We grow crotons for their attractive foliage. As crotons age, the bare, leafless lower stems may become heavily burdened by top growth. Pests like mealybugs, scale, and spider mites, and diseases like anthracnose and powdery mildew, may leave you with damaged foliage. To remove individual leaves, snip them off at their base, as close as you can get to the stem wit. See full list on gardenerspath. com Selective pruning restores balance that is both pleasing to the eye and supportive of optimal health. Here are five reasons to prune your croton , plus some handy tips to keep this colorful plant happy. By pruning the growing tips of the main stem or stems annually, you can promote branching and encourage a fuller, bushier appearance. To make a new plant, snip off a length of new tip growth that’s three to four inches long with three to five leaves. To change the appearance of an. Select the most top-heavy branch and reduce its height by one-third. · to sustain bushy growth in your crotons, it is important to regularly prune them. We talk a lot about the bare, leafless stems on older crotons. Salvage after severe pest infestation or disease. Weve got the lowdown on how to prune a croton correctly. For plants that are bushy and branching instead of leggy and sparsely leafed, cut off the growing tips of the main stem or stems annually. · struggling to keep your croton plant looking beautiful? · pruning in early spring or even winter means that your croton will have the whole growing season to put new healthy growth. Besides being visually unbalanced, top-heavy bulk may cause leaning and branch breakage. Healthy flora is not prone to pests or disease, but you may occasionally have to deal with an infestation or infection. Well cover everything from the tools youll need, to the best time to prune , and even what to do with those trimmed-off leaves. Remove the same length from each stem, up to one-third, for a uniform appearance. Another reason for pruning is to propagate new plants from existing ones. Variegatumthat sheds its leaves at the first sign of discomfort, it is crucial to take deep pruning slo. Use your pruners to tip- prune as we did above for t. Dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder, and place it in moist pot. Readers who have read our general guide to growing crotonsknow that my. Cutting back a croton can help you acquire a thicker bush or remove ugly leaves. · pruning your croton plants is a good practice to keep your croton s size contained, promote regrowth after leaf drop, and create bushier, fuller plants overall. Some folks like to prune them to generate new growth that is more compact. With a temperamental species like c. It’s best to cut just above a leaf node to jump-start regrowth on the existing plant, too. The phenomenon may occur year-round with outdoor plants but is less likely with houseplants. Refresh after neglect. Three common reasons for it are to: Variegatum matures, the stems become woody like tree trunks, and the lowest leaves drop off. Pruning can stimulate growth and you want to make sure that happens when the days are long and bright, which is spring and summer. Read on to take your croton to the next level! Pruning to rejuvenate is often called deep pruning. This guide covers everything you need to know, from which tools to use to the best timing and techniques. Stimulate growth on woody old branches. But, if you dont know what youre doing, it can be a disaster. But others like to preserve the tree-like bare stems and concentrate on pinching back the leafy tips, for an appearance that reminds me of a desert joshua tree. However, they sometimes produce a nondescript long stem or raceme with small, star-like yellow and white flowers clustered along its length. · crotons can grow quite leggy, and leaves may develop damage due to thrip feeding. · in this article, were going to get into the nitty-gritty of how to prune your croton the right way.
