If you are up for the challenge and can recreate the right conditions in terms of temperature, humidity, and sunlight, the Croton Petra is a great choice.
If you give your Petra croton proper care, its beautiful leaves can remain healthy for many years. To keep your Petra plant healthy, there are a few additional things you can do besides just watering it and giving it sunlight.
In this article, we have mentioned the requirements for proper maintenance of this plant’s health. Keep reading to know more!
What Does the Croton Petra Look Like?
This plant is a type of shrub that stays green all year and is native to the western Pacific islands and countries in southern Asia.
This plant thrives in hot and muggy climates and can only be grown in USDA hardiness zones nine through 11.
You can grow the Petra croton in pots and keep it indoors during the winter if you live in a different climate.
When you grow this unique, multicoloured plant indoors, it’s important to provide specific care for different temperature zones in order to keep it healthy.
Under the right conditions, this plant that grows at a slow pace has the potential to reach a height of up to eight feet in just a few years.
What sets the Petra croton apart from the many other types of croton plants? Similar to other Croton varieties, this plant displays a beautiful range of colours, resembling a rainbow. However, it can also grow with a yellow-green hue.
The amount of sunlight it receives determines everything. This beautiful tropical plant thrives in well-lit areas. As the variegated leaves receive more sunlight, they will develop even more vibrant rainbow colours.
Typically, warm stripes in shades of red, pink, orange, and yellow create a striking contrast when paired with dark or bright green.
Maintaining them is surprisingly simple, and as long as they receive proper care both inside and outside, they will remain bright and vibrant. They are also quite easy to take care of, which makes them perfect for people who are new to plant parenting.
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What is the Benefit of Having a Croton Petra in the Home?
Firstly, this plant is really great at purifying the air. Did you know that there’s a NASA study that found the Croton plant to be really good at getting rid of VOCs?
According to the EPA, the toxins present in our indoor air are significantly higher compared to the air we breathe outdoors.
A Petra croton not only adds moisture and freshness to the air in your home or office, but it also looks really stylish while doing it.
The Petra croton is not only good for purifying the air, but it also helps to increase humidity in dry indoor spaces.
If you provide this plant with regular misting and extra humidity, it will thrive. This will also increase the overall humidity in your home.
What is the Care Requirement of a Petra Croton?
What is the Water Requirement of the Croton Petra?
The Petra croton plant needs regular care. If the soil sticks to your finger when you touch the top one to two inches, then there’s no need to water the plant because it already has enough moisture.
When leaves are thirsty, they tend to droop or sometimes even fall off.
Make sure to give the plant a good flush using warm water that has been filtered and dechlorinated. Make sure to let all the water drain out completely from the grower pot before placing your plant back into its decorative pot.
Once the topsoil of this type of croton dries out again, make sure to water it again following the same routine.
During the winter, it’s a good idea to decrease the amount of watering as the growth of plants tends to slow down. Crotons tend to become less active during the winter, so it’s important to be cautious about watering them too much.
This indoor plant prefers environments that are similar to the humid tropics of Southeast Asia, Southern India, and Australia, where it originates.
To make sure this plant stays well-hydrated and happy, you can increase the humidity around it by spraying water on its leaves and nearby areas using a spray bottle, using a humidifier, or placing a tray filled with water and pebbles under the plant.
What is the Sunlight Requirement of the Croton Petra?
The Petra croton plant will develop colourful leaves when placed in an area with moderate to bright indirect sunlight.
If the plant doesn’t get enough sunlight, its leaves won’t have vibrant colours and will remain green instead of having colourful patterns.
To keep it lively and beautiful, it requires about four to six hours of indirect sunlight every day.
To avoid the leaves of your Petra Croton plant from getting burned when grown outdoors in USDA hardiness zones 10 through 12, make sure it gets some shade during the afternoon and evening.
If you move this plant from indoors to outdoors, it might lose some of its leaves. Just keep taking care of it, and it should eventually get better.
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What is the Temperature Requirement of the Croton Petra?
Crotons thrive in temperatures ranging from 60 to 80 degrees Fahrenheit because they naturally prefer warmer climates similar to their native habitat.
During the winter, it’s important to make sure this houseplant is kept away from draughts or cold air. This means avoiding areas near air conditioners or draughty windows.
Dry or chilly air can potentially slow down the growth of your Petras plant or, in extreme cases, even cause harm to it. Make sure you never expose your Petra croton to temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
What is the Fertilizer Requirement of the Croton Petra?
To ensure optimal growth and health for your Petra plant during the spring and summer, it’s recommended to fertilise its soil with an organic fertiliser once every month.
In the autumn and winter, when the plant is in its resting season, it’s best to avoid fertilising altogether. Feeding your plants may feel overwhelming initially, but it becomes a straightforward process once you start.
Using a liquid plant fertiliser will simplify the process without having to disturb the soil of your Petra plant.
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Conclusion
It’s generally a good idea to keep this plant out of reach of pets and children. Make sure to wear gloves when you handle or prune the plant. The white sap that comes from its stem can irritate your skin, even if you don’t consume it.
If someone, a dog, or a cat were to eat this houseplant, it could make them sick and might cause irritation in their mouth. If animals eat this plant, they might experience symptoms like drooling, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
Do well to provide your Petra Croton with the above-mentioned requirements for efficient growth!
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