I received my first croton as a gift from a sharp-eyed friend who noticed the tag said “Lauren’s Rainbow”, and since I have a daughter named Lauren, my friend couldn’t pass it up. This particular plant has graceful, long narrow leaves – each with a different combination of green, gold, and red – ending with a tiny spike where the petiole projects from the tip of the leaf. You may notice that in plant care guides, the croton isn’t noted for its easy care. But don’t be intimidated! This was one of my first houseplants, back when I knew very little about them and hadn’t much time to coddle them.

The croton needs high light – place it near a sunny window. It prefers warm temperatures, no lower than 60 degrees. Fairly high humidity is recommended, but it’s not that picky – if the humidity gets too low, it’ll simply drop a few leaves. Keep the leaves clean of dust by misting frequently.

How do you know if the conditions aren’t right? When the croton drops leaves, brown tips indicate the air or soil is too dry. Brown edges mean that the temperature is too low. If the leaves lose their variegated color, the plant isn’t getting enough light. Crotons are susceptible to spider mites, especially when the humidity is too low. Cure them by daily misting and showering them in the kitchen sink two or three times a week.