soil. Most often, they’re fed once in the early spring (Feb-March), and then again in the late spring (May), giving them a good slow-release acidic fertilizer that will feed them throughout the summer months. This is completely normal. The soil or other potting media for Croton plants needs to have good aeration. How Make The Croton Plant Bushier? The numbers refer to the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the fertilizer. Fertilizing Croton Plants. Temperature: Your Croton plant loves warm weather, and it prefers room temperature, between 60°F to 70°F. Some varieties even have purple or white stripes and patches on the dark green leaves. 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