Croton Comparison
Question: I have two curly leaf Croton plants and one is losing its leaves. From the top to the bottom to the plant is becoming bare. It’s potted outdoors and the soil seems moist enough. New foliage seems to be coming in the same area as the fallen leaves. Why do you think it’s losing its leaves?
Answer: I see this with a lot of Crotons and the answer is light! Crotons are sun worshipers that commonly lose their leaves if not exposed to bright sun. If it gets a lot of sun, there could be a few other factors.
If the soil is kept too wet, it can cause the Croton to shed leaves. This would make sense since once the soil reached a more comfortable level of moisture, the leaves would grow back.
Also, it could have been damaged by gnawing insects, which would be normal for an outside plant, and also easy to miss, even on careful inspection.
If the leaves are growing back, then the plant has returned to favorable conditions, and there is nothing to worry about!
You should carefully examine each plants living conditions. There’s a reason why one plant is fine, and one is suffering. Maybe one is cast into a shadow for most of the day. Maybe one of them is under an eave and doesn’t receive enough rain. See what’s different, and you will find the reason your plant is not thriving.
Bring it inside soon, since Croton can’t stand cold. Inspect the leaves VERY carefully. Make sure there are no hitchhikers hiding in the leaves, and on the soil. You should place it next to a strong light so it can keep its beautiful leaves through the Winter.
These are Croton planted outdoors - In Venezuela.
Can you tell me if one of the stalks on my croton is dying if the leaves are droopy but didn’t fall, and the stalk is has some green and shrinking in size not full like the other stalk. COULD I have over watered, or not enough light? The leaves that are droopy are new growth. Should I cut the top off so it could grow new leaves. Help.