What's eating my oakleaf croton?

Oakleaf Croton shares the Codiaeum genus's well-known vulnerability to spider mites, which cause rapid fading of its distinctive lobed, oak-shaped leaves. Mealybugs settle in the sinuses between lobes. Scale and whitefly are secondary threats. Like all crotons, stress from dry air or drafts triggers rapid pest establishment — maintain stable humidity above 50%.

Yellow stippling and pale mottling on lobed leaves; webbing on undersides; color loss in heavy infestations Mist and shower the plant; apply insecticidal soap or neem oil spray every 5–7 days; continue for at least 3 weeks

White cottony masses in the lobes and at stem nodes; honeydew and yellowing foliage Dab individual colonies with isopropyl alcohol; apply neem oil spray to all leaf surfaces and joints weekly

Small hard bumps on stems and leaf midribs; sticky honeydew and secondary sooty mold Remove manually; treat with horticultural oil spray; repeat after 2 weeks

Clouds of tiny white insects when leaves are disturbed; stippled, yellowing leaf undersides Hang yellow sticky traps; spray undersides with insecticidal soap; remove heavily affected leaves