What are the most important cares for the ‘Petra’ croton?

If you like crotons you will know that there are many types. One of the prettiest you can have at home is the Petra croton. Their care does not differ too much from what you have with another species.

If you have been given one, or have seen it and want to have it, but at the same time you need to know what the most important care you should give it is, we will tell you below.

The most important care of the Petra croton

A croton is one of the most showy plants you can have at home. However, it is a bit delicate when it comes to caring for it and you have to be very aware of them so that they are well, otherwise the leaves will soon fall off and, in the end, you will lose this plant.

So that this does not happen, here we leave you the specific care of the Petra croton.

Location

In general, the Petra croton can be both indoors and outdoors. But it is not the same in one location as in another.

If you are going to put it inside the house, we advise you to put it next to a window where the sun shines as much light as possible. However, it does not like direct light, because it will end up burning it. The best thing is that it has a curtain or something that filters that light. But it does require a good amount.

If it does not give it enough light, you will notice that the leaves are losing their characteristic shine and that will make it look duller.

In case you want to put it outside the home, we recommend that you take it to a semi-shade place so that the sun gives it only a few hours (early or late afternoon) and the rest has light but not direct. It will be much better this way.

Temperature

Before I talk to you about the temperature, you should think, what kind of climate do I have at home? If you are one of those who suffers from very cold in winter, then it is not advisable that you have a croton because they do not tolerate those temperatures well at all. In fact, below 16 degrees, you will almost certainly lose the plant.

On the contrary, the higher temperatures tolerate them well, as long as you are more aware of their needs.

In general, the ideal for this plant is between 18 and 25 degrees. As you can see, a temperature that could not be achieved in all parts of Spain.

Tierra

Let’s talk now about the substrate of the plant. The Petra croton is a plant that, being in a pot, needs you to be more attentive to its care, and special care must be taken in the substrate.

It does not mean that you will need a special land, no. But we do recommend that you mix what you are going to use with some drainage so that it does not clog it because it does not tolerate water pockets or that the substrate is too wet (it will kill the roots of the plant and, after that, with the stem and the plant itself).

Irrigation

This is one of the most important Petra croton care (and the one that can make it die). To begin with, you should know that it needs a lot of water. It is a plant that dries up quickly and you have to watch it to water it. But not to the point of drowning it because that will only cause root rot to occur.

So how to make it the best possible? You see, in summer it surely needs you to water it daily. If you see that the next day it is still moist, or not dry, instead of watering it in the morning, do it at night, or the next day.

This croton does not like the soil to be completely dry, so you will have to be more careful in this regard.

In winter, as the temperatures are colder, you can leave more time between watering. The important thing is that the earth does not dry out completely because if it does, it may not recover.

Of course, make sure that the pot has drainage holes and that no water remains underneath (in a plate or similar) because that will only rot the roots.

Humidity

With the Petra croton, humidity is very important. In fact, with all crotons it is necessary to pay attention to this one because they need it.

You must give it a high environmental humidity, either with a humidifier at 50% or so. If you do not want to put a humidifier on it, it would be enough to spray water on it (this will depend on the environmental humidity you have, if it is very low it will have to be constant and daily (3-4-5 times a day); if you have a higher humidity, maybe with 3-4 a week is enough.

Subscriber

Being in a pot, one of the cares for the Petra croton will be fertilizing the soil to give it extra nutrients that will be perfect for it. You must fertilize it from spring to autumn and we recommend that you do it, at the beginning, once a month and in its growth season every 15-20 days.

As for the fertilizer to use, you can use the liquid (to mix it with the irrigation water) or the bars that they sell that you only have to stick into the ground.

Plagues and diseases

As for the pests that affect the Petra croton, you must be especially careful with red spider mites, mealybugs and cotonets.

The red spider mite is detected by the spider webs it creates on the part of the leaves. To solve it, it is best to apply an insecticide. The same as with mealybugs, in this case after having cleaned the entire plant with a cotton pad soaked in alcohol.

Finally, you will detect the cottonets because they appear white and hairy areas, mainly on the back of the young leaves.

With regard to diseases, the main one for this plant is root rot. You can also find yourself with problems with lack or excess lighting. If it is missing, the leaves will discolor and fall off; and if it is left over, you will notice that the leaves are burned.

Multiplication

The reproduction of the Petra croton is done by cuttings. This is usually carried out in spring, because that is when you will have the best opportunity to succeed.

What some do is put it in water until it takes out roots and when these are very long it is planted in a substrate of peat and coarse sand.

Do you have any doubts about the care of the Petra croton?