My croton used to be multi-colored and vibrant, but lately has become pale and insipid. As far as I know nothing much has changed. Same position at the window, same watering habits, same everything. Any ideas?
Crotons need the best possible light to keep their leaf colors nice and bright, and they can also be heavy drinkers. This plant can also be a spidermite magnet which can also cause leaves to dull, so you might want to check for any thin wispy webbing in and around the leaves.
I'd wonder about mites also. These are common on indoor foliage plants here, palms in particular seem also guaranteed to have them. Infested plants develop a finely speckled (stippled) appearance once the pests become numerous enough. Heavy feeding results in browning.
Hello and thanks. Herewith photo. The top side used to be red/green but is now straw coloured. The underside is "rusty", but there is no sign of infestation. This applies to all leaves, even the young ones at the top.
Mites are very tiny, you almost need 20-20 vision, an eye-loop or microscope to see them. To be sure you don't have any kind of pest problem, try the paper test. If some of the leaves are shaken over a piece of paper, look for small brown spots that move. Otherwise, it's hard to know for sure what could be going on with your plant.
Hello Bluewing. Good of you to reply. The underside and part of the top side of most leaves and turning brown, but this is "in" the leaf rather than on the surface. It won't wipe off or even show up on a paper towel, so it is not mites or anything like that. Weeed
See how the lower part of the leaf on the right has a speckled appearance, as though made of sand? That could perfectly well be stippling due to a substantial mite infestation. Have you looked with a lens? This kind of thing can be hard to pick up on until you have finally seen it for yourself, after which it can often be spotted with the unaided eye. Webbing can be quite fine and close to leaf, not apparent except where it crosses angles such as where a leaf blade and leaf stalk meet.
Hello Rob B. Many thanks. Actually, as well as losing color, the undersides and part of the topsides of most leaves are turning brown, but this doesn't wipe off or show up on paper towel. It is part of the leaf, unfortunately. Pic enclosed.
That's what mites do unfortunately (nasty creatures) they suck the life juice out of the leaves leaving, them looking pale, brown, dry and dirty looking. As long as your croton is getting the right light and watering, you might want to take another closer look for this, or any other pest. You can try spraying the leaves (plant mister) with some water with a drop or two of mild dish soap added.Get every inch of the leaves wet, front and back. The sprayer should be as soapy as when your doing dishes. After about ten minutes or so, tip the pot slightly and thoroughly rinse the leaves down with something like the kitchen sprayer. You might have to do this a few times once a week or so for a couple weeks, and I'd probably cover the soil (Walmart type bag) so the soil doesn't get soaked every time.
Hello again. Great, I'll try that right away. You mentioned leaving them "dry" among other things. Four of the larger lower leaves have just dropped off as soon as I touched them. I am not sure how many more will allow me to wash them as you suggest without coming away, but there's nothing to lose so here goes. Weeed
Sounds like the potting medium is too wet. Maybe now that the cold time of the year is coming on your plant has gotten too damp and cold.
Weeeed, croton's will usually come back if all the leaves fall off, it happens with mine sometimes, but thats with healthy plants. I'm not sure how your sick one will go though... Ed
