Where Do Crotons Grow Best? (Ideal Placement)

Crotons are beautiful plants that attract people with variegated leaves that add a beautiful touch to the interior space. They can grow up to 3 feet as a houseplant.

But one common question that comes to everyone’s mind is where do crotons grow best? Let’s find out.

Crotons grow best in a sunny spot, so keep them close to a south or west-facing window. If you keep them in medium-low light, then they will grow slowly, and the leaves might turn green. Provide them with adequate humidity and keep the plant away from the furnace and Aircon.

Go through this article to understand more about the placement of the Crotons. I will try to provide you with accurate and deep knowledge about the best placement for Crotons.

What different aspects should you consider while selecting the ideal spot for Crotons?

Three major factors that determine the best place for Crotons:

• Exposure to sun
• The temperature of the surrounding area
• The humidity of the place/room

Let’s learn about them one by one.

Light

Crotons are grown both indoors and outdoors. They need 6-8 hours of full sun daily and can even grow under indirect light. But for simultaneous growth in your Croton plants, some of them will require full fun.

Mostly, the variegated varieties of Crotons need more amount of light. A proper amount of sunlight helps them develop the leaves’ color to make it more evident.

Crotons can survive near any corner of the house, be it over a desk, shelf, or in your bedroom near a lamp. But they must get an ample amount of sunlight.

However, don’t dream of seeing them thrive under full shade. Select a sunny location whenever you sit to choose a place in your house for Crotons.

Good sunlight maintains the color of the leaves and encourages proper functioning and photosynthesis.

If you find out that the leaves are turning pale, skinny, dropping off, or leggy, that means Crotons are not getting enough sunlight in their present location.

Just because Crotons enjoy full direct sunlight doesn’t mean they can’t have sunburns. All the varieties of Crotons don’t like to be exposed to direct sunlight.

Even the variegated varieties will require protection when the sun turns out to be harsh and punishing. You will see sunburns when they get exposed to direct sunlight for more than 8 hours.

The leaves will have brown patches, and edges will be discolored, indicating that they receive the sun’s harsh rays.

Also read: What Kind Of Light Does A Croton Need? (Croton Light Requirements)

Temperature

Crotons grow best when they have a temperature of about 65-95°F.

These plants will thrive and reach their potential when they receive such temperatures in their current location. When you select a location for Crotons, check the surrounding temperature.

Crotons are tropical plants that will thrive in warm temperatures.

They are frost-tender plants and cannot withstand a temperature of 40°F or below. If the surrounding temperature of your Crotons is too low, they will suffer from cold drafts.

When you see the Crotons shedding their leaves, it is a warning. You must shift them to a warm location. Caring for Crotons indoors is very easy. Inside, there won’t be any freeze or cold winds. So, protecting is easy.

When you place Crotons near a window, keep a few feet back from the window. It will stop the cold winds from touching the plant.

Also read: What Temperature Can Croton Tolerate? (+Ideal Temperature Range)

Humidity

The last factor that determines the placement of Crotons is humidity level. The place you choose for Crotons must have high humidity of at least 60-80% to thrive.

However, high humidity levels can increase the risks of fungal development if they are not getting proper air circulation. If the spot you selected for Crotons doesn’t have enough humidity, fix a humidifier at that place.

Humidity doesn’t bother much while selecting a suitable place for Crotons. There are different ways ofo increasing the humidity level of these plants, like misting, keeping pebble trays under the container, or plant grouping.

But, if you don’t have a humidifier and don’t want to give any extra effort, then the humidity of the selected place matters a lot.

A place near to bathroom can increase humidity to a great extent.

Also read: Do Crotons Need Misting? (+Maintaining Ideal Humidity)

Some best places in the house for placing Crotons

There are many good locations for Crotons inside the house. Some of them are:

• A sunny window
• A room having an average temperature
• A room with high humidity
• In the bathroom
• In the bedroom

Read further to know more.

Near a window

A south-facing or west-facing will be perfect for the variegated varieties of Crotons. They will need full sun to make their leaf color more prominent. However, if the sunlight feels too intense, put on the sheer curtains to filter the light.

If your window contains a grill, you might not need curtains because the shadows of the grill are going to filter the scorching sun to some extent.

But if it is an open window with glass, fix window films or curtains to filter the direct sunlight. It will help indirect sun lovers the most.

A good amount of sunlight also helps to encourage the plant’s growth and good photosynthesis. The more they photosynthesize, the healthier they will remain. 

The morning sun is soothing. You can place partial shade-loving Croton varieties near an east-facing window.

They will receive the soothing morning sun. This direction won’t be intense like the southern or western ones.

Too much exposure to direct sunlight can burn their foliage. Understand the sun’s intensity and then place your plant.

Avoid a location near a fireplace.

Some people try decorating their fireplace by keeping houseplants near them. Whether your houseplant is flammable or an inflammable one, it doesn’t matter. Keeping plants near a fireplace is a big no.

The sparks of the fire will set the plant on fire without your knowledge. Even if your fireplace contains a glass to stop the fire sparks, keeping Crotons near the fireplace is not a good idea.

At one point, you might have to remove this cover and adjust the fire by adding woods or setting the fire off. The shield will be temporarily open. Anything could happen at that time.

Crotons love lots of humidity. Keeping them near a fireplace will absorb and wick away all the moisture from your plant.

Moreover, the Crotons will fail to endure such heat and high temperatures from the fireplace. The foliage will begin to burn and turn pale.

If you still insist on placing the Crotons close to the fireplace, choose a place where fire sparks or high heat cannot reach the plant. Crotons will like such a position because they can get enough warmth.

The room must have an ideal temperature.

Though Crotons can survive low temperatures up to 40°F and high temperatures around nearly 100°F, they will thrive at an average temperature ranging from 65°F to 95°F.

Instead of measuring the temperature of a room, check the surrounding temperatures where you planned to place the plant.

If the temperature is higher than the recommended one, it won’t harm the Crotons much because they love warm temperatures. But, it shouldn’t drop below 40°F. 

Avoid placing your Crotons near air conditioners. You must also bring them a few feet back from an open window in winters. 

Crotons in your bedroom

Crotons can give your bedroom a captivating look with their stunning, multi-colored foliage. Their bright foliage will add color to your room.

Experts recommend performing color therapy with different colors for the living room, bedroom, dining room, and children’s room. It is suitable for positivity and balance of mind, body, and spirit.

Crotons can help you with that because they are available in many colors like yellow, orange, red, and green.

Moreover, the Crotons’ big and dark leaves purify the breathing air by consuming all the harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, ammonia, xylene, and toluene. It helps you to stay and sleep tight every night peacefully.

If your room has air conditioners, it is not a good idea to keep your Crotons in your bedroom. Constant receiving cold and dry air from them will give your Crotons cold injury and low humidity.

Crotons in the bathroom

Being tropical plants, Crotons will enjoy high humidity. You can decorate your bathroom by giving it a touch of colorful Crotons. You will never forget about watering. Seeing them daily will remind you to water them.

If they get enough light, crotons will thrive in your bathroom too.

Keep them at a place where direct sunlight penetrates through the bathroom window and reaches the Crotons.

But if the window is small and sunlight doesn’t reach the plant, then the bathroom must not be a permanent place for Crotons. You can keep them for some hours and return them to their permanent spot.

Keep Crotons away from pets and children.

Another best place for Crotons, all with the above requirements, would be an area away from the reach of pets and children. Though they won’t harm if only touched, the problem occurs if they are ingested.

The colorful foliage in the plant lures pets and children. Out of curiosity, they chew them, resulting in serious issues.

If you have pets in your house and they are in the habit of chewing whatever they find, keep Crotons at a place where they cannot reach the plant.

If ingested, your pets will be vomiting, having gastrointestinal irritation, mild drooling, and diarrhea. Eating them in large quantities can be lethal for them.

Babies also have a habit of eating or chewing whatever they get. It is their curiosity that makes them gobble such things. You must keep these plants away from them too.

The white, milky sap from the leaves and stems of the Crotons can cause dermatitis issues. If touched, humans will suffer skin problems.

All Crotons, stems, leaves, barks, roots, seeds, and even flowers are poisonous. They contain chemicals like diterpenes and 5-deoxyingenol, which can cause rashes, redness, mouth swelling, and burning sensations.

You need to remember all these things while selecting an ideal spot for placing Crotons inside your house.

If there is a location in your home where Crotons can receive proper sunlight, temperature, and humidity and away from pets and children, stop analyzing and place it in that location.

Read the next topic to know some tips to determine the best place for your plant with ease.

Tips on the placement of Crotons

• Full sun for 6 to 8 hours makes the Crotons thrive. The variegated Crotons will need more sunlight to brighten up their colors.
• Keep them near a south or west-facing window. If you find they are getting too much direct sunlight, put on curtains to filter the light.
• Try checking the temperature around your plant. If it shows an average room temperature, your plant will easily live there.
• For high humidity, you can fix a humidifier in the room. It will give the exact humidity like their natural habitat. You can also keep pebble trays under them or group many plants. Good air circulation is also necessary.
• If your room contains an air conditioner, keep your plant so far from the device that the cold air cannot touch them. Keep it off if not needed. Leaves will begin to fall off if exposed to low temperatures.
• Clean the foliage to remove the dust. It will encourage good absorption of moisture and adequate photosynthesis.
• If you don’t have an ideal spot that supports keeping pets and children away from Crotons, train them to stay away from these plants. 
• Avoid locations close to fireplaces, vents, air-cons, and radiators.

A place with everything correct might not be available in all houses. In that case, don’t stress yourself too much. Take it easy and adjust situations accordingly with these tips.

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Reference: Sciencedirect, Wikipedia, Wikipedia, Britannica, CABI, Academia, University of South Florida, The University of Georgia.