Skip to Content

Why Is My Croton Dropping Leaves? [ Know Here ]

Why Is My Croton Dropping Leaves? [ Know Here ]

The croton plant (Codiaeum variegatum) is one of the most popular houseplants known for its lush and brilliant colored leafage. Crotons are low-maintenance plants and thrive perfectly with simple care.

Even though that is the case, it is a pretty common thing to notice that croton is beginning to lose its leaves soon after being brought home.

But no need to be alarmed. A croton plant shedding its leaves is very normal.

Let’s look into why it happens and how to fix the situation and prevent it from happening further.

Why is My Croton Dropping Leaves?

Crotons are usually very resilient and robust plants. These tropical babies are quite tough and very good survivors. Nonetheless, several reasons can influence them to shed their leaves. Let us discuss them in brief.

1. Sudden Change in Environment

Crotons are very hostile to change, and their reaction to the shock of a sudden change in environment is to drop their leaves.

This behavior often leads to a newly purchased croton dropping some or all of its leaves within a few days, which can prove shocking for a new croton owner who is not well aware of its habits.

2. Deficit of Humidity

Exposure to low humidity can lead to crotons shedding their leaves. These plants have come from tropical origins where there is an abundance of humidity.

Hence, crotons are naturally built to thrive ideally when exposed to humid surroundings.

If you are exposing your croton to an unhealthy amount of aridity, expect it to start losing its leaves.

3. Poor Watering

Croton plants generally do not need a lot of water to survive. This nature of theirs often paves the path for their owners to water them scarcely and irresponsibly.

Underwatering leads to Croton leaves to drop off. Making sure that the very limited thirst of your croton is quenched, is a must.

4. Excess Watering

Overwatering crotons leads to their leaves dropping off as a signal of stress.

These plants are the best fit for a moderate amount of watering. Too much watering is harmful to these plants’ health. One must keep a check on the amount of water that these plants are receiving on a regular basis.

5. Excess Exposure to The Sun

Exposure to too much direct and intense sunlight can cause Croton leaves to start dropping off.

Even though it is a well-known fact that crotons enjoy a significant amount of sunlight, excessive exposure to the scorching sun is harmful to their health and can even turn out to be fatal.

6. Lack of Exposure to The Sun

Crotons might start to lose coloration of their leaves and eventually start to drop off in low light levels.

They survive competently in partially shaded surroundings but one must ensure a minimum amount of diffused, if not direct sunlight to these plants. If your croton is not receiving enough sunlight, its health will significantly deplete.

7. Harshly Cold Temperatures

Crotons are plants of tropical origin and require a substantial amount of warmth to thrive well. They do survive well enough in relatively colder climates but one must not expose them to atrociously low temperatures as well.

Crotons start to drop their leaves as a sign of being jaded from exposure to severely low temperatures (below 50 degrees Fahrenheit). Their need for warmth must not be overlooked.

8. Extreme Use of Chemical Fertilizers

Too much use of chemical fertilizers happens to be one of the chief reasons for weakening the Crotons’ vibrant colors and actively promoting the loss of their leaves.

9. Soggy Moist Soil

Excess moisture in the soil might give rise to various complications in a Croton plant. Too much moisture in the soil initially leads to discoloration of a croton’s foliage followed by loss of its leaves. If left unchecked, it finally leads to rotting of its roots which eventually turns fatal.


Also read:

  1. Ways to revive a croton plant
  2. Can croton plant survive winter? Find out here

Will Croton Leaves Grow Back?

Usually, the loss of leaves is temporary. Their leaves can be grown back if you actively offer them the care they were lacking in the first place.

Opt for well-drained and moist soil, regular watering, and misting of the plant to maintain the right amount of humidity, providing the plant with a comfortable environment with a temperature range of between 60-85 degrees Fahrenheit (15-30 degrees Celsius).

To help speed up the process of recovering their leaves, provide them with ample care by watering them properly, protect them from aridity and harsh sunlight, and making sure that they are not exposed to severely cold surroundings.

What to do if Croton Leaves are Drooping?

It can be worrisome to find the beautiful leaves of your croton plant drooping suddenly. But do not panic! It is a very common occurrence in them, and you fix it very easily.

Crotons love moist soil to grow in. Make sure you are not underwatering your plant. Make sure that the aridity of the soil never shoots up significantly. If the top 2″- 3″ of the soil is dry, it’s time for some watering.

  • Place your plant in a washbasin or a bucket, or a large container. Fill the basin up with 3″ -4″ of room temperature water.
  • Let the plant absorb water through the hole in the bottom of the pot for around an hour or so.
  • Check whether 2″ -3″ of the top layers of the soil has been soaking or not.
  • If the entirety of the soil does not feel well soaked in water, pour water on the soil from above to expedite the procedure.
  • When the croton’s soil is evenly moist, drain the sink, allow the plant to rest, and let the water drain thoroughly.

On that note, remember that the sudden moisture retention of the formerly dry soil might add stress to the plant and trigger it to lose some of its leaves, to begin with. Giving it some time to adjust is advisable.

Crotons are tropical plants so they will survive better in more humid surroundings.

Increase the peripheral humidity of your croton by misting regularly, using a pebble tray, or installing a humidifier near it if you are a resident of a fairly arid region. That much shall assure your croton good health and cease it from producing droopy leaves.

Conclusion:

Crotons carry a spirited set of exotic colors on them.

Supplying them with the care and nourishment they require, is not a conundrum.

They are not a stickler for extreme pampering.

Providing them with the minimal care they desire is not much of a task.

If you are someone whose crotons are displaying drooping leaves and you are looking for a remedy for their better health, look no further! This article will surely aid you in dealing with the issue of competency.