Pix, you are doing well just to have found this forum and researched the names of the crotons you've acquired, 'croton girl.' I am pretty new myself. I found this forum not much over a year ago but have not been shy about posting nor going to as many events as possible. I took the wiki on just to get better at identifying crotons. Therefore, I am one of the least experienced in this group so take what I say with a grain of salt. I had all the same questions as you and found that people have many different ways of growing the same crotons and they are all pretty much right! So, it's difficult to answer the questions. Phil is one of the most experienced in this group and has a beautiful garden with an incredible collection of crotons. Not only that, he is a really, really nice guy
. Everyone on this forum is very nice, though, and willing to help us learn.
As far as Stoplight, I have mine in almost full morning sun up to 12-1 and it does very well with very nice coloring. I am in Sarasota and it did not drop a leaf the last two winters. It is an easy and rewarding cultivar. I think most people keep the sticks (plants) in a pot together when they buy a plant to get a bushier type specimen. I find it's a moderately fast grower.
King of Siam I think likes shadier conditions. I have mine in bright to moderate shade and it grows very well with nice coloring. No leaf drop either, but it is under a canopy of different plants. Moderate grower for me.
Eleanor Roosevelt is an easy peasy plant. Mine are in moderate shade through moderate sun and they all do well and look about the same! Great plant and I love how a cluster of them brighten up a shady spot. Not a leaf was shed the last several winters here. Relatively fast grower in my yard.
I did have Zanzibar, but it all but died after a couple of less than 40 degree nights. It is very sensitive to cold, but takes a lot of sun and can be incredibly colorful. I think most people have this experience and north of South Florida it needs to be protected on cold nights.
I don't have Pinocchio.
I fertilize my crotons with alfalfa pellets frequently (a kind of weak, organic fertilizer), and Sul-Po-Mag (same as K-mag)- recommended and used by some on this forum for better cold hardiness and for great color. I happen to think this is true and I use it sparingly 3-4 times a year. Some people use palm fertilizer, just a regular balanced fertilizer, or a water soluble fertilizer for acid-loving plants (crotons are acid loving). I am big on using oak leaves for mulching and adding organic material to soil. I really enjoy improving my sandy soil. It seems most do mulch crotons with a variety of things.
I hope I answered all your questions. That's the best I know how.
Overall, my experience so far is that crotons are easy to grow, require little maintenance to look good, and are very resilient plants in general. There is a
lot I don't know yet, but I learn something almost every day in this forum. Please stick around and post a lot and you'll learn.
