Croton disease: why it sheds leaves

Lighting requirements

Light is the second factor that can ruin your cultivation. Croton (photo) requires a lot of sunlight, but not direct ones - they burn the leaves that are unable to recover. In winter, it is better to keep the flower on the south or east window - the rays are cold, and it receives only what it needs. As summer approaches, the pot needs to be moved to a quieter place, north or west. Moreover, you need to gradually accustom the plant to a more intense sun. If you do not guess with the degree of illumination, the leaves will turn primitive green, and the croton will lose 90% of its attractiveness.

KROTON has fallen off all the leaves. Why croton leaves dry and fall and what to do at the same time

Most growers claim that the codenium is unpretentious to care for and even beginners are able to grow this plant. But sometimes you can observe that some or even all of the leaves turn yellow. After a while, they can dry out and fall off.

The reason for this is the failure to comply with one or more conditions of proper care, often caused by an elementary ignorance of what this representative of the tropical flora needs.

Improper watering

In most cases, when the codenium has dropped the leaves, there is a violation of the watering rules. Like most tropical species, it loves a humid climate and adequate watering. Especially it is necessary to monitor the condition of the soil in the summer season: it should always be moist.

The plant will react quickly enough to the dryness of the earth - the leaves will drop, turn yellow and fall off. In the best case, only the top will remain of the beautiful crown. To avoid this, it is necessary to water the codeium as needed. If the plant is large, then you can "water" it a little every day.

It is important to remember that the water should be at room temperature and preferably separated

Watering croton, you must observe the measure. The soil should be moist, but the water should not stagnate. A great way to avoid this is gravel, which should be placed on a pallet with the plant.

Moisture must enter the plant not only through the root system, but also through the leaves. The flower will gratefully accept spraying the crown from a spray bottle. You can simply wipe the sheets with a damp sponge. If the plant is small, then in the summer it is advisable to spray the leaves from the shower at least once a month.

Important! Do not spray croton sheets in direct sunlight - from this they will turn yellow and fall off.

Containment breach

In caring for the codenium, it is important to observe the temperature regime. It must be remembered that he comes from the tropics, so the low air temperature in the room is destructive for him.

In winter, it should not fall below 17 ° C - if this figure is lower, then the leaves turn yellow and fall off.

Hot air is also dangerous for croton, but its harm, unlike cold air, can be compensated for by high humidity.

Florists recommend not to violate the conditions of keeping the codenium and to create a comfortable temperature for life at the level of + 22 ... + 25 ° С. In the summer, you can take the flower out into the fresh air - this will heal it and strengthen the immune system.

Incorrect location

Croton can get sick from standing in the wrong place. A draft can destroy it, so it is better to place the flowerpot in some corner. The angle of the window sill will be quite acceptable if the plant is young and short.

In all cases, it is necessary to avoid direct sunlight on the crown, therefore, the best place for "living" for Croton is considered to be sufficiently illuminated rooms, the windows of which face the west or east. The morning and evening sun is not so active there, and the flower will feel comfortable.

Did you know? In the homeland of codenium, in East India and Malaysia, the height of this plant can be 2.5 meters.

Lack of nutrients

Codenium leaves will wilt if the soil is not suitable for it.Ideally, this should be a versatile primer for plants with a lot of foliage. In addition, the leaves may turn yellow and fall off due to the lack of sufficient nutrients in the soil.

It is especially important to monitor this after the transplant.

Any solution of complex mineral fertilizers is suitable for fertilization. It is recommended to apply it twice a month from early spring to late autumn; in winter, once a month is sufficient.

Croton responds well to watering with the addition of hydrogen peroxide at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water. This nutrient solution will provide additional oxygen to the root system.

Diseases and pests

Florists are in solidarity in the opinion that most often the plant is sick due to the lack of the necessary air humidity and dry soil, therefore, in order to treat diseases, these two factors must be brought back to normal.

The most common plant infecting a flower parasite is the spider mite. Less often, the scale insects, mealybugs and nematodes bring troubles. When they appear, it is enough to treat the plant with any acaricidal preparation, for example, "Aktelik", "Neoron", "Fitoverm".

The scabbard can be removed from the leaves with a sponge, which is pre-moistened in a concentrated soap solution.

In the fight against pests, an aqueous solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide will also help. For a liter of water, 50 ml of it is taken and 50 grams of sugar is added; with the resulting mixture, wipe the leaves and the trunk of the plant.

Why Croton sheds leaves: causes and fight against them

After 2 hours, it is necessary to drain the water from the pan so as not to harm the roots (by the way, check their condition by pulling the plant out of the ground; if there are rotten roots, then they must be removed from the cut point by treating the cut with crushed activated carbon to exclude the disease). Before the next watering, the TOP soil layer should dry out slightly. In winter, watering is more moderate (i.e. water when the soil dries up 2-3 cm deep). At the bottom of the pot, drain well to avoid stagnant water. Good luck!

And water? Maybe not watered for a long time? Croton loves moisture and, if underfilled, lowers the leaves.

first, take out the plant of their pot and examine the roots - maybe there is nothing to save. according to the condition of the roots, you will see - underfilling or overflowing - you will take appropriate measures. in general, crotons do not like temperature drops and temperatures are below 18 degrees. for a long time (5-6 hours is enough) it is already critical for the plant, especially if the flower was recently watered - wet roots cool faster. the temperature is above 26 degrees. - also poorly tolerated, especially if the humidity is low - when the batteries are turned on, the air humidity drops significantly. - increase the humidity using the methods available to you.

There can be many reasons: overflow or overdrying of an earthen coma, draft. temperature difference, the presence of a pest, transplanting, moving from place to place. It is necessary to adjust the watering - water after the earthen coma dries by half. be sure to maintain high humidity. Spray the plant with epin once a week - it will help to recover. If the ground is too wet now. then it is necessary to wrap an earthen lump with newspaper or toilet paper, change as it gets wet.

Pests and Diseases: Affected by the red spider mite and scabbard.

Special difficulties:

Falling of lower leaves - brown tips of leaves - air or soil too dry.

Brown edges of the leaves - too low temperature.

Leaves lose color - not enough light.

Features of care: The plant is poisonous!

If the leaves began to lose their color, it is necessary to increase the lighting.

In horticulture, codiaums are sold after hardening - for this, the temperature is reduced to 20 ° C, and then to 18 ° C. Plants prefer moderate heat throughout the year.The optimum temperature for codiaeums is not less than 20 - 22 ° C, however, they are able to withstand lower winter temperatures (but not lower than 16 ° C) if the soil is almost dry. Bloom annually and abundantly. With a prolonged stay at a temperature of 10-12 ° C, the leaves crumble. Plants can be placed near radiators by wrapping the pots in moist moss that evaporates the water.

Codiae does not like temperature changes and drafts very much.

Hello! My croton's leaves dry and fall. I follow the watering, there is enough light. What could be the reason? What to do with it?

Hello! I would like more information about your houseplant, so you can give more accurate advice. Leaves can turn yellow in different ways (at the tips, spots, evenly, etc.), fall off at different rates. From such a general question, several general recommendations can be made.

Croton (the second name is codiaum) is a whimsical and demanding plant. Any violation of light, temperature or water conditions can lead to problems, in particular, falling foliage.

There are several main reasons why Croton's leaves dry and fall off:

• various diseases;
• pests;
• excessive or insufficient watering;
• too dry indoor air;
• violations of the light regime;
• during the period of adaptation to new conditions;
• too hot or cold in the room;
• natural leaf replacement process.

We will not dwell on the last point for a long time. It is worth noting that in this case the process goes gradually, smoothly, 1-2 leaves fall off. At the same time, new shoots always appear on the upper part of the plant, and the growth outstrips the fall, that is, the codiaum does not look "shabby". Symptoms indicating that something is wrong with Croton may include the following:

• few leaves remain on the stems, and this can be seen with the naked eye;
• weak growth of young foliage;
• young leaves turn yellow;
• the tips of the leaves dry up;
• yellowness appears in spots.

If you have recently acquired a plant, then it is quite possible that this is just a period of adaptation to new conditions. Even moving to another room is difficult. The flower acclimatizes and gets sick because of this. If suitable conditions have been created for the culture, then in 1-2 weeks it will return to normal, the foliage will stop falling off, it will become bright.

How to raise croton leaves. What to do if the leaves of the croton dropped?

Good day! Recently presented with Croton. The leaves were lifted up, now the leaves are as if shoulder-width apart. ”And so it has been a month. I spray, watering is normal, I have not transplanted yet, I look at the top leaves at the ends dry. I don’t understand what’s the matter. Valentine

Hello Valentine!

Croton (codiaeum) is very capricious in room culture; he loves very good lighting (it is shaded only from hot sunlight), warmth and proper watering (in autumn and winter - moderate), clean leaves, spraying, humid air. Croton sheds leaves in case of mistakes in care and a draft.

The leaves of the plants fall and become soft when the earthen coma dries out, but in such a situation, they cannot be watered heavily at once (the roots will rot). Lightly water the surface of the soil, sprinkle the croton leaves with water with the addition of Epin and after the leaves have dried, place the plant in a “mini-greenhouse”. The next day, the soil can be watered a little more, sprinkled on the leaves and, if necessary, placed in the greenhouse again until the leaves are restored to normal condition. The next watering of croton is done after slightly drying out the soil.

Croton should be watered, sprayed and the leaves should be washed at least once a week. For the spring-autumn period, when the plant receives a sufficient amount of sunlight, Croton needs care with especially abundant wet "injections" - abundant watering (every day or every other day). Make sure the soil dries out a little between watering.The plant does not like sudden changes in temperature, drafts and very cold water. Watering can be replaced with abundant spraying (they can be alternated). Croton needs different care depending on the season. In winter, choose a location with adequate lighting for the plant. Watering must be reduced (once every two to three days).

With good care, Croton can bloom regularly, but the inflorescences are small and the flowers are inconspicuous.

It is advisable to transplant in the spring. It is recommended not to break the earthen ball with the root system, but to transplant the roots "as is". Do not under any circumstances start transplanting if the plant is weakened. Since this procedure is very painful for Croton. It is also advisable to feed the plant only in the spring-autumn period.

One of the main enemies of croton is the spider mite. These arachnids can also participate in harvesting your pet's leaves. Signs of the appearance of a spider mite on croton - the leaves lose their color, fade, a white fluffy bloom forms on the back of the leaf along the central vein.

The botanical name of the plant is codiaeum (codiaeum). Croton appeared in Europe in the nineteenth century. Currently, many varieties of plants are grown, differing mainly in the shape of the leaves.

Why does Croton shed its upper leaves? Why is Croton naughty ...

In this article, we will consider the main difficulties of keeping indoor croton: why croton sheds leaves, crumbles, fades, for what reason brown spots appear on the leaves.

It is worth noting in advance that, in general, the croton (codiaum) plant is not particularly whimsical, and with proper care it is not capricious, but there are several factors that seriously affect the appearance of this plant.

Why do croton leaves lose their color?

As a rule, the reason is a lack of light. Croton is a light-loving plant and the pigment is produced only in bright diffused lighting. When there is not enough light, the leaves of croton are simply green.

If there is too much light, the leaves of the codiaum also lose their bright colors. Also, burns may appear from excess sun - this is the result of exposure to direct sunlight.

In young crotons, foliage can be dim, and sometimes just green. This is quite normal, since in many croton varieties, brightness comes at a more mature age.

The croton plant leaves leaves.

Often leaves fall off the codiaum due to the effects of drafts, stagnant water in the soil and "cold feet". The last two factors can even lead to the death of the plant, so do not miss this sign and take urgent action. You can spray the plant with succinic acid so that it stops crumbling and urgently change the conditions of detention. Remember that even in winter, the air temperature in the room where the codiaum grows should not fall below +15 ° C.

Why Croton dries.

If the room is too dry, brown spots appear on the tips of the croton leaves. In this case, the leaves can gradually continue to dry towards the center and fall off. This problem can be easily remedied by increasing the humidity around the croton.

Croton can also "dry out" due to the damage of the plant by pests. The juice of the codiaum is poisonous, so insects do not like it very much. However, with excessive dryness of the air in combination with a warm content, they can still settle on the plant. The most common croton pest is the spider mite.

Why do Croton leaves wither?

If the croton has hung the leaves, this may be a sign of overheating or lack of moisture. In summer, codiaum quickly absorbs water from the substrate and this must be taken into account when caring for home.

Croton can also lower the leaves, trying to direct them towards the light source. In this case, the upper leaves are directed upwards, and only the lower ones descend, the plant has a healthy appearance and the leaves sit firmly on the stem.

Ambulance Croton:

- Do not rush to dig your croton. This is unnecessary stress that can destroy the plant.

- First of all, spray the plant with Epin diluted according to the instructions or succinic acid, and then cover the foliage with a bag, tying it around the trunk. Ventilate the resulting greenhouse twice a day.

- If there was waterlogging, or there are suspicions of root problems, wait until the earthy clod dries out and add root or other root formation stimulant to subsequent watering. Do not allow waterlogging, otherwise the roots will completely disappear.

- For the period of resuscitation, move the plant to a bright, warm (but not hot) place.

These activities will help Croton recover faster.

Croton reproduction

Croton propagation by seed

At home, croton is propagated by seeds, when it comes to growing hybrids, and stem or leaf cuttings. Croton seeds quickly lose their germination, so you need to sow freshly harvested seeds. It should also be borne in mind that the germination process takes a long time, and most importantly, that varietal characteristics are usually not preserved during generative reproduction. Before planting, large croton seeds need to be warmed up in water at a temperature of 60 ºC for half an hour and left to swell for a day. Sowing is carried out to a depth of one centimeter, the temperature required for seed germination is 22 ºC. Until shoots appear, the soil in the seed container is moistened with bottom irrigation. When the seedlings have a third leaf, they are seated in separate pots with a diameter of 7 cm and looked after like an adult croton.

In the photo: Croton growing

Vegetative breeding method of croton

How to propagate croton by cuttings? The easiest way is to root an apical stalk 6-10 cm long, but if you need several cuttings, then the shoot is cut into pieces in such a way that there is at least one internode with one healthy leaf on each segment. Lignified or semi-lignified cuttings root most easily.

The toxic milky juice flowing from the slices should be washed off with water, and then the slices should be allowed to air dry for three hours.

On the upper part of the apical cutting, the leaves are shortened in half parallel to the veins, and the leaves are removed from the lower part. Then the cuttings are placed with a dried and treated root cut in a container with water heated to 23-30 ºC (to avoid decay of the planting material), and placed for growing roots under bright diffused light. When the stalk grows roots 2 cm long, it is transplanted into a substrate for croton. In the first decade after transplanting, around the cuttings transplanted into the ground, it is necessary to create increased air humidity through frequent spraying. You will learn that the cuttings have started by restoring the elasticity of the leaf.

Prevention measures

Preventive measures are to follow the rules of flower care. Monitor the humidity, place in a warm and well-lit place, avoid direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Provide good ventilation for the plant, but avoid drafts. Water the flower (without flooding), make sure that the substrate in the pot is always moist. Avoid sudden changes in temperature. By observing all these conditions, you will be able to avoid the troubles associated with pest attacks. And if the leaves suddenly begin to wither, with the normalization of care they will be like new.

The process of foliage loss is most often a signal of improper care or illness, but there are exceptions, that is, a natural process. In this article, we will try to figure out why Croton's leaves dry and fall, as well as what to do in this case and whether new ones will grow.

Causes of leaf fall in Croton

Croton has an unusual color of leaves - reddish-yellow, so it is quite difficult to immediately identify signs that they are drying out. Usually, the problem is noticed after the leaves have already begun to crumble.This happens mainly due to improper watering and due to pest infestation.

Croton sheds leaves as a result of both excess moisture and its lack. Air humidity is also very important for this plant, in too dry air, it feels very bad.

The most common pests that infect croton are spider mites (signs: the appearance of a cobweb on the lower leaves and loss of color) and a scale insect (sign: the appearance of waxy black-brown spots on the leaf plate).

Leaf shedding in croton can also be associated with a draft formed in the room where it stands, or a sharp temperature drop.

What to do when croton leaves fall?

If a flower throws off old leaves located in the lower tier, in a small amount, then this is a natural process.

In cases where even just the foliage that has just appeared falls, then you should pay attention to caring for the flower

If you find characteristic signs of a pest infestation of croton, it should be treated: from the spider mite - "Aktellik", from the scabbard - "Karbofos" and cut off.

Croton flower - features of cultivation

The indoor flower croton is a bush with leathery leaves of various forms: asymmetric, oblong-lanceolate, pointed or obtuse, whole-edged, three-lobed, notched, broadly ovate, etc. Young leaves, usually of lighter yellow-green hues, acquire richer green and burgundy colors over time, so your home croton flower is colored like an elegant autumn forest. A common feature for leaves of all varieties and varieties
- pronounced venation. The bloom of croton will not cause you delight, since it is a hanging axillary carpal inflorescence of nondescript cream flowers.

In the photo: Croton growing on the street

The home croton flower has earned the fame of one of the most capricious plants. What are the features of croton care?

• Croton juice is poisonous. It causes diarrhea, vomiting, contact dermatitis, so all work with Croton must be carried out with gloves.
• Croton at home needs not just spraying the leaves from a spray bottle, but also wiping them with a damp sponge. Give Croton a warm shower every month in the summer.
• Croton does not tolerate watering with cold water and drafts!
• Sometimes at the beginning of the growing season, croton leaves take on strange shapes. How this is explained, no one knows, but croton has a high degree of mutability, which is why it became possible to breed many varieties and hybrid forms of this plant, and they differ only in how the leaf of a particular croton variety looks.
• The nondescript bloom of croton takes a lot of energy from the plant, and if you are not going to engage in breeding experiments, it is better to remove flower buds or flower stalks immediately.

Indoor species and plant varieties

As indoor plants, they began to grow a single species - codiaum variegatum, as well as its varieties and hybrid varieties. But they represent such a richness of shapes and colors that other types are simply not useful.

Varieties of codiaum variegatum:

1. The narrow-leaved croton has long (about 20 cm) leaves, their width is no more than 1 cm. Yellow-gold streaks and specks are scattered over the green background.
2. The appendage croton is variegated and green. Its leaves, wide at the base, taper in the middle to resemble a petiole, and then expand again, forming a small appendage leaf at the end.
3. Curly Codiaum (crispum) - These are long, narrow, curled leaves. On the green there are stripes, spots, veins or a mesh of different shades of yellow. The brightest representative of the variety is Spirale with uniform leaf loops.
4. The lobed croton is distinguished by wide leaves, divided into three parts. The central lobe is much longer and wider than the lateral lobes. Yellow streaks adorn the vibrant green of the leaf.
5. Flat-leaved (platyphyllum) codiaum is a plant with large (up to 30 cm long and 10 cm wide) oval leaves, their edges are slightly wavy.
6. Oval-leafed (ovalifolium) with simple leaf plates in the form of an elongated oval with a rounded end, rich yellow markings are located along the veins.
7. The tortoiseshell variety (tortile) is distinguished by leaves that are wide at the petiole, which taper towards the tip. On an olive-green background, there are red-yellow stripes along the central vein and chaotic golden spots.
8. Genoa (genuinum) variety with whole oval leaves covered with a pattern of silver or gold with a reddish tint. There are forms with small and banded foliage.
9. Decorated codiaum variegatum (pictum) is the original form for most hybrid varieties. It is a shrub with a straight stem (up to 1 meter in height), which is covered with dense and tough leaves. They are painted with a pattern of bright yellow, red, pink spots on a green field.

The most famous varieties and hybrids of codiaum variegatum pictum:

1. Croton Petra is a branching stem with large leathery leaves. Yellow veins, edges and dots are drawn on the main green background. The shape of the leaves is varied.
2. Mrs. Aiston is a variety with broad, rounded leaves. Young plants have a creamy pattern on them. With age, the color becomes more intense, acquiring pink, yellow or red. There are forms of blood red or very bright yellow hues.
3. The Excellent variety is easy to recognize by its leaves, similar in shape to oak. Young leaves, at the top of the plant, are yellow-green. At the base of the trunk - burgundy.
4. Koroton Mummy is distinguished by narrow, small leaves. Their edges are slightly curved from the center. Coloring combines different shades of green, yellow, red and pink.
5. The Zanzibar variety has long (about 40 cm) yellow-green leaves. They curve gracefully.
6. Nervia is a variety with a colored crown of bright green, lemon yellow and pale pink leaves. They are serrated with a well defined vein in the center.
7. Croton Tamara is a very rare variety. Oval leaves of medium size, bicolor. On the main dark green background, light green and white spots are located closer to the edges.
8. Disraeli is a variety with lobed leaves. From above they are green-yellow, from below the color of red brick.
9. Codiaum Black Prince with flat and wide foliage. The color is very original: on the dark green, almost black, background - red, yellow or orange markings.

What is Croton variegatum mix

Often, specialized stores offer plants called codiaum (or croton) variegatum mix. This is not a variety, but an indication that specimens of this variety have been collected in the batch. Their color depends on the conditions and age of the leaves. So the same plant may look different. And even experts sometimes find it difficult to accurately identify the variety belonging to Croton.

Any variety can be hidden behind the name "Croton Variegatum Mix"

Insect pests and diseases

This houseplant rarely gets sick, as it is poisonous. But if you don't take good care of him, he can get sick. The most common diseases are:

• Anthracnose is a fungal disease that occurs after frequent watering with cold water. Red or gray spots appear on the leaves, after which the fungus penetrates even deeper, thereby completely destroying the flower. When these signs of the disease are detected, the croton pot is urgently taken to another room where there are no home flowers. Then, not only him, but also the rest of the greens in the room is treated with an antifungal drug.
• Root Rot - Soft and yellowed leaves indicate infection with this fungal disease. To save the croton, it is transplanted into a new container with fresh soil and mandatory drainage at the bottom. During this procedure, the damaged parts of the roots are cut off and the wounds are washed with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.Then everything is treated with an antifungal agent.
• Spider mite - Its appearance is evidenced by the presence of a thin cobweb and white bloom on the stems and leaves. To get rid of it, the leaves are washed with soapy water and every week they are thoroughly treated with any insecticide, for example: Fitoverm, Aktellik. After that, the percentage of moisture is increased and the home flower is regularly watered.
• Mealybug - A sign of its presence on leaves is a light-colored fluffy bloom on the leaves. All greens are washed well with soapy water, after which all parts are greased with vegetable oil. If this does not help, then they treat it with Karbofos.
• Scabbard - She rarely affects him. Brown spots on greenery indicate the presence of this pest. They are removed with a sponge dipped in soapy water. Usually this treatment is enough to get rid of this pest.