Crotons are one of the most popular houseplants thanks to their vividly patterned,multicolored leaves.
Here are five reasons to prune your croton, plus some handy tips to keep this colorful plant happy.
How to Prune a Croton Plant
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It’s an ideal strategy if your plant has dropped leaves in response to stress.
Start by cutting back your croton’s tallest stem by about a third.
Simply snip these leaves off at the base, using sterilized shears or pruners to avoid spreading plant diseases.
Take cuttings that are 4 inches long with between three and five leaves each.
Dip the end of the cutting in rooting hormone powder, then plant in moist potting mix.
Croton Pruning Tips
Cutting back a leggy croton plant will spur new, bushier growth.
For leafy croton plants, make pruning cuts just below a node.
For tall, leggy plants, cut no more than one-third of any branch.
In spring, croton plants can regrow after a hard pruning six inches above the soil line.
Never cut back more than one-third of any stem or one-third of plant growth overall.
Croton,Codiaeum variegatum.Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension.
Crotons.University of Florida IFAS Extension Gardening Solutions.
