Croton soil

Croton soil

1. 01

   Best soil mix

   Use a well-drained, humus-rich mix. For a protected indoor or under-glass container, choose a peat-free, loam-based mix.

   Keep a clear drainage path and let the mix become occasionally dry rather than leaving croton roots in stagnant water. Good drainage does not mean a permanently dry root ball.

2. 02

   Match the mix to the pot and setting

   Use a peat-free loam-based mix for a protected indoor or under-glass pot. Crotons grow outdoors in the tropics, but that is no reason to put a houseplant in garden soil.

3. 03

   Soil pH

   Do not guess the pH from leaf color or add pH products unless a test shows you need them.

4. 04

   When soil alone is not the problem

   Crotons come in many forms. For all of them, choose the mix by drainage and texture, and do not add pH products unless a test shows you need them.