Main highlights:
- Crotons
- Types of crotons
Crotons are extremely beautiful and loved for their bright foliage and intriguing patterns. Most croton plants make the best house plants. You can even plant them in warmer areas outdoors. Low-maintenance plants are really good plants for beginners. This plant adds a splash to your garden.
There are some immensely beautiful plants that will bring light and colour to your life. These plants will accessorise your home and balcony in a way you can’t even imagine. These aesthetically pleasing plants will enhance the look of the garden or the special corner of the house. All you have to do is take a little care of them and in return, it will pay off better results.
The genus includes a myriad of flowering plants including a range of herbs, shrubs, and trees. Croton hail from the Euphorbiaceae family. The species are predominantly native to tropical climates in the Indo-Malayan and Central American regions. Croton displays a wide range of colour tones ranging between tropical green, pinks, reds, yellows, and more.
However, the plants are toxic if consumed so it is best to lean on the side of caution. Therefore particularly pet animals and children should be monitored carefully in case you are growing the plants in an indoor environment. Also, croton is an excellent natural air purifier. This also removes harmful airborne toxins.
Croton Plant Requirements
Light Requirement
Croton requires enough sunlight to thrive. Ensure a location in your home that receives plenty of bright, indirect light for your croton plant throughout the majority of the day. The south or east-facing window would be perfect with a little protection.
Soil Requirement
A well-drained soil which is rich in nutrients is preferably suited for croton.
Water Requirements
Croton requires sustainable moisture conditions. The plant loves moisture but shouldn’t be left to stand in a saturated soil base. You can water the plant between 7 to 10 days or so in spring and summer if the top few inches of soil feel dry to the touch.
Fertilizers
Croton plants can be fertilized monthly in the spring and summer seasons.
Pests and Diseases
When kept indoors croton plants are usually resistant to diseases. However, the plant is susceptible to common pests and small insects.
Below is the list of the top 5 croton plants that you must bring to light up your balcony.
1. Petra Croton
Petra Croton has bright yellow, red, or orange mottling with oval green leaves. The plant is native to southeast Asia and the South Pacific. The plant requires at least five hours of bright indirect sun. The suitable temperature range varies somewhere between 60-85 degree F. Petra croton can be grown indoors as well as outdoors.
2. Lauren’s Rainbow
Lauren’s Rainbow Croton has tall stems with thin leaves at the top of it. The leaves have a single colour as their base. Another shade runs down the middle of the leaves. This combination makes the plant extremely beautiful. Lauren rainbow requires high humidity content to grow. The plant can reach up to five feet tall and five feet wide under the right conditions
3. Gold Dust Croton
The gold dust Croton has yellow-painted leaves with a dark green base spread across the entire area of the leaf. It requires at least 6 hours of indirect yet bright sunlight when grown outdoors. The temperature range can vary somewhere between 60 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and also helps to maintain moderate to high humidity content.
4. Banana Croton
Banana Croton is suitable for small spaces as it is a perfect petite plant. It has oblong leaves with a bright shade of green. The plant requires bright yet indirect sunlight under some shade. The banana Croton is a slow-growing plant. It grows up to a maximum of six feet tall. However, it usually remains only a foot or two tall indoors.
5. Oakleaf Croton
As the name suggests oakleaf has lobed leaves that resemble the leaf of an oak plant. The leaves have bright yellow markings with a green base. The yellow markings turn red as the plant ages. The plant is also referred to as croton excellent by people. Oakleaf croton can grow up to a height of 6 feet.
6. Mother and Daughter Croton
The plant gets its name from unmistakable leaves. The oblong leaves appear as if the small leaf is attached to a larger leaf. In reality, it is one leaf attached via a midrib. The plant requires five to eight hours of bright yet indirect light each day. The humidity content required for this plant is between moderate to high.
When grown indoors mother and daughter croton grows typically a foot or two tall whereas when planted outdoors the plant can grow over four feet tall.
