How to Care for Thin Leaf Crotons

Plant a thin leaf croton in a container that's only a couple of inches wider than the plant pot in which it was growing. Fill the plant pot with six parts peat moss, three parts shredded pine bark and one part sand. Dig a hole in the center with a hand trowel and place the root ball in the hole. Fill the hole with the soil.

Place the croton in an area with bright light and warm temperatures. Full shade causes the leaves to lose their colorations. Sunlight brightens the colors in the leaves.

Pour water into the top of the container whenever the top of the soil is dry or the thin leaf croton begins to wilt. These plants need 1 inch of water each week. During hot weather, check the plant every day.

Feed the croton plant each spring when new growth begins. Use the recommended rates of acidic general purpose fertilizer, such as azalea fertilizer. Using too much fertilizer reduces the amount of coloration in the leaves.

Cut back the croton plant each spring with a sharp pair of shears. Thin leaf crotons produce most of their leaves at the top of the plant, and pruning encourages the plant to grow leaves lower. Cut back one-third of the length of the branches and stems. Do not prune again until the croton is producing new growth. Pinching the tips of the branch causes the croton plant to produce more branches.