Sunburn on Crotons

Croton Plants are prized for their vibrant and colorful foliage. They’re a popular choice among plant enthusiasts. I’ve owned several over the years but due to downsizing one kept two, a Croton Petra and a Gold Dust Croton. While Crotons do love light, and the require it in order for their foliage to maintain its color patterns, there is such a thing as too much sun. Sun light that is too intense can burn Croton leaves. Sunburn can cause unsightly damage to their leaves and hinder their overall growth. In this guide, I'll discuss how to identify sunburn on Crotons, what to do if your Croton is sunburnt, and share practical tips to prevent it.

How to Identify Sunburn on Crotons

Leaf Discoloration

One of the most noticeable signs of sunburn on Crotons is leaf discoloration. Sunburned leaves may develop brown or yellow patches, which can vary in size and shape. The affected leaves will be dry and crispy as well. They look almost like scorch marks. See an example below. Generally, sunburn affects the topmost leaves the most because these are the leaves that receive the most direct sunlight.

Wilting and Curling

Sunburned Croton leaves may also start to wilt or curl, indicating they are stressed by the sun. Crotons suffering from too much sun may also have leaves that appear brown and dried on the edges and may also begin to curl.

Leaf Drop

Once a case of sunburn is pretty bad, your Croton may experience leaf drop. It’s uncommon for this to be the first sign of sunburn though. You’re more likely to see the above two signs which may eventually lead to leaf drop. Leaf drop can significantly impact your Croton's aesthetic appeal and overall health.

What to Do if You Have Sunburn

If your Croton has sunburn it’s usually not a death sentence. For the most part it’s very easy to notice sunburn pretty early so that you’re not waiting until your plant is so stressed there is nothing you can do for it.

If you have a sunburned Croton, the first thing you should do is look for a solution to provide it with less intense light. If it’s outside, maybe move it to a shadier area. If it’s inside you can move it to a shadier spot or put a sheer curtain or other light filtering window treatment to moderate the sun’s intensity.

You should also make sure that you are providing adequate water. A sunburned plant may be on the dry side. However, it’s important that you don’t overwater either because a sunburned Croton is already stressed.

Unfortunately, leaves that show major signs of sunburn are likely to drop off because of the damage. Generally, there’s not much you can do to prevent this once the damage is visible on the leaf.

Preventing Sunburn on Crotons

Location and Acclimation

In order to prevent sunburn, it’s best to choose a place that receives the right amount of light. Crotons like pretty bright light, but direct sun can sometime be too intense. Location selection isn’t usually an issue it’s the adaption that’s required that people often get wrong. Crotons, like every other plant need time to adjust to drastic changes in light.

I gave my own Croton Petra above sunburn because I had to take it outside immediately after I discovered it had spider mites. Because I was more worried abot the spider mites, I didn’t think to acclimate my Croton to outdoor levels of light. To do it properly, it needs to be gradual. It’s best to introduce your plant to the outdoors in small doses and then increase the increment by and hour or two every day.

Use Shade Cloth or Sheer Curtain

If you have your Crotons in a spot you know has intense sunlight, you can use a sheer curtains or shade cloth to diffuse the light. This will protect the leaves from direct exposure.

Water Properly

Watering can help a little bit toward preventing some sunburn. Leaves that are properly hydrated will be less susceptible to the damage that intense sun can cause to Croton leaves. It’s best to maintain consistent watering habits. Crotons prefer slightly moist soil. Check out my post on Croton watering for more details.

Crotons are magnificent houseplants, but they require careful attention to avoid sunburn. By identifying the signs early and taking preventive measures, you can ensure your Croton thrives with its dazzling foliage intact. Have any more Croton questions, post them in the Comments.