5 things you should be careful about while growing a Caladium

Caladiums are great houseplants and garden shade plants. They add décor to any garden area, thanks to their bright foliage and large leaves. When grouped together, they look like they are in full bloom though only their leaves dominate the show. Though growing caladiums can be a hands-down job for experienced gardeners, it is not so for novices. This is why is it important to be careful about certain things when you are cultivating these plants.

Below are five things you need to be careful about while growing caladiums:

Known for their large, paper-thin leaves, caladiums offer a bold splash of color to any garden or backyard. Unlike any other garden plant, caladiums go dormant in winter and then, sprout again in spring.

1. Light: Caladium is a tropical plant and hence needs ample sunlight. But that does not mean it should be left to bask in direct sunlight. Doing such a thing will dry out your caladium and rot it. The leaves are very delicate and may burn if exposed to unfiltered sunlight. Ideal light for the plant would be bright, filtered sunlight. If kept indoors, the caladium container should be kept in a well-lit room or in front of a window with a light curtain.

2. Humidity: Caladiums are tropical plants that grow only in humid climates. Keep the bulbs in a temperature that is between 70 to 85 degrees F. If you are keeping the bulbs indoors, keep a humidifier handy to support and nurture them.  Keep your caladium container in a draft free area, away from air conditioners, open windows etc. If you need to keep them, put a light curtain on the window.

3. Soil: Soil should be moist and well-drained. It should never be overly wet or soggy. A soggy soil would rot the bulbs and push them towards death. Make sure you plant your bulbs only when the soil is warm at nights. Say, only when the night temperature is above 60 degrees F. Anything less (even with escalating daytime temperatures) can turn the bulb yellow and gradually rot it. If you are not comfortable with the outdoor temperatures, try planting the caladiums indoors  for a while. Repot them or plant them in soil outdoors after the last frost. Keep the soil sufficiently nourished with water. Make sure your soil has not dried up outside. Check with your hands the soil’s warmth and then water the plant if necessary.

4. Fertilizers & Pests: Caladiums do not need fertilizers several times every month. Instead, you can use small portions of fertilizers all through summer. Your fertilizer should be high in nitrogen content and should be fed to the plant every 2 weeks. Better if you use a 6-6-6 fertilizer every 6 weeks. Insects can be a great problem if caladiums are not properly cared for. Use insect repellents in case of any insect attacks.

5. Dormancy: Winter is a period of dormancy for caladiums. The leaves fall and dry in the Fall and the plant is dormant throughout winter. If you want to make your caladiums annual plants, let them die in the winter frost. Instead, if you want them to be perennials (that is what they are), remove the bulbs from the soil, clean them and store them in a warm, dry place for the whole of winter. You can take them out the following spring and re-plant them in the soil. Use materials that are dry – peat moss or vermiculite do well. Also, store the bulbs in a warm place above 60 degrees F in temperature.