--- title: "HELP!! What’s wrong with my red banana croton!?? He’s losing leaves…" description: "HELP!! What’s wrong with my red banana croton!?? He’s losing leaves like crazy! No pests" url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/dHqUoKy193agmNfY5sbtMV" community: "Pests, diseases and problems" author: "Oksana 🥎🍦🌱" published: "2025-08-15T20:02:13.253583Z" language: "en" image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/WE6UBkopcRECYPrP8RqCmGM4YVEKsigk8jAnxgxqy4k/76MBYSvsQq2RzLem3p_T-Q.webp?size=large" --- [Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md) # HELP!! What’s wrong with my red banana croton!?? He’s losing leaves… _Posted by Oksana 🥎🍦🌱 on 2025-08-15_ HELP!! What’s wrong with my red banana croton!?? He’s losing leaves like crazy! No pests ![Attachment 1 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/WE6UBkopcRECYPrP8RqCmGM4YVEKsigk8jAnxgxqy4k/76MBYSvsQq2RzLem3p_T-Q.webp?size=large) ![Attachment 2 of 2](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/WE6UBkopcRECYPrP8RqCmGM4YVEKsigk8jAnxgxqy4k/_sgh6EWsRVK31OCEcoJnsw.webp?size=large) ## 14 comments ### Ashley commented on 2025-08-15 How are you caring for it? Needs lots of light and to dry out between watering #### Oksana 🥎🍦🌱 replied on 2025-08-15 Been doing exactly that. Is the problem my soil? It’s tropical. #### SWDK replied on 2025-08-15 I’ve learned that tropical plants need a mister 2x a dam. I have ‘pink nerve’ plants that are also tropical and need misting 2x a daily and a good balance of humidity. Once i did that my plants shot up and bounce with good stem strength. And they are pretty new repotted plants and at one point they were a bit droopy, but that stood them up real quick.😊🙏🏽 #### Oksana 🥎🍦🌱 replied on 2025-08-15 Wow! Ok thank you that makes sense now! I appreciate it ### Ji11 commented on 2025-08-15 Check the roots for rot and a mesh peat pod (more info on that below) these like to dry out 75% of the way before watering them. When watering I water most of my plants through the top as they sit in a bowl then I let them sit and soak up the rest of what they can. And repeat after they dry out again according to each plants needs (cacti I let dry out for weeks others when just the top inch or two are dry) #### Ji11 replied on 2025-08-15 It looks like it’s still in the nursery pot\&soil \*\*they like to sell plants not keep them alive\*\* Inspect the roots especially the very center, I guarantee there is a mesh peat pod which retains moisture around the roots and causes rot issues. I remove these from any new plant (even though some will tell you they’re not bad to keep on) ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fBH_28A5qaP2hoVvraoji7PuhH2kRqkI0DYvYyUVg94/gHz8nFR4TpKz1-DiZF-YwA.webp?size=large) #### Ji11 replied on 2025-08-15 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fBH_28A5qaP2hoVvraoji7PuhH2kRqkI0DYvYyUVg94/JIHGXrT-QQiGQ2x_NhiESA.webp?size=large) #### Ji11 replied on 2025-08-15 This is my daughter’s plant that she’s been having trouble with. If you look closely you can see the mesh in the second photo ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fBH_28A5qaP2hoVvraoji7PuhH2kRqkI0DYvYyUVg94/V33QA4ZWRIWLbcjGZV1U-w.webp?size=large) #### Ji11 replied on 2025-08-15 I’ve removed what I could and added a very chunky perlite mix (photo) with my potting soil; about half and half ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fBH_28A5qaP2hoVvraoji7PuhH2kRqkI0DYvYyUVg94/9leHqHWLT5mqys0s7s8tXw.webp?size=large) #### Ji11 replied on 2025-08-15 ![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/fBH_28A5qaP2hoVvraoji7PuhH2kRqkI0DYvYyUVg94/LiOWxbTrQMyH9kANRMIhoQ.webp?size=large) _1 more reply in the app_ ### Sunny commented on 2025-08-16 Crotons need all day direct sun, high humidity, regular fertilizer and warm tropical temperatures. Place it in full son after slowly acclimating it to direct sunlight. Water only when the soil dries out. Misty won’t replace a humidifier because the water droplets can be too big to easily absorb into the plant surface. Misting can hurt if the excess moisture in the leaves can’t be released (transpiration) because of the large droplets of mist blocking the process. 🪴🍀 #### Oksana 🥎🍦🌱 replied on 2025-08-16 That’s not good. 😭 I can’t get a humidifier because where I live it will rot the ceiling. But you think if I use a small diffuser with no essential oils and just water it would work the same? #### Sunny replied on 2025-08-17 The small cool mist diffuser could work. You may have to refill a few tines a week. --- _Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_