Caladium combine colorful arrowhead - shaped leave with well-to-do growing requirements .
Caladium is a genus of tropic plants native to South and Central America . They are commonly grow as yearbook or their bulbs are dug up each fall and replanted every spring likedahlias . They are also suited to be grown as houseplant .
Caladiums were ab initio limited to shadier locations with a couple of hours of dappled sun or less intense morning sunlight . However , newer variety permit some lineal sun , particularly in northerly areas .
Credit: Mark Kane
Most caladiums sell in the nursery swap today are cultivars ofCaladium bicolor , and there are C of them to choose from . caladium are sometimes denote to as elephant ears or angel wings . assert the genus nameCaladiumon the works tagbecause other plants such as alocasia also go by those vulgar names .
Caladium is toxic to man and dearie .
Where to Plant Caladium
Depending on your zone and the motley ’s Sunday leeway , works caladium in full Lord’s Day to fond spook . The territory should be naturally moist but well - drained and slightly acidic .
The Francis Scott Key to an eye - catch caladium planting is quantity . Plant at least three caladiums together for a bluff statement . If you have space , a mass planting of five or seven plants is even unspoilt . Choose a unmarried variety for the good core .
For the front of a border , select lance - riffle caladium , which normally do n’t uprise taller than 12 inches .
Credit: Mark Kane
In container , plant life only caladium or combine them with other shade - loving annuals such as impatiens or begonia . More Sunday - patient of varieties also pair well withcannasandcalibrachoa .
How and When to Plant Caladium
Caladiums are implant in the springiness after soil temperatures remain consistently above 70 degrees F. Do n’t plant these heat - lovers too early ; the works do n’t grow in colder temperatures and if the soil is too cold-blooded , the Tuber will rot .
If possible , purchase larger incandescent lamp . The more buds are on a bulb , the more foliage the flora will grow . little bulbs still make attractive plants , they just wo n’t get as large .
set the medulla so their puckered or knobby sides ( eyes ) are face up . Cover them with 1.5 to 2 inches of soil .
Credit: Blaine Moats
place bulb 8 to 12 inches apart , jumbo bulbs take maximal spatial arrangement . Smaller medulla oblongata or those in containers can be planted closer together .
Caladium Care Tips
Caladium truly has the repute of being an easy - to - grow garden ornamental .
Light
The light requirements count on the case of caladium . Traditional varieties prosper in fond nuance while many newer varieties are kind offull Lord’s Day , peculiarly in cool northern areas .
Soil and Water
caladium thrive in moist , organically fat , acidic soil with apH between 6.0 and 6.5 . Amend the grease with compost or other organic thing before planting if needed .
splendid drainage is important — caladium tubers are prone to rotting if the soil is too wet .
Unless there is frequent rain , steady watering is postulate to keep the soil evenly moist during the total produce season . Make certain to water the flora at the base and avoid get the foliage cockeyed .
Credit: Blaine Moats
Temperature and Humidity
caladium are tropic flora that thrive in hot and humid condition . In southern fix with strong , frost - free winter , leave the bulbs in the land year - round . Below Zone 9 , they are not wintertime - fearless but you may carry through the medulla oblongata for establish the following twelvemonth by digging them up before the first twilight frost andoverwintering the bulbs indoors .
Fertilizer
To support their vigorous growth , caladium need regular dressing during the growing time of year in the spring and summer . employ a all over all - intent garden fertilizer that islow in nitrogenand conform to the instruction for relative frequency and dose . Excess nitrogen may strike the folio semblance .
Pruning
Other than removing damaged and bushed foliage , there is no need to snip caladium . The plant seldom blooms but if it develops bloom bracts , remove them so the plant directs all its vigor on growing leafage .
Potting and Repotting Caladium
apply a combination of gamy - quality potting commixture and compost to fill a pot with large drain holes . Caladiums do not require very large quite a little , a pot that is about 5 time as big as the medulla is broadly speaking sufficient for a single plant . If planting several caladiums in one tummy , use a stack that is orotund enough to space the bulbs about 6 in apart .
Remember that potted plants need more frequent watering and fertilizer than plants in garden stain .
For caladium grow as annuals , repotting wo n’t be necessary .
Credit: Blaine Moats
Pests and Problems
Caladiums are bothered by only a few pest problem . likely pests include caterpillars , aphids , mealy bug , mite , thrip , and whitefly . If their numbers are humble , manual removal usually works , otherwise deal the plant life with insecticidal max . Slugs may also feed on the works .
Rotting of the bulbs ordinarily occurs in wet or nerveless weather condition . To prevent it , hold up the planting until the weather is lovesome .
Too much sun leads to flip burn or leaf singe in cultivars with thin leaves or varieties that are less sun - tolerant .
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
How to Propagate Caladium
Caladium is propagated by division in the spring just as the new growing season starts . Cut the glob of lightbulb into smaller sections with at least one middle or knob . countenance the section dry in a well - ventilated berth indoors for a few days so they callus over , then replant as describe above .
Types of Caladium
‘Florida Cardinal’ Caladium
Part of a thicker - leaved caladium serial bred in Florida for sun leeway , this variety create reddened heart - determine leaves loosely bordered in park . It grows 20 inches marvellous .
‘Florida Elise’ Caladium
' Florida Elise ' bears vibrant spatter of silvery pinkish that highlight the 16 - inch - long leaves . This variety take more sunshine than most and grows 18 to 30 inches tall .
‘Florida Red Ruffles’ Caladium
Here is another Lord’s Day - tolerant choice . It has minute , heart - shaped leaves in a dramatic ghost of dark red and edged in calcium hydroxide dark-green . It develop 12 to 14 inches tall .
‘Miss Muffet’ Caladium
' Miss Muffet ' produces pink veins on burnt lime - greenish leave-taking and is dramatise with burgundy muscae volitantes . This dwarf variety grow 12 inches tall .
‘Marie Moir’ Caladium
Each pump - work folio of this rare motley is splashed with splotch of red . It grow 24 column inch tall .
‘Gingerland’ Caladium
' Gingerland ' gestate intricate veining of maroon , pink , and green in a showstopping combination on the leaves . It ranges in summit between 12 and 24 inches .
‘White Queen’ Caladium
' White Queen ' is a classic with silver - white leaf etch with rich red and green veining . Each folio develop 10 - 20 inch long . It grows 24 inches improbable .
‘Red Flash’ Caladium
This bluff variety offer deep fuchsia - pink veins and pale pinkish splotches on the drab green , glistening leave of absence . It grows 24 inches tall .
Caladium Companion Plants
Licorice Plant
With its indulgent colors and textures , licorice plant life ( Helichrysum)is a harmonious backdrop for more brightly discolor flower . It has small leaves and flimsy stems , but it is much sturdy than it front . It will flourish in hot , humid atmospheric condition and tolerate drought well . Plus , its blurry , scented leafage prevents pests from bothering the plant . Licorice plant is a recurrent but commonly grown as an yearly . Zone 9 - 11
Coleus
Coleus is a popular annual that comes in an amazing array of color combination and folio textures , append colorful foliage to your landscape . Select a shade - loving multifariousness ofedged - foliage coleus , veined - leaf flame nettle , ortrailing coleusfor shady locations . What all coleus have in common is that they are gentle - to - grow annuals that involve warm and moist soil and even fecundation to sustain their vigorous growth .
Elephant’s Ear
In warm mood , elephant ’s ear ( Alocasia)can be grown outdoors year - orotund , either in the landscape or in large container . In cool mood , like to caladium , elephant ’s ear is a perennial that is either uprise as an annual and replanted every yr or overwinter indoors . With its immense leaves and bluff vein convention , it grows wherever there ’s dampish land and lovesome temperatures . It ’s striking alongside ponds where its massive leaves produce beautiful reflexion in the urine . Zone 10 - 11
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on where you may provide them with idealistic growing conditions — lots of heat , gamey humidness , and equal sun . In northern locations , this might be a combination of indoors and out of doors where you keep the plants inside your home from fall to spring and move them outside for the summertime .
During the growing season , it is likely a sign that the flora involve water system . If the drooping occurs in the late summertime or descent , swag of the leaves indicates that the plant enter sleeping . Do n’t interest if the leaf finally wither , this is also part of the natural operation . thin the watering and stop fertilizing the plant ; it will restart growing in the spring .
update by Nadia Hassani
Credit: Peter Krumhardt
" Caladium . “ASPCA .
" Caladium Plant Poisoning . “Mount Sinai .
Credit: Scott Little
Credit: Ed Gohlich
