Croton Propagation Techniques: Grow Croton Plant From Cuttings and Air Layering

Crotons are cultivated in the Indian subcontinent, South East Asia, New Guinea and the Pacific Islands and also a native of Australian.

There are 400 registered cultivars or varieties of crotons [1]. Some of the popular varieties of crotons are America, Angel Wings, Andreanum, Angel Wings, Arrowhead, Captain Kidd, Caribbean Star, Danny Boy, Danny Boy, Dark Ruler, Eye, Franklin Roosevelt Glen Roof, Headdress, Indian Rina, Irene Kingsley, Kentucky, Mona Lisa, Mrs Iceton, Nestor, Norma, Punctatum, Red Rheedii, Sanderi, Shirley Temple, Super Petra, The Ramshorn, Tiger, Twist and Point, Undulatum (Piecrust ), Undulatum, Vera, Sanderi, Yellow Mrs Iceton, etc. New croton varieties can be producing by applying pollen from one outstanding croton to another.

The croton plant can grow 3 to 8 feet high with a spread of up to 6 feet. In extremely favourable conditions, it can even reach up to 12 feet.

Crotons plants are grown as an indoor or outdoor plants in indirect sunlight in most climates.

Too much sunlight bleaches the colours of the leaves, actually many croton cultivars prefer, light shade partial shade. However, many crotons cultivars can grow best in full sun.

Croton Propagation Techniques

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I have propagated crotons of many colours and now they are growing in pots producing colourful displays indoors and outdoors.

Multiplication of crotons is quite easy by stem cutting or air layering. A new croton plant can be grown by taking a tip cutting and putting it in soil or water to root. They can also be grown from seeds.

Picture of Planting Crotons Cuttings

Propagating Crotons From Cuttings

How to take Croton Cuttings?

You can take croton stem cuttings for propagation at any time during the growing season.
Plant Propagation methods

Following is a step-by-step guide on growing crotons from cuttings.

1. Cut a stem of 5-6 inch length (pencil size) at 45-degree angle from an actively growing healthy and mature croton bush using a pair of clean, sharp pruning shears. The croton cutting should have at least three sets of leaves at the top. The cut should be just below a leaf joint.
2. Remove all the leaves at the bottom and cut all the top leaves into half or less.
3. Take a small pot and fill it with equal part of river sand and and peat moss or vermiculite. If you don't have peat moss or vermiculite, you can try a mix of river sand and potting mix. Water well and keep aside for an hour to drain out the excess water.
4. Dip the cut end of the cutting in a natural rooting hormone. You can skip this step if you don't have a rooting hormone. The rooting hormone quickens the root formation and increases the success rate.
5. Make a hole with a pencil in the soil in the pot and insert the cutting into the soil. You can put 3-4 cuttings in different holes in the same pot.
6. Cover the pot with plastic to create a greenhouse atmosphere. I put the pot in a polythene bag and tie it at the top to contain the moisture.
7. Place the pot in shade where temperature is at 20-25°C.
8. Open the bag after 5-7 days and see if the pot needs water, mist the soil if it begins to dry. Over watering will rot the cutting. Daily watering is not needed as there are no roots as yet.
9. Croton cuttings take about 4 weeks to develop new roots and new leaves start to emerge.
10. Remove the pot from the bag and place it in shade for another 8-10 weeks.
11. Transplant he rooted croton cuttings in bigger pots filled with a soil mix as above.
12. Place the new croton plant in partly shaded place or filtered sunlight.
13. Keep the plants well watered.

Growing Crotons in Water

Propagating croton plant in water is very easy, as easy as taking a cutting and putting it in water.

1. Take a cutting 6 to 12 inch long and as thick as a pencil from the top of the plant.
2. Cut the lower leaves leaving the growing tips intact.
3. Place the cuttings in a pot of water at about 20-25°C. Keep the pot in shade indoors or outdoors.
4. Roots will form in about 5-6 weeks when you can transplant the cutting in a pot filled with a soil mix containing equal parts of compost, manure and river sand.

Growing Crotons by Air Layering

In this method of propagation technique, the stem is rooted while it is still attached to the plant. take a branch which is in indirect sun light.

1. Make a diagonal cut through one-half the diameter of the stem and insert a toothpick in the cut to keep it opened.
2. Apply some rooting hormone on the wound.
3. Cover the cut area with damp sphagnum moss and wrap with a polythene to keep the moisture inside.
4. If the sphagnum moss turns to a tan colour, it means that it is becoming dry. Temporarily remove the covering, mist the moss and wrap it again.
5. After a few weeks, the stem will develop roots and new growth will start.
6. Cut the branch and plant the new rooted branch in a pot filled with soil.

Once you try these techniques of growing crotons, you will be thrilled to produce new plants successfully.

Croton Pest and Disease Problems

Healthy croton plants are almost free from pests and diseases. The pests like white fly, mealy bug and fruit spotting bug may sometime be problem. These can be prevented or treated by spray of neem spray, garlic spray or pest oil.

Video on Growing Crotons