Croton
Codiaeum variegatum
- Wants
- Bright direct
- Tolerates
- Bright direct down to bright indirect
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Pets
- Not safe
Why it wants that
Its red, orange and yellow pigments are made in strong open light in its native habitat - the colour is a product of the light rather than a fixed property of the cultivar, so the brighter the position the more of it there is.
Too little light
THE COLOUR GOES. UF/IFAS is explicit that even the indoor-selected cultivars 'will eventually lose partial color if adequate light is not available' - new leaves come in plain green and the existing red, orange and yellow markings fade back toward green.
Too much
The colour washes out the other way and growth is checked. UF/IFAS: 'bright sunlight will maximize croton colors, but overexposure can cause fading and restrict proper foliage growth.' Bloomscape adds that abrupt moves make it shed leaves for a week or so.