Croton plants are popular houseplants that have a reputation for being hard to grow. However, many of the issues with crotons can be traced back to improper care or poor selection.

If you’re having difficulty keeping your plant healthy and it has leggy stems, read on below for tips on how to fix this issue.

How to Fix a Leggy Croton?

Croton plants get leggy when they are not getting enough light. Keep the plant in a part of the home that gets a lot of suns and it should help with this issue! If your croton is indoors, you can set up a grow lamp to provide more energy for photosynthesis.

Fixing the issue will give your croton plant a fuller and more lush appearance. This is why it is important to address the issue as soon as possible so that your plant does not get too tall or spindly.

I will now go more in-depth into how you can save a leggy croton plant…

1) Prune the leggiest leaves and stems

If you remove the leggiest leaves and stems, your croton will be able to focus its energy on new growth. After pruning off these parts of the plant, it should help promote more bushy branches that are closer together.

To do this properly, use a sharp pair of pruning shears and snip the stems at an angle. Try to cut each stem just above a leaf node (the place on a plant where there is a joint between branches).

It’s also a good idea to sterilize all of your tools before you prune the plant to ensure that no bacteria or fungi are transferred. Failure to do this may lead to secondary infections.

2) Move your croton to a brighter location

Croton plants do best when they are placed in an area that gets at least four hours of indirect sunlight every day. If your plant is not getting enough light, it will become tall and leggy as a result.

Depending on how far away the sun is from where you live, this may mean moving the plant closer to windowsills or onto a porch or balcony. If you don’t have any sunny windows in your home, you can move it to an area with artificial lighting instead (like near grow lights).

Not giving enough sunlight can lead to other problems with your croton plant as well, such as yellow leaves and brown spots on the leaves. This is why providing proper sunlight is such an important part of keeping this plant healthy.

I use grow lights (Amazon link) on nearly all of my plants, especially during winter. They are great for giving your plants the energy they need to survive.

Leggy Croton FAQ

Croton plants are popular houseplants that have a reputation for being hard to grow. As such, I get many questions about what to do when they turn leggy.

Should I repot a croton pothos plant?

It’s a good idea to repot your croton if it is getting too tall or large for the current container. Removing the plant from its original container and putting it in a larger one will make your plant look fuller, stronger, and healthier.

Where should I keep my leggy croton?

Croton plants need a lot of light, so if you’re having trouble keeping your plant looking full and lush, try moving it to a brighter location. Be sure that the spot gets at least four hours of indirect sunlight every day.

Should I prune my leggy croton?

I recommend pruning the plant if it has become spindly or leggy. If you remove some of the old leaves and stems, your croton will be able to focus its energy on new growth which should help promote more bushy branches that are closer together.

Will a leggy croton recover?

Yes, your croton will recover from becoming leggy as long as you address the underlying problems. I recommend pruning off any spindly or leggy leaves and branches, moving your plant to a brighter location with more indirect sunlight, and repotting it if necessary.

How do I make my croton bushy?

You can make your croton bushier by pruning off any spindly or leggy parts of the plant. This will promote more bushy branches that are closer together.

You can also move your croton closer to windowsills where there is more indirect sunlight if you’re having trouble keeping it full in its current location.

Will pruning a leggy croton plant hurt the plant?

No, pruning your croton will not have any negative impacts on the plant. In fact, it should help promote more bushy branches that are closer together and make your croton look healthier overall. Just make sure not to remove more than a third of the plant at a time.

Conclusion

In conclusion, if your croton has become leggy it may be due to low light levels. If you keep the plant in a sunny spot and prune off any long leaves or stems, you can help it recover from this issue.

I hope that this article has helped you understand how to fix a leggy croton plant. If it turns out that your problem is too severe, please send me an email so I can give you more specific advice based on your situation.