Croton Zanzibar Leaf Drop: Pot Too Large = Root Rot

Your 50 cm Croton 'Zanzibar' in a 30 cm pot is severely overpotted. Excess soil holds water too long, rotting roots. Leaf drop is the delayed above-ground symptom.

Rescue Protocol

1. Unpot and remove loose soil around rootball.
2. Inspect roots: Firm, light = good. Mushy, dark = rot (trim).
3. Repot into ~15 cm pot (half current size) with well-draining mix.
4. Prune leggy stems to balance root loss.
5. Water sparingly until new growth appears.

Why Pot Size Matters

• Crotons want snug roots—moderately rootbound is ideal.
• Large pot = wet bottom = anaerobic conditions = root death.
• Symptoms appear weeks after root damage begins.

If root rot isn't advanced, new growth should emerge in weeks. Melbourne winter = slower recovery.