Last updated on September 26th, 2022 at 01:06 pm
Do you wish to plant crotons in your garden and are confused about whether they can thrive outdoors? Well, if yes, you’re not the only one with that concern.
I’ve had several gardeners come to me asking if they can plant crotons outside, and since most of the ones they saw were pretty much indoors, it was a valid concern.
So, you can plant croton outside. These plants do best when planted outside because they are tropical plants that thrive in warm and temperate areas.
While outside, they would receive an abundance of sunlight and air. Nonetheless, in areas with excessive heat and cold, these plants will suffer.
Are Crotons Indoor or Outdoor Plants?
Crotons are outdoor plants that you can plant both indoors and outdoors. They thrive when grown both indoors and outdoors.
Because they are tropical plants, one important thing to consider when growing crotons either outside or inside is light availability. Crotons have brightly colored leaves, and these leaves require light to grow to their full potential.
When crotons are grown indoors, they rarely flower because of the nature of the air indoors, which is usually dry either from heating or air conditioners.
Growing crotons as outdoor plants require all the necessary conditions to suit them to help the plant do better. But, have you ever try to find out if croton is an annual or perennial Plant?
When planted outdoors, crotons serve as landscape plants that create an aesthetic appearance with their colorful leaves. Also, when crotons are grown indoors, the brightness of their colors helps in lighting the room.
Just like all plants have requirements, you can plant croton either as an indoor or as an outdoor plant when the following conditions are put in place:
1. Moisture
Moisture is a very important requirement for crotons to survive, either as an outdoor or an indoor plant. Furthermore, moisture is required for crotons to absorb nutrients properly.
2. Sunlight
Sunlight is a basic requirement for crotons. And it doesn’t matter whether they are planted as outdoor or indoor plants.
Sunlight is a determining factor when it comes to the coloration of the leaves of crotons. So, the light you provide should be moderate, not too high, and not too low.
3. Soil Type
The type of soil required by crotons, whether grown outdoors or indoors, is important for their growth. Well-drained soil is perfect for them. Nonetheless, they are able to adapt to any soil.
4. pH
The right pH for crotons is within a range of 4.5 to 6.5 on the pH scale. Crotons love acidic soils, whether grown indoors or outdoors.
5. Temperature
Temperature is an important factor to consider; whether crotons are grown outdoors or indoors, only the right temperature will make them thrive. Otherwise, they will die off.
6. Pruning
For crotons, pruning is not required. It’s best to only prune off the parts of the plants that have gone bad.
7. Humidity
The humidity range of crotons should always be within the range of 40% to 80%. Anything less or more could be fatal to the plant.
What Temperature Can Croton Plants Tolerate?
Crotons can tolerate temperatures within the range of 45°F to 75°F. Temperatures below 45°F would be too cold, and those above 75°F would be too hot for crotons.
Crotons have a very low tolerance for temperature irregularities as they are temperature-sensitive plants; a constant temperature change will affect crotons and may even lead to death.
It is best to protect your plant in seasons like winter by providing a covering over it to provide warmth. Doing this will enable the plant to survive the season.
When planted in pots or containers during cold seasons, you can move them indoors to regulate the temperature.
Furthermore, crotons do not like frosts as frosts freeze the leaves and might kill them. It’s best to keep your croton from conditions that expose them to heat as heat kills crotons.
When the weather is hot, the best way of protecting crotons is by placing them in an area where there’s air. Also, the place should not be windy as this can shake and move the plant; crotons don’t like frequent movements.
How Often Do I Need to Water my Crotons Outside?
Watering crotons when planted outside could be daily or weekly. Moreover, how often to water your crotons is dependent on the moisture content of the soil.
In periods when the soil is dry, you should water your plant daily. Even at that, how often to water crotons is controlled by the type of soil it is planted in and the soil’s drainage.
Crotons are not water-loving plants, but they still need water and as such. It is important to be very careful when applying water to the plant to avoid overwatering. For crotons, when wilting occurs, it is a sign of overwatering.
So, to avoid this, it’s best to check the soil and see how moist it is before watering. If the water level has dropped less than two inches, then you need to water the plant.
The dangers of overwatering crotons are rotting of both stems and leaves of the plant. Overwatering can also cause leaf drooping and may impair the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients properly.
When apply too much water at a time, you can use a pebble tray to pour out excess water. But you should do this after 30 minutes of application.
The pebble tray used in removing the excess water would help in curbing rotting. Another problem arises when you don’t know how often to water crotons you may underwater the plant. Underwatering also causes leaf drooping in the plant.
Also, shock will occur when transplanting occurs without applying the right amount of water. In the winter, the risks of underwatering indoor plants increase.
Conclusion
Crotons can be planted outside, but special care needs to be given to avoid destroying the plant. Crotons are delicate and sensitive plants.
Hence, they require certain conditions to be put in place, such as proper sunlight, temperature, pH, moisture, humidity, etc. So, how crotons thrive when planted outside is dependent on how the plant is treated.