I was gifted this Croton a few weeks ago and it just continues to drop leaves. I’ve got a humidifier in my plant room, along with grow lights (the room is north facing and doesn’t get tons of sun), but the leaves just keep dropping! Is this normal? Will they grow back eventually or is it fully unaliving itself?
I usually like to water mine when the soil is dry. Then give it a big dunk of water and I always water it by letting it sit in water for couple of hours till the soil is fully wet. Hopefully it will grow back but it’s normal it to lose bottom leaves first not top so you might be over or under watering. Make sure your pot is not sitting in water and bottom water then let the soil get dry for next watering. Also add some more soil to the nursery pot especially around the trunks of the plant and add low grade fertilizer. If top watering try to aim the water near the edges of the pot not the middle. But honestly bottom watering this plant will be more beneficial.
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These can be temperamental in that they do experience stress when moved (at least mine did). 😁 It could be going through shock adapting to a new environment. Hence the dropping of leaves, it also could be the seasonal change and it’s adjusting to that, I would definitely give it a good month and continue the great care that you are giving it now. Water when the first couple inches of the soil is dry.
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All day sun, regular fertilizer, higher humidity, watering when dry and warm temperatures help a croton thrive. The north window is the worst location. The grow light needs to be strong and close, within a foot from the top, and running 12-14 hours a day to be effective. They drop leaves from low light, insufficient/irregular watering, low temperatures, or low humidity. I wouldn’t label crotons sensitive or temperamental. They have minimum requirements being tropical plants. It’s like labeling a tomato plant a temperamental houseplant. Tomatoes can grow well indoors if their minimum requirements for light, temperature, root space, watering and fertilization are met. Crotons, like tomatoes, do fine outside even in pots. You will have to make the indoor environment fit the plant. 🪴🍀
3 likes It’s under grow lights 13ish hours a day that are placed about 10 inches away. It sits about 1ft away from my humidifier, I’m trying to get the hang of watering it. I feel like the planta schedule is a little too frequent so far. It hasn’t dropped any leaves in the last 3 days, so hoping we are turning a corner!
1 like Run the lights 14-16 hours. The light may not be intense enough. Planta’s watering schedule a kill your plants if you strictly it without checking if the plant actually needs water. The schedule can’t fit every environment. 🪴🍀
0 likesThese want lots of light. Like as much as you can provide. Also you may want to water a bit more often (soil looks dry.) And remove any dropped leaves; leaf litter can encourage pest and mold issues
2 likesThese plants don't like to be moved. As long as the stem looks healthy it will grow new leaves.
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