Table of Contents
Caladiums are easy to grow from tubers, found in the Garden Center with summer-blooming tropical bulbs in spring. Tuck the tubers into a container of potting mix, water regularly and fertilize every couple of weeks.
How do you take care of potted caladiums?
Water: Keep potting mix constantly moist (but not soggy) throughout the growing season. Check on it often — a caladium plant can drink a lot. Humidity: Requires moist air (around 50% relative humidity or higher). Use a cool-mist room humidifier for best results.
Do caladiums do well in pots?
Caladiums grow very well in pots and planters — including hanging baskets. Soil temperatures are usually higher in containers, and caladiums appreciate that extra heat. In northern areas where the soil temperature may not reach 70°F until June, planting caladiums in containers gives the tubers a big head start.
How often should you water caladiums?
Caladiums need to be watered on a regular basis, especially during dry conditions. In fact, watering them on a weekly basis is recommended. Caladiums that are grown in containers should be checked daily and watered as needed.
How do you keep caladiums healthy?
Caladiums grow best in bright, indirect light (full sun would fry them in a heartbeat). Keep the soil evenly moist — do not let them dry out completely, but do not keep them soggy or the tubers will rot. To increase humidity, group pots together — even with other houseplants.
Do caladiums like sun or shade?
Shade and Sun: Caladiums are ideal for shady yards and gardens. In southern areas they grow best in full to partial shade. In northern areas, most caladiums can also be grown in the sun as long as they get enough water and their leaves are shielded during the hottest part of the day.
Why are my caladiums drooping?
Lack of water is the most common reason for leaf droop. Caladiums are not known for having serious pest problems, but they do need a lot of water and warmth. If you are having problems with your plant’s leaves drooping, check the plant over carefully to discover the cause.
Do caladiums come back?
Caladiums grow from bulbs and can come back each year. However, they are short-lived as perennials and do not survive cold temperatures, so they are often treated as annuals.
How long does caladium last?
How long can caladium live? The plants are perennials, which means they can last season to season. However, from sprouting to dormancy, they are showy for about six months out of the year.
How do you take care of caladiums outside?
Only plant caladiums outside after all danger of frost has passed. Caladiums prefer well-drained soil and high humidity. Partial sunlight is best for the outdoor caladium. An area where your plants can receive plenty of semi-filtered sunlight is best.
What causes brown spots on caladiums?
Caladiums like sunlight, but not suddenly. If your cultivars were grown during cloudy weather and suddenly are faced with bright light, they may get sunburned. You’ll see brown blotches on the leaves. Too much water or fertilizer near the plant tubers can also create caladium plant problems.
How do you make caladiums grow faster?
Because they love hot weather, the warmer the ground and air temperature when you plant, the faster they will grow. According to Caladium World, you should wait until overnight temperatures remain consistently above 65 degrees Fahrenheit to plant your caladium bulbs.
Are caladium indoor or outdoor plants?
Caladiums thrive outdoors during the warmer months and add a lush, exotic touch to your yard or garden. Most Caladiums are at home in the shade or partial shade, but some varieties are more sun tolerant (see caladium catalog page) and can be planted in areas with little shade.
How do you bring a caladium back to life?
In the fall and winter, no special food is necessary. Water the soil when it is dry to the touch. Keep the plant in an area with temperatures of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit (18 C.). When the leaves begin to die back, allow them to persist until fully spent and then cut them off.
Why is my caladium leggy?
Legginess in plants is often the result of perfect growing conditions which allows them to add on too much greenery before the plant has adequate dimension and strength in stems and roots. The result is a floppy, leggy plant growth. Other reasons for leggy plant growth include improper lighting.
Do caladiums like rain?
Caladiums enjoy abundant moisture when they are growing but prefer to be dryer when dormant. If the area where the caladiums are growing tends to stay wet for extended periods during rainy winter weather, this can be problem, and it would be best to dig and store them.
How do I make my caladium pink?
FEATURE — Tuck them into the garden, pop some in a container or dress up a window box. Then water as needed, add a bit of fertilizer and wait for the color explosion. The showy heart-shaped leaves of caladiums come in combinations of pink, red, white and green.
Can caladiums be in full sun?
Sun tolerant caladiums can be planted in full sun, keeping in mind that more watering may be necessary. One dwarf caladium, Red Ruffles, and one lance leaf caladium, Gingerland, are sun-loving caladiums. All caladiums are shade or filtered sun lovers.
