A croton normally dies as a result of inadequate or excessive watering, transplant shock, or exposure to freezing weather. Tropical plants like crotons are delicate to cold weather. Lower than 50°F temperatures lead the crotons’ leaves to droop and look to be dying.
Crotons can exhibit signs of stress in reaction to circumstances that are different from their natural environment, such as drooping, yellowing, and leaf loss.
Croton plants must be brought back to life under conditions that mimic those of their natural habitat, such as constant warmth, evenly moist soil, a high humidity level, and either partial sun or brilliant, indirect light.
Read on to find out why your croton is dying and how to save it.
Table of Contents
Croton Plant Dropping its Leaves
- Symptoms. The plant’s leaves may droop downward and fall off abruptly or gradually over time. Frequently, before they fall off, leaves turn yellow.
- Causes. Temperatures lower than 50°F (10°C), underwatering, overwatering, transplant shock after being moved from indoors to outdoors, and so on.
Crotons are appealing indoor plants that are indigenous to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia. These regions have year-round warmth, relatively high humidity, well-draining soil, and regular rainfall.
It’s crucial to mimic some of these circumstances indoors in order to properly cultivate crotons.
If your croton is dropping leaves, this is an indication of stress because your home’s conditions are different from what it would prefer in its natural environment, which puts it under stress.
Because they are susceptible to cold, crotons frequently drop their leaves in the winter, even indoors.
The leaves of your croton plant can drop in temperatures as low as 50°F (10°C), so take care to keep them away from cold windows and air conditioning vents, which can dehydrate the leaves and reduce humidity while also potentially keeping the temperature on the lower side of what is comfortable for your croton plant.
Crotons are frequently transferred outside in the summer when the weather is more hospitable, but the abrupt change in climate could be the reason why your plant’s leaves start to fall off.
Crotons’ leaves can droop for a variety of reasons, but the most frequent ones are either inadequate or excessive watering. Crops require a well-draining soil that is consistently moist. The croton leaves fall off and the plant can die of root rot if the roots are in soggy soil.
Due to overwatering, pots without drainage holes in the base, the use of saucers, trays, and decorative pots preventing extra water from evaporating, the soil may be excessively wet for croton plants.
As a survival tactic, the croton will drop its leaves if the soil and air are too dry in order to stop further moisture loss through transpiration (water loss from the leaves).
How to Revive Croton with Drooping Leaves or Losing its Leaves due to Under Watering
By taking these measures, you can guarantee that the croton will be able to absorb the water it needs from the potting soil, reversing any drooping or wilted leaves, and preventing any additional leaves from falling off due to dry stress.
After adjusting watering techniques, it can take some time before the croton fully recovers, but if new growth starts to appear, you can be sure the plant is on the mend.
How to Revive Croton Dropping Leaves due to Over Watering or Boggy Soil
- Reduce the watering right away. If the root ball has been in soggy soil, allow the soil to drain thoroughly. Croton plants need moist soil that drains effectively so that the roots are not suffocated and greater leaf drop does not occur.
- Make sure your croton is planted in a soil mixture that drains effectively. A combination of around three parts regular potting soil and one part perlite offers a nice balance of moisture retention properties while yet being well draining to prevent root rot.
- The use of saucers, trays, and decorative outer pots is helpful in the home to avoid overflowing water from the pot, but it can also hinder water from adequately draining from the bottom of the pot. To guarantee proper drainage and avoid your croton’s roots from sitting in standing water, which would cause the leaves to fall off and the plant to wither, constantly empty anything that is under your pot of any extra water.
The croton can recover once it has been re-potted in better, well-draining potting soil and in a pot with drainage holes in the base, though recovery is frequently gradual because it is more challenging to revive an overwatered croton than an underwatered croton.
While your croton heals, maintain a watering plan to keep the soil equally moist, and place it in bright, indirect light. The plant should start to grow again in the Spring and Summer.
Goo drainage is crucial when growing crotons because if the plant has been in wet, mucky soil for a long period, it has probably acquired root rot, which can destroy the plant.
Revive Dying Croton with Yellow Leaves Due to Cold Temperatures or Transplant Shock
The cause is much more likely to be cold temperatures, the croton having been relocated to a new area, or it having been disturbed by re-potting if the leaves have fallen off quickly than than gradually.
In response to cold weather and an abrupt change in conditions, the leaves can also turn yellow and wither.
Crotons are tropical plants, therefore it’s crucial to keep them in an environment with somewhat even temperatures, ideally between 60°F and 85°F (15°C to 30°C). Crotons typically lose their leaves and begin to wither in temperatures below 50°F (10°C).
The severity of the cold snap—both in terms of duration and how much colder than 50oF the croton had to endure—determines whether or not it revives if the croton has been damaged by the cold.
The only way to revive it is to pick a site free from air currents and drafts, make sure that the leaves are not in contact with chilly windows, and follow the best maintenance techniques like routine watering, frequent misting, and brilliant indirect light.
In the upcoming weeks, assuming the plant is in the spring or summer, new growth should appear if it has a chance to heal (crotons can be dormant in Winter with little to no growth).
Crotons frequently lose their leaves when transferred because of the shock of the differences in environment, especially when going from indoors to outside.
Usually, this is only a temporary situation, and the leaves can regrow if the croton is properly cared for with moist, well-draining soil, regular watering and misting to maintain humidity, and the ideal temperature range of between 60°F and 85°F (15°C to 30°C).
While the croton is under stress, avoid fertilizing it because doing so is counterproductive. Instead, watch for early signs of fresh development.
Revive Croton Leaves Losing Color
Crotons can withstand some partial sun, but they prefer intense indirect light. This is so because crotons, which are native to tropical areas of the world, frequently grow beneath canopies that reflect brilliant light or get filtered sunlight.
The lovely variegated foliage of the leaves tends to seem worn and lifeless in direct sunshine and may even turn yellow or brown. Additionally, this may result in issues like drooping leaves.
However, poor growth results if the croton is located in a dark region of the house. The leaves may also turn green instead of their original variegated hue.
If your croton has been overly shaded or in direct sunlight, moving it to a spot with strong, indirect light will help it recover.
Key Takeaways:
- The usual causes of a dying croton plant include freezing weather, overwatering, or either underwatering or overwatering. Lower than 50°F temperatures cause the croton plant to wither and lose its leaves. Low humidity and insufficient watering might cause the leaves to yellow, die back, and drop off.
- Crotons’ stressed-out leaves also turn yellow and drop off as a result of over watering. To prevent water from collecting around the roots, plant crotons in pots with drainage holes in the base and place empty saucers or trays underneath the pots.
- The leaves of crotons may burn or lose color if they receive too much sunlight. The color of the variegated lettuce might also be diminished by insufficient sun.
- Crotons can be revived by placing the plant in direct, bright light, making ensuring the soil is consistently moist but well draining, and misting the leaves often to create a humid microclimate that mimics the humidity of the plant’s natural environment. The plant can recover if you always keep the croton in a warm environment, ideally between 60°F and 85°F (15°C to 30°C).