The Croton plant is a beautiful houseplant that can brighten up any room. It is known for its brightly colored leaves, which can range in color from yellow to red to green. But it also produces lovely flowers.
If you have a croton plant that is blooming, don't be surprised! While the flowers are not as showy as the leaves, they are still beautiful.
So, let's learn more about them in the following guide.
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What Is A Croton Flower?
Croton plant produces small flowers. They can be white and yellow in color. The flowers grow in clusters and are relatively insignificant compared to the colorful leaves.
The plant has both male and female flowers. Male flowers have 20-30 stamens, while female flowers don't have any petals.
The flowers are pollinated by bees and other insects that visit the plant in search of nectar. After pollination, the flowers develop into small, oval-shaped fruits. Each fruit contains three seeds.
As for the blooming season, croton flowers bloom during spring when the temperature is warm. Also, it'd be rare for the plant to produce flowers in indoor conditions.
Outdoors, you can expect the plant to bloom from March to June.
What To Do With Croton Flower?
It's always a great sign to see your croton plant blooming. It means that the plant is in good condition.
Flowering is also a natural process of the plant's life cycle. So, there's nothing to worry about.
If your croton is flowering, you can do one of the following things -
- Enjoy them as they are.
- Pick them from the plant.
Let's look at these two points in detail below.
1. Enjoy Them As They Are
Croton flowers look amazing. They can add a pop of color to any room in your house. So, if you see flowers on your croton plant, enjoy them!
If you are lucky, you might also see butterflies or bees visiting the flowers. Of course, the plant needs to be outdoors for this to happen. But you can also keep it near an open window so that the insects can fly inside and pollinate the flowers.
However, if you don't want to see friendly insects flying around your house, you can keep the plant in the same place and simply enjoy the flowers.
2. Pick Them From The Plant
Ideally, I don't recommend picking the flowers as they look beautiful on the plant. And they do no harm to the plant.
But if you really want to, go ahead and pick the flowers.
Here's a 2-step process to follow -
- First, make sure your hands are clean, and you have sharp scissors handy.
- Once you're ready, cut the stem of the flower just below where it meets the main branch.
That's pretty much it!
Expert Tips:
- Do not use your hands to pick the flowers as it can damage the plant.
- Make a clean cut with sharp scissors. Do not try to pull the flowers from the plant.
- Cut the flower stem at a 45-degree angle so that it can form a callus over the cut and prevent infections.
How To Get Croton To Flower
As you know, croton flowers are quite rare. So, if you are looking to get your plant to bloom, there are a few things you can do.
1. Keep It In Sunlight
When you grow croton in indoor places, it doesn't receive enough sunlight. This prevents the plant from producing flowers.
Therefore, you should keep your plant in a well-lit and sunny place. Also, rotate the plant every few days so that it can get sunlight from all sides.
If you want to see flowers on your plant, you should keep it in bright sunlight for at least 6 hours a day.
2. Feed The Plant with Fertilizer
Whenever a plant produces flowers or fruits, it needs to be well-nourished. The same goes for croton plants.
So, feed the plant regularly with a high-quality fertilizer. This will ensure the plant has all the nutrients needed to produce flowers.
According to the research at the University of Florida, the croton plant does well with an NPK ratio of 3:1:2. So, look for a fertilizer that has these ratios.
If you can't find a similar fertilizer, you may also go for a balanced fertilizer or compost. Summer and spring are the best times to feed your plant.
3. Prune Regularly
Pruning keeps the plant in a good state, which in turn helps it produce flowers.
Of course, don't expect a magical result right away. The plant will need time to recover after the pruning.
This might take 2-3 months. So, plan your pruning schedule accordingly.
Important: Despite following the above suggestions, you can't guarantee that your croton plant will flower. This is because it depends on several factors, such as climate, the plant's age, and the growing conditions.
So, be patient and continue nurturing your plant so that it can reach maturity. And with a bit of luck, you might see beautiful croton flowers blooming on your plant.
Now, let's take a look at the FAQs below.
FAQs
Yes, croton plants do bear flowers.
If you have kept the plant indoors, it's certainly rare to see a flower on such a plant. Indoor conditions are generally not suitable for flowering.
They bloom during the summer and spring seasons. These seasons provide ideal conditions for blooming, which is why you're more likely to see flowers during these times.
The croton flowers can last for a week or two.
You can trim them any time of year, but it's best to do so in early spring. This will help encourage new growth.
Over To You
Croton flowers look stunning and are a lovely addition to any home or garden. But as I mentioned, you have to be lucky to get them to bloom.
Do you have any tips or tricks for getting your croton plant to flower? Or perhaps you've had success in getting croton plants to flower.
Share your experience in the comments below! And if you have any questions, feel free to ask as well.
If you liked this guide, please share it with others who are interested in growing croton plants.
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