Water once a month? Holy crap, I'd be withered too. I'm no expert, but I have crotons in both pots and in the ground and they get watered 3x/week if in pots, and twice/week if in ground by sprinklers (sometimes more if it rains). So long as you have decent drainage, you should not have an overwatering problem.

I am with cynthiain, once a month isn't enough water. Mine in the ground get water 2x a week from the sprinklers and what ever rainfall. It also might be a lot of sun for them, especially in the summer. Mine are mostly in bright light or dappled sun light. :o)

I can agree with the lack of water - also, if they faced north this winter, the cold wind would have hurt them. Also, I hope it was potting soil you bought - HD topsoil is nothing but sand and a little heavy.And in a big pot like you have, any water would not be taken up by the plant>
I would cut them back, hold off on fertilizer (I never feed my crotons - seems not to make a difference). They should survive.
Hester

What a dumbbell that person was! Such a shame! Once a week would be the least I would water. Topsoil sounds scary to me! Up north topsoil was great. Not down here. I hope you can find a real nursery in your area instead of a box store one. They tend to know how to really take good care of plants.

My crotons are in ground but get water at least twice a week. There are many different types of crotons, most don't like a lot of sun. Here's a good website.

http://www.palmpedia.net/wiki/CROTON_ONLINE_REFERENCE

Crotons are quite drought tolerant - in the ground. Mine never get anything but rainwater. But in a pot, yes, you'd need to water them more. And cut back on the fertilizer. Crotons in the ground don't need it at all. I don't know about pots.

Sure appreciate all the good advice. Found a small amount of left over potting soil that I added to the two pots. Also started watering 3 x a week. Both crotons still look sickly but hope springs eternal. lol

How heavy is this so called topsoil. We had some that had the consistancy of sludge or thick mud. You may want to take them out of the pots and put them in a good quality garden soil.