My Croton Is Unreasonably Sensitive to Light

[teddscau]

What do I do? My croton is ridiculously sensitive to light. I brought it in my bathroom a few weeks ago to water it and it started to burn! My bathroom has artificial light that isn't very strong! It was in there for less than ten seconds when it started to burn! It'll even burn outside when it's not sunny or hot out! Seriously, if you saw this thing, you'd be amazed. I've had it for over a year. I got him when he was just a little, neglected, and injured plant. What do I do?

[SLeen]

Crotons, like other variegated plants usually require more light than other, more green plants. So this sounds pretty weird to me. I would guess that the problem lies more with under-watering and/or low humidity. What color are the leaves? Mostly yellow/red or more green?

[teddscau]

I accidentally let the soil dry out a couple weeks ago (oops), but it didn't seem very unhappy, besides the fact that the leaves drooped. It's been really healthy from what I can tell. Several of the older leaves have scars that didn't heal properly (he came with them). I'd have to say the leaves are mostly green, but I don't like putting him in good lighting because his leaves react badly. I brought him into the bathroom a couple minutes ago to show my dad how sensitive he is. His new leaves started breaking out in little burn marks.

[SLeen]

so you never let the soil dry out?

Are the leaves just browning on the edges? and crumpling a little?

From your last reply, I am now thinking you might have an OVER watering problem.

Typically, you want to allow the soil to become mostly dry before watering again. And since you are giving it only moderate/low light, it may not be able to dry very easily.

[SLeen]

Oh, I forgot to add that for crotons, green leaves mean it isn't receiving enough light and is trying to compensate by producing extra chlorophyll, which of course, makes the leaves green. Crotons should have a nice yellow and red color to the leaves, with accents of green.

[teddscau]

Yes, his soil dried out a week ago, but he only seemed a little ticked. I only water about once a month, if that. No, they're not just browning at the edges, they get bright red speckles on their leaves when they get too much light. Is it normal for their leaves to start getting a strange "dark" colour on them when they are exposed to light? Weird, just put him in the light and the areas that should be red are becoming red already. Weird plant I've got.

[teddscau]

Whoa, there's a 9'5" gourd on tv.