Over the last 10-15 years new varieties have been developed in Europe and introduced to the US marketplace. These new introductions are able to maintain their color and leaves under lower light levels. Two of these popular varieties produced are Croton Norma and Croton Petra. For this reason they need fairly high light to maintain the vibrant colors. Many new varieties will handle light levels as low as 100-200 foot candles.
Plants grown during the summer have difficulty in producing good color.
In summer, color improvement can be obtained with higher light, cooler temperatures and sometimes reduced fertilizer levels. Development of good color during the winter is rarely a problem when proper light is provided and fertilizer rate is not excessive. The potting media for crotons should have good aeration but not excessive drainage since crotons will wilt rapidly if they are allowed to dry out. When a croton leaf is punctured, it will leak a white sap. This sap can stain clothes and irritate some people's skin.