Complete Care & Troubleshooting Guide
Crotons are the houseplant world's argument that foliage can out-color flowers: leathery leaves splashed and veined in red, orange, yellow, and purple. The color intensity is your report card — the more light, the more fire.
Care. Bright light with some direct morning sun keeps colors blazing; dim rooms fade leaves to plain green. Keep soil evenly moist (they dramatize drought with a full wilt — and usually recover) and humidity moderate; a monthly shower keeps leaves glossy. Warmth matters: they dislike cold drafts below 60°F and may sulk after relocation. Feed monthly in growth; prune leggy stems to branch.
Watch for: color fade (more light), leaf drop after a move or draft (recover with stability), and spider mites in dry air. Toxic if chewed and the sap irritates skin — gloves when pruning, placement above pets.