I have a little tree about 1 - 1/2' high that I bought as an indoor houseplant. I've been searching for information about it but I'm not sure if it is a Aucuba or Croton or possibly something else. It had leaves about the length of your index finger that were green with yellow markings. The leaves were slender kinda like an elongated Almond shape. I had the Tree for about a year and a half with absolutely no problems and then last Christmas it suddenly lost all of its leaves in about 2 days. It had never done that before but I thought it might be a seasonal thing so I continue to take care of it. It's been about 7 months now and while the tree branches seem ok, they have never regrown new leaves. Is there anything I can do for it or have I killed it?
Looks as if you drowned it! Look at the water mark on the base of the stems. Does your pot have drainage holes? Difficult to say what it was.
It was recently watered before I took the picture, but I don't think it was over watered when all the leaves came off...but either way, do you think it is savable? Is there anything I can try to help it?
The stems all look as if they were cut off across the top. Did you do that when or before it dropped the leaves? After 7 months, with no buds or growth, I'd agree the plant is gone.
I have never cut the tree, I actually never noticed that before as it was so lush, maybe it was cut before I bought it, I'm not sure, I just thought that was the way it grew. I'm really sad to hear that there's nothing I can do for it. Just so I know, do you know what could have caused it to that? At the time it happened, nothing about my routine with the plant had changed, same pot, soil, watering routine, light etc...it was very strange, I've never seen a plant just freak out like that so fast. Just curious if you've seen or heard of that before and if so what might be the cause. Thank you for all the feedback.
we all hate to lose one and don't want to make the same mistake twice. but, this late after it happened, there's no way to figure out what went wrong. You obviously tried to give it good cae, if it lasted for over a year, so don't beat yourself up about it.
From your description and from looking at the pix, I think that you have a "banana" croton. I have one, about 8 years old. A couple of years ago I decided that I had to do something with it---it was just way too tall and leggy. Cut it way back (scary for me) in spring...by summer it had begun to get new growth, and today it is once again a fine figure of a croton. ---Your leaf-dropping was the result of some kind of shock. Actually, my money is on LACK of water. My crotons (I have 3 different ones) are thirsty plants, and the banana will wilt suddenly and alarmingly if I am too slow with the water. In the worst case, yes, leaf-dropping. So what I think happened was that your croton passed the point of "TOO DRY" and reacted by shedding its moisture-using leaves. If you immediately checked its soil and root condition, gave it a good thorough soak, and have since this time kept it consistently moist and in a nice sunny (but not BROILING) outdoor location..well, I'd like to know what happened to it! True, in 7 months one would think you'd have some evidence of something happening. If it were my plant, I would not give up until it keels over!
