Why did the croton drop its leaves? The most important detail: watering

Codenium, also known as codiaum or croton, attracts gardeners with its wonderful crown color and good growth: in a few years it can grow to a meter in height. In addition, the flower is unpretentious in care. Perhaps the only significant problem in its cultivation is yellowing and loss of leaves, so further we will talk about how to deal with this.

Basic rules for growing and caring for croton

Croton - tropical plant: Its natural habitat is southeast Asia and Oceania. That is why it first of all needs sufficient humidity and comfortable air temperature. The plant loves moderate watering and is very sensitive to its lack.

Codenium roots grow very quickly, so it should be replanted about twice a year; in this case, it is necessary not only to enlarge the pot, but also to change or additionally fertilize the soil. Required good drainage soil.
The flower should have enough light, but it is better to avoid direct sunlight on the foliage. A window sill or area with average illumination, namely the western or eastern side, is quite suitable for placement. When choosing a location, you also need to take into account that croton does not tolerate drafts and cold air.

Codenium is one of those indoor plants that instantly show that they are “not feeling well.” However, if taken in time necessary measures, the flower is quite easy to return to normal.

Important!Watering croton cold water, irreparable harm can be caused to him, even death.

Why do croton leaves dry and fall off and what to do about it?

Most gardeners claim that codenium is unpretentious in care and even beginners can grow this plant. But sometimes you can observe that some or even all of its leaves turn yellow. After some time they may dry out and fall off.

The reason for this is failure to comply with one or more conditions for proper care, often caused by basic ignorance of what this representative of the tropical flora needs.

Improper watering

In most cases, when codenium has dropped its leaves, there is a failure to comply with watering rules. Like most tropical species, it likes a humid climate and adequate watering. It is especially necessary to monitor the condition of the soil in the summer: it should always be moist.

The plant will react quite quickly to dry soil - the leaves will droop, turn yellow and fall off. IN best case scenario only the top will remain of the beautiful crown.
To avoid this, you need to water the codenium as needed. If the plant is large, then you can “water” it a little every day. It is important to remember that the water must be room temperature and preferably settled.

When watering croton, it is necessary to observe the measure. The soil should be moist, but the water should not stagnate. An excellent tool To avoid this, gravel should be placed on the tray with the plant.

Moisture must enter the plant not only through the root system, but also through the leaves. The flower will gratefully accept spraying of the crown from a spray bottle. You can simply wipe the sheets with a damp sponge. If the plant is small, then summer period It is advisable to spray the leaves from the shower at least once a month.

Important!Do not spray croton leaves in direct sunlight - this will cause them to turn yellow and fall off..

Violation of containment conditions

When caring for codenium, it is important to maintain temperature conditions. It must be remembered that he comes from the tropics, so low temperature indoor air is detrimental to it. In winter, it should not fall below 17°C - if this figure is lower, then the leaves turn yellow and fall off.

Hot air is also dangerous for croton, but its harm, unlike cold air, can be compensated for by high humidity.

Flower growers recommend not violating the conditions of keeping codenium and creating a comfortable temperature for it to live at +22...+25°C. In summer you can take the flower to Fresh air- this will improve your health and strengthen your immune system.

Incorrect location

Croton can get sick from standing in wrong place. A draft can destroy it, so it is better to place the flowerpot in some corner. The angle of the window sill will be quite acceptable if the plant is young and short.

In all cases, it is necessary to avoid direct sunlight on the crown, therefore best place“living” for croton is considered to be sufficiently lit rooms, the windows of which face west or east. The morning and evening sun is not so active there, and the flower will feel comfortable.

Did you know? In the homeland of codenium, in Eastern India and Malaysia, the height of this plant can be 2.5 meters.

Nutrient deficiencies

Codenium leaves will wilt if the soil is not suitable for it. Ideally, it should be a universal soil designed for plants with a lot of foliage. In addition, leaves may turn yellow and fall off due to the lack of sufficient amounts in the soil. nutrients. It is especially important to monitor this after transplantation.

Any solution of complex complexes is suitable for fertilizer. mineral fertilizers. It is recommended to apply it twice a month from early spring until late autumn; In winter, once a month will be enough.

Croton responds well to watering with the addition of hydrogen peroxide at the rate of 2 tbsp. l. for 1 liter of water. Such a nutrient solution will provide the root system with additional oxygen.

Diseases and pests

Flower growers agree that most often the plant gets sick due to the lack of necessary air humidity and dry soil, so to treat diseases it is necessary to bring these two factors back to normal.

Scale insects can be removed from the leaves using a sponge, which is pre-wetted in a concentrated soap solution.

An aqueous solution of 3% hydrogen peroxide will also help in pest control. For a liter of water, take 50 ml and add 50 grams of sugar; The leaves and trunk of the plant are wiped with the resulting mixture.

Did you know?The milky sap that fills the leaves, when their surface is damaged, forms a film that serves as a reliable barrier for microorganisms. Thanks to this, croton is resistant to all infections.

Prevention measures

Correct conditions of detention - best prevention from possible diseases.
Here are some simple tips to avoid leaf loss:

• it is necessary to provide the plant with a sufficient amount of water and at the same time not to overfill it;
• You need to moisten not only the soil, but also spray the leaves;
• The pot should be placed away from drafts;
• lighting should be sufficient, but not strong;
• it is important to avoid direct sunlight on the crown;
• Croton should grow in light, well-drained soil that drains water well;
• the soil should be universal and contain turf, compost, sand, peat;
• the pot must be commensurate with the root system of the plant - if there is not enough space for the roots, the leaf will deteriorate;
• you need to “feed” the plant according to the care recommendations.

Croton is easy to care for - even a novice gardener can handle it. This plant will decorate any interior thanks to the beautiful color and shape of the leaves, so the loss of each leaf affects its appearance and is very upsetting to the owner. To prevent this from happening, it is enough to follow basic care recommendations.

Even experienced gardeners sometimes they encounter such phenomena as wilting; croton leaves turn yellow and fall off. Sometimes the tips of the leaves dry out or they themselves change color and turn yellow.

Let's talk about why croton leaves dry out and fall off? What other diseases can croton have, and treatment, and we will also figure out what problems may arise when growing and.

The tips of the leaves dry out

Why do the tips of croton leaves dry out?

Most often the reason for this is too low air temperature.

What temperature conditions suitable for codiaum?

Normal temperature to grow this plant +14…+20 degrees.

In order for Croton to grow and develop well, it is necessary to provide it balance of moisture and heat, because insufficient watering can also be the reason why croton leaves dry out.

Change of plant color

Why do croton leaves turn yellow? If the flower has changed color, this may indicate O insufficient quantities lighting.

Croton requires quite a lot of light, but still under straight lines Sun rays his better not to put it, since due to burning of leaves, the plant also loses its former color and begins to turn unnaturally yellow.

How can you tell if codiaum has too much light? Will begin to appear on the leaves of the flowerpot brown spots.

If the plant does not turn yellow, but simply fades, which means most likely it lacks microelements in the soil, especially nitrogen.

Why does croton have green leaves? This may be due to the fact that the plant is young.

In this case, you should provide croton good feeding .

Red spider mite

a clear sign that the codiaum is affected red spider mite.

The whole point is that with normal growth the plant secretes a special milky sap, which serves as protection against this pest.

But if the conditions for its growth too dry, this juice is released in insufficient quantities and the plant endangered.

In order to rid Croton of such a sore, you need carry out triple treatment means like Neoron, Actellik, etc. with a break of 7 days.

Shchitovka

Shield aphid infrequently affects codiaum, but you always need to be prepared.

As a rule, you can get rid of scale insects by simply removing them manually.

Brown spots on plant parts - this shining example appearance of scale insects.

For complete disinfection, treat the flower soap solution , add 2 tablespoons of vodka to 1 liter of water and rub in a little soap.

Wipe the leaves and stems of the plant with this solution.

After that, leave it like this for 2-3 hours, then rinse under the shower tap.

Gray or brown spots

These are the manifestations of anthracnose - a fungal disease that can appear due to excess moisture, this can be excessive abundant watering or high humidity air.

For treatment it is necessary 3-4 times treat the plant with a fungicide.

This needs to be done intermittently. in ten to twelve days.

Moreover, treatment should be done not only for the leaves, but also for the soil.

The leaves are falling

Why does croton shed its leaves? What to do?

If the codiaum trunk is exposed at the bottom, this is quite natural process dying of old leaves.

Why do croton leaves fall off in the fall? This is quite normal, a pattern, in the same way at this time of year the leaves of birch trees or, for example, maples fall.

Why do croton leaves fall off? What to do? But if the top leaves also begin to fall off, the reason for this is most likely either sudden change in temperature, either too low temperature, the conditions in which the codiaum remains for a long time.

First of all, to eliminate such a phenomenon as leaf falling, you need to take care of the conditions under which the croton is kept. It will also not be superfluous use fertilizer to restore plant health.

When a croton drops its leaves, the reason may be moisture stagnation, as a result of which is rotting root system . If you find that this is the reason, cut it off. apical stalk and try to root it in order to re-grow the flower if the existing one dies. That's why the leaves of the croton began to fall.

Withering

Why did the croton leaves drop? What to do?

In most cases, the reason for the wilting of croton leaves lies in lack of lighting.

Also the leaves are drooping when the soil becomes dry.

To cure a plant, start it water, but gradually.

In no case Do not immediately flood the soil with water, because after that the root system will begin to rot.

A good place to start is to water the plant. warm water, where you need to add Elina fertilizer.

After the soil dries, little by little increase the volume of watering. You can also sprinkle a little water on the croton leaves.

Caring for croton at home is a painstaking and time-consuming process, and if all requirements are not met, the plant’s leaves begin to fall off.
Beautiful plant With large leaves interesting colors will give any room a completely different look.

Decorative croton leaves, amazing both experts and beginners in floriculture with a variety of shapes and colors, are the main distinguishing feature indoor plant. When the leaves of the croton dry and fall off, and the exotic beauty that recently decorated the room loses most attractiveness, its owner has many reasons for concern.

On the one hand, the falling of leaves from the lower tiers of the stem is a natural process, necessarily accompanied by the appearance of new foliage at the top. The owner of a croton needs to sound the alarm if:

• shoots quickly become bare;
• even young foliage dries and dies;
• croton leaf tips dry out;
• yellowing and wilting appear as spots in the center of the leaf blade or along its edges;
• the gain does not have time to compensate for the losses.

Why do croton leaves dry out? What are the mistakes made by the florist, and how to correct the situation?

In most cases, the cause should be sought in a violation of plant care, a change in living conditions, for example, when the season changes or the croton is moved to another room. Sometimes indoor crops are affected by insects, which negatively affect the condition of the foliage and depress the entire plant.

Watering errors: croton leaves dry out and fall off

Most often, flower growers who observe that their variegated croton, unlike any other plant, has dropped its leaves, and the foliage that has lost turgor is gradually withering, do not water their pet enough.

The earth ball in the pot should be constantly moist. In summer to a greater extent, and in winter to a lesser extent, but the soil should not be allowed to dry out completely. If croton is often moistened, but only the surface layer is moistened, the growing points of the roots will find themselves in conditions of moisture deficiency, which will immediately affect the well-being of the crop, and the foliage, in the first place.

Croton foliage is its “signal flag”, by following which you can understand what the health of the indoor beauty is, whether care has been properly established, and whether care is sufficient.

Dry soil under croton is a sign of impending disaster. But excess moisture is also not the best factor for crop development. Excess water is especially dangerous in the cold season.

It is possible that the answer to the question: “Why do croton leaves fall?” Excessive watering in the autumn will become winter period. From constant exposure to a wet substrate, pockets of rot develop on the roots and dead areas appear. As a result, the plant stops receiving sufficient quantity nutrition, and the croton leaves dry out and fall off.

Preventing the problem is not difficult at all. If, half an hour after watering, there is water in the glass pan, it must be drained, and when planting croton at the bottom of the pot, provide thick layer drainage In addition, do not forget that when the temperature drops, watering is reduced.

Croton leaves fall off due to dry air

Among the reasons why croton leaves dry out, a gardener's mistake is often encountered, such as excessive dryness of the air in the room, for example, in the winter months, when the heating is on.

Both at this time and in the summer, the plant needs to be pampered with a warm shower, for which they take settled soft water. A useful hygiene procedure for an exotic guest will be wiping the sheet plates with a damp cloth. And to humidify the air it is convenient to use specialized household appliances or place the pot in a tray with damp moss or expanded clay.

If high air humidity is constantly maintained in the room where the plant is located, the gardener is unlikely to notice that the tips of the leaves of the croton dry out, or that the foliage falls off untimely. In this case, the greens live much longer than in normal indoor conditions.

Staying in dry air weakens the plant and provokes attacks on such croton dangerous pest indoor crops, like spider mites. This is another reason why croton leaves dry out and fall off.

Why do croton leaves dry out when conditions change?

Sometimes gardeners forget that changes in weather and season outside the window also affect indoor plants.

When asking the question: “What to do if the croton leaves fall off?”, the gardener should pay attention to the temperature conditions of the plant:

1. When the room is colder than +14 °C, growth and other life processes are inhibited to such an extent that the tips of the croton leaves dry out, and then the plant completely sheds its leaves.
2. At temperatures above +24 °C and low air humidity, you can notice how the leaves of the croton have drooped.

Croton lowers its leaves even in direct sunlight. When such an impact is short-term, nothing bad will happen. Once you return to the plant’s favorite partial shade, the leaves will return to their original elasticity and beauty. But long-term sunbathing under scorching rays lead to oppression of the flower. As a result, leaves fall from the croton.

If you don't return the flower to comfortable conditions, the situation will worsen until the death of the house plant.

It is possible that croton loses its foliage due to lack of nutrition. Dropping leaves even under normal conditions and with sufficient watering indicate the need for replanting or a large indoor crop.

Video about the problems of caring for croton

Croton or codiaum is a magnificent indoor plant, of the Euphorbiaceae family, with very beautiful, bright leaves. In nature it is found only in South-East Asia, where it can reach about 4 meters in height. At home, croton grows no higher than 60-70 cm. characteristic feature are thick, fleshy leaves different shapes and coloring. The color can vary from greenish-yellow to orange-red, and even black, and the shape can be straight, lanceolate, with wavy or smooth edges, spade-shaped, twisted, etc.

Croton - home flower with unusual foliage

Reasons why croton leaves dry and fall off

Croton is considered one of the most capricious and demanding plant conditions. The juice released when the stems of the plant are damaged is extremely poisonous, so when caring for croton you must be extremely careful and wear rubber gloves. Not recommended for families with small children and pets.

Growing it at home is not at all easy, but it is possible. The main thing is to follow appearance leaves. If they begin to turn yellow and fall off, there may be many reasons for this.

The main ones are:

• violation of temperature and light conditions;
• improper watering;
• damage by diseases and pests;
• insufficient humidity in the room;
• adaptation after transplantation.

Such symptoms often appear immediately when purchasing a plant. It is very difficult for Croton to get used to new conditions, but if all the necessary criteria are met, then after a couple of weeks the leaves will stop turning yellow and falling off. What to do when a plant starts to hurt, and how to properly care for it?

Watering

The cause of foliage loss may be a violation of the watering regime.

The cause of yellowing and loss of foliage in croton can be insufficient or excessive watering. It is important to ensure that the soil in the pot is always moderately moist.

Water the plant with warm (settled), soft water. Once every 2 weeks, the croton is given a generous shower, and the leaves are regularly sprayed. To prevent the soil from being washed away during this procedure, it is recommended to cover the pot with film. In summer, you will have to water the flower every 2-3 days, and in winter – once every 5 days.

Temperature

An equally important parameter for the normal growth and development of croton is the correct air temperature. It should not fall below +16, although such a temperature is already dangerous. Rooting of the root system and death of the plant may begin.

The ideal temperature in summer is between +23+25, no lower or higher, and in winter – up to +20. Croton does not tolerate sudden changes and temperature fluctuations. Any drafts are very dangerous for him.

Air humidity

Insufficient humidity causes yellowing and falling leaves

Croton grows well only in a room with high humidity, so it is recommended to place it on a special tray with moistened moss or expanded clay. A small amount of water is regularly added to the container, which, as it evaporates, creates the necessary conditions for plant growth.

Some experts advise not only spraying, but also gently wiping the croton leaves with a damp sponge or napkin. This will clear them of dust and dirt and humidify the air around them. Throughout the heating season, you can use electronic humidifiers. A dry indoor climate contributes to the development of many diseases and the appearance of spider mites.

Lack of microelements

Croton leaves often dry out and fall off due to lack of nutrients in the soil. Can help timely feeding or transplanting into fresh soil.

To prevent yellowing of the leaves, it is necessary to regularly apply complex mineral supplements. In the period from April to November, the plant is fertilized twice a month, and in winter - once a month. Before applying fertilizers, the soil is well moistened, and minerals Be sure to dissolve in water according to the instructions.

Incorrect placement location

Croton should not be placed in close proximity to heating devices

Croton grows poorly near window glass or near heating appliances. Temperature changes are detrimental to the plant. Optimal place for him there are wide window sills on the western or eastern side of the apartment.

It is important to ensure that there are no even short-term drafts, and to protect your exotic pet from direct sunlight. If there are no other reasons for the disease and loss of leaves, then you will have to change the location of the plant.

Failure to comply with lighting conditions

Croton feels best in diffused light. Direct sunlight is harmful to it. If the plant has not been under the scorching sun for long and has received a burn, then it is still possible to help it. It is enough just to move it to partial shade.

Diseases and pests

The cause of leaf falling and yellowing is fungal diseases(anthracnose, root rot) or attack by pests (scale insects, spider mites). How to save an affected plant without causing harm to it?

The first sign that a mite has settled on the leaves is the presence of a white coating on them. The reason for this is insufficient watering. With normal moisture, the poisonous sap secreted by the plant serves as excellent protection against pests. Dry, diseased leaves cannot repel ticks.

To get rid of it, it is enough to treat croton three times with any insecticide for indoor plants(, Akarin), at intervals of a week. Some gardeners recommend wiping the leaves and stems of the plant with a soap solution or tobacco infusion, preventing it from getting on the soil. After 50-60 minutes, the plant is carefully rinsed in the shower.

Croton can be attacked by scale insects

The scale insect rarely affects croton, and it appears in the form of small brown spots. They can be carefully removed using a cotton swab dipped in a soap-vodka solution (2 tablespoons of vodka/liter of water and a little soap). After 2-3 hours, the solution must be washed off. As a rule, one treatment is enough to completely get rid of pests.

Excessive watering and high humidity lead to the appearance of anthracnose leaves. The plant can only be cured by treating it with fungicides. The procedure is carried out at least 3-4 times every 10 days.

Excessive humidity is also dangerous due to rotting of the root system, which also manifests itself in the form of yellowing and falling leaves. This condition most often occurs in recently purchased young plants. Transplanting into nutritious soil from leaf and turf soil with the addition of peat, humus, sand and charcoal, taken in equal shares. A layer of drainage must be placed at the bottom of the pot.

Newly acquired plants are replanted only after acclimatization.

Replanting is carried out by transshipment (every spring), and damaged roots are carefully removed (without destroying the earthen ball). Old plants cannot be replanted often. One transplant every three years is enough.

At the slightest discomfort and change in conditions, the croton begins to get sick and shed its leaves, but often this is facilitated by flowering. The plant blooms profusely and often, but its flowers are small and inconspicuous. During this period, croton spends a lot of energy on the formation of buds to the detriment of overall growth and development. Many gardeners recommend cutting off the ovaries immediately upon appearance, and after flowering, the remaining flower stalks must be cut off.

Croton is a very capricious plant to care for.

Caring for croton is not an easy task. Must be strictly observed temperature regime, monitor watering and humidity, provide good, moderate lighting. In the summer-spring period, much attention is paid to fertilizing, spraying and watering. In winter you will need additional lighting, reducing watering and lowering the room temperature. If you follow these rules, growing croton will not cause much trouble.

Many gardeners are interested in why croton leaves dry out and fall off, and what to do about it. Not in every case there is a need to sound the alarm, because falling from the lower tier is a natural process. We will talk about other reasons in this publication.

The owner of an exotic should be wary if:

• croton is rapidly losing leaves;
• Even young leaves turn yellow and dry out;
• the tips of the leaves dry out;
• the leaves turn yellow and wither in the center of the leaf blade;
• the flower sheds more leaves than it produces.

The reason must be sought in the conditions of detention. The crop may be attacked by pests. Perhaps the watering schedule is disrupted or the plant is experiencing stress (for example, due to being moved to another room). All these points of care must be taken into account so that the exotic always feels good.

Irrigation regime is broken

If your croton has dropped its beautiful leaves, then you are not watering it correctly. The soil in the flowerpot should always be moist, especially in the summer months. You cannot allow the earthen clod to dry out completely even in winter. The point is not to frequently water the codiaum, as flower growers often call croton, but to ensure that the soil is saturated with water to the very bottom. Croton leaves dry out if moisture does not reach the rhizome.

The leaf is a kind of “signal flag”. By observing the position of the main decoration of the plant, you can understand whether you are providing enough care to your green pet.

Despite the fact that the soil should not be allowed to dry out, excess moisture is also dangerous for codiaum, especially in winter. If the roots remain in a wet substrate for a long time, they begin to rot. As a result, the trunk receives insufficient nutrition, which immediately affects the condition of the foliage.

Drastic changes

It should be remembered that when weather conditions outside the window change, houseplants also react to them. When asking why croton leaves fall off, owners of indoor plants should, first of all, pay attention to temperature changes during the maintenance of the flower.
If the thermometer in the room shows +14 °C, then all processes in the plant’s body are slowed down, and the tips of the leaf blades dry out, and later the plant may even become “naked.” And at a temperature of +24 °C the leaves may droop. Croton may also drop its leaves if the flower pot is placed in direct sunlight.

Moreover, sheet plates can get sunburn. If this was not for long, then returning the plant to the shade can quickly revive it. But if the plant remains in direct sunlight for a long time, the leaves begin to fall off.

It is possible that the flower does not have enough nutrition. Drooping leaves are a sign that the crop needs to be fertilized or needs replanting. In addition, croton does not tolerate drafts, which can cause it to shed its leaves.
If the plant has limp leaves, then the roots may become overcooled and therefore the flower cannot receive moisture. It urgently needs to be moved to a warm place, stop fertilizing, and reduce watering so that the earthen ball dries out well. Spray the leaves all this time and put the bag on, creating greenhouse conditions.

Well, if the lower leaves die, then there is no need to worry, since this is a natural process.

Sometimes the leaves begin to turn black. In this case, the flower lacks potassium and needs fertilizer.

Diseases and pests

Read on to find out why the leaves of homemade codiaum are still falling.

If you notice that the leaves are drying out and dying, you should carefully examine the plant for pests. Cobwebs on the plant indicate that the flower is affected by red spider mites. If a spider mite is detected, you should clean the plant from the pest with a cotton swab, after moistening it in alcohol.
At the end of the process of combating uninvited guest(with a mite) treat the flower systemic insecticides. You can prepare a garlic solution from chopped garlic and soap and treat the leaves with it. After an hour, the solution is washed off.
More often spider mites appear when the plant is not regularly watered, washed or sprayed, since under normal conditions, croton secretes poisonous juice, which protects it from pests. Therefore, if you follow the rules of care, you will avoid visiting harmful insects.

Scale insects rarely infect a plant, but if this happens, it is removed manually.

If the air is dry, the plant may be affected by mites. His presence can be judged by white plaque on the bottom of the sheet. Treatment is as follows: normalize care, move the plant to a warm place with good lighting, ensure good ventilation and take a warm shower. Treatment with the acaricide “Neoron” will help in treating the disease (treat the plant 4 times with an interval of 10 days).

Video “Croton has dropped its leaves”

Video about how to revive a croton that has dropped its leaves.

Prevention measures

Preventive measures include following the rules of flower care. Monitor air humidity, place in a warm and well-lit place, avoid direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Provide the plant with good ventilation, but avoid drafts. Water the flower (without flooding), make sure that the substrate in the pot is always moist. Avoid sudden temperature changes.
If all these conditions are met, you will be able to avoid troubles associated with pest attacks. And if the leaves suddenly begin to fade, with normal care they will be as good as new.