A croton plant is a type of evergreen shrub or small tree that is native to tropical regions. It is known for its colorful foliage, which can be green, yellow, red, orange, purple, or bronze. Crotons are popular as houseplants because of their bright and varied foliage. When crotons aren’t properly cared for, though, they can get a little bit leggy and spindly, which makes them less attractive. Fortunately, you can follow a few simple steps to make your croton bushier.
How to make your croton bushier
Croton plants are at their most attractive when they have a nice, full, healthy, bushy-looking appearance. If your croton is looking leggy and weak, follow the below steps to make your croton bushier.
Provide adequate light
Crotons need bright light to look their best and most bushier. The ideal amount of light for crotons is at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day. If placed in a shaded area, the plant will become leggy and may not reach its full potential. Place the croton in an area that receives full sun for the majority of the day, such as a south or west-facing window. If the light is too intense, diffuse it with a sheer curtain or blind.
Water weekly
Watering 1 inch per week will help your croton look bushy and healthy because it will ensure that the soil is moist and that the plant’s roots are receiving the necessary hydration for growth. Additionally, when the soil is moist, it will encourage the plant to take up more nutrients from the soil and promote healthy growth. By ensuring that your croton receives an adequate amount of water per week, it will help it to remain bushy and healthy.
Fertilize
Using 3-1-2 or 8-2-10 fertilizer provides a boost of growth for croton plants because it provides essential nutrients for healthy growth. These fertilizers are high in nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, which are the three main nutrients plants need for healthy growth. Nitrogen helps with leaf and stem growth, phosphorus helps with root and flower development, and potassium helps with overall health and hardiness. These fertilizers also contain important micronutrients such as magnesium and calcium, which are essential for plant health. When applied to soil, these fertilizers help to provide the nutrients necessary for a healthy, vigorous croton plant that can withstand harsh weather and pests.
Prune leggy branches
Removing leggy growth on a croton helps it look bushier by encouraging new, healthier growth because leggy growth is a sign of weak, unhealthy growth caused by too little light. Removing this weak, unhealthy growth encourages the plant to focus its energy on new, healthier growth that is bushier and more compact. This is because the plant is now receiving more light and is able to create stronger, healthier stems and foliage. This will result in a bushier, fuller-looking croton.
Pinch off new leaf growth
Pinching off new leaf growth on a croton helps it look bushier by encouraging more leaves to grow because it forces the plant to produce more new growth. When a new leaf is pinched off, the plant sends out a signal that stimulates the production of new shoots and leaves. By doing this, it encourages the plant to become bushier and fuller, with more leaves. The removal of the new growth also helps the plant to become more compact, as there are fewer leaves and stems that are competing for resources.