The croton plant ( Codiaeum variegatum ) is a sun - loving tropical bush — grow crotons only in USDA hardiness zones 9B through 11 — that ’s considerably live for its colorful foliation . The " Gold Star " miscellanea has green leaves speckle with xanthous and can add instant warmth to your backyard . Take right care of your Gold Star Croton tiglium to keep its leafage healthy and see to it healthy ontogeny for geezerhood .

Step 1

constitute the Gold Star croton out of doors flat in the ground in a well - drained area that receives about five or six hr of direct sunshine . Alternatively , place the works in a five - congius slew — croton grow quickly and will involve several repottings if you choose this method — take with a sandy soil mix made up of three parts peat moss and one part moxie .

Step 2

irrigate the croton plant . Crotons fall behind more moisture through their leaves than most other types of plants , according to the University of Florida . body of water daily if it ’s potted , or every duet of days if it ’s grown in the soil . Gauge the plant ’s weewee needs by observing its leave . obtain the rate of urine that your specific soil and climate requires by diminish watering until you notice slight wilting .

Step 3

Feed the Gold Star Croton tiglium . apply a standard shrub fertilizer with a nutritious proportion of 3 - 1 - 2 . Apply once every two to three month in accordance with the plant food ’s label — potency varies by ware .

Step 4

mastery pests on your Croton tiglium industrial plant . Crotons are seldom lash out by insects , but the plants can sometimes be afflicted with mealybugs and mites . If you have mealybugs , spray the plant with a dimethoate- , flonicamid- or imidacloprid - base insect powder . If you have mites , expend a bifenthrin- or bifenazate - based insecticide . Apply the insecticide according to its recording label , as chemic assiduity and toxicity vary wide by steel .

Step 5

Harvest the Gold Star plant ’s leaf , if you plan to apply it in bloom placement and the comparable . Grab a leaf and worm it to snap it off the croton ’s subdivision . stack away the leaf in your icebox until you use them .

Tip

Gold Star crotons , like all crotons , have a blanket shape . If institute more than one croton , imbed them approximately 36 inch apart .

Warning

Too much fertilizer will make your Gold Star croton ’s yellow coloring to lose some of its brightness .

Things Needed

References

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