caladium plant care indoors

When grown indoors, they do best with lots of heat, bright but indirect light, and plenty of humidity. Even under the best conditions, caladium foliage lasts only a few months before the leaves start to die back and the plant goes dormant again.

Is caladium a good indoor plant?

Caladium tubers are frost tender and will die if exposed to cold. ... This is all well and good, as the tubers from which the foliage is born, require some rejuvenating rest. Many gardeners try Caladiums as indoor plants.

How do you care for an indoor caladium?

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.

How do you take care of potted caladiums?

How To Care For a Caladium

Cut larger tubers into several pieces with a few eye buds in each. ...
Plant the tubers outside in spring. ...
Place your indoor caladiums where they'll get lots of light.
Grow caladiums in acidic soil that's moist and well drained.
Water your caladium often, but don't over water it.

Does caladium need direct sunlight?

Most caladium varieties can be planted in either sun or shade. If you are planting them in a sunny location, it is important that they still get some shade during the hottest part of the day. Like most plants, caladiums grow best in fertile, well drained soil.

Can caladium be grown indoors?

When grown indoors, they do best with lots of heat, bright but indirect light, and plenty of humidity. Even under the best conditions, caladium foliage lasts only a few months before the leaves start to die back and the plant goes dormant again.

Are caladiums easy to care for?

Growing caladiums is easy with proper caladium care. These tropical-like plants are commonly grown for their multi-colored foliage, which may be green, white, red, or pink. Caladiums can be grown in containers or clumped together within beds and borders.

Why is my caladium dying?

Soil moisture is critical for caladiums. If they are not receiving a steady supply of water, their leaves will wilt. After a period of time without water they will go dormant and drop their leaves.

Why are my caladium stems drooping?

Lack of water is the most common reason for leaf droop. Caladiums (Caladium x hortulanum) are outstanding plants that can be grown in warm or cool zones. ... Caladiums are not known for having serious pest problems, but they do need a lot of water and warmth.

How do you grow the Heart of Jesus?

Bright indirect light is best, avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, especially in the spring and summer. A location that is too dark will cause the variegations (foliar patterns) to weaken, leaving you with just a green plant. Keep the soil evenly moist, allowing the top third to dry out in between waters.

Can plants recover from overwatering?

There is never a guarantee that your plant can bounce back from overwatering. ... At this point, you can move your plant back to its original location and resume watering it as normal. It's important to water your plants properly from the start and to make sure they have plenty of drainage.

How long do caladium leaves last?

You can expect the showy season to last for 6 months or longer. Caladiums thrive in warm, moist conditions.

Does caladium need a lot of water?

Caladium is a greenhouse plant that appreciates heat and moisture. Regular but moderate watering is thus called for. All year long, and especially during summer, spray water on the leaves to recreate the moisture levels of its natural habitat. Keep the soil mix a bit moist and check that water drains properly.

Is caladium poisonous to dogs?

What is Caladium Poisoning? The caladium plant is a houseplant with heart shaped leaves that look like wings. In fact, some call this plant angel wings or heart of Jesus. This plant can be very toxic to your dog.

Does caladium like sun or shade?

Caladiums grow best in shade to part shade (two to four hours of direct sun, preferably morning) or bright dappled light. In these conditions, they produce the lushest growth with large, colorful leaves.

How do you make caladiums Fuller?

Take a sharp knife and cut out the large central bud from your fancy leaf caladium bulbs before you plant them. This will encourage the growth of the secondary buds and give you a fuller but just as colorful plant. Fancy leaf caladiums require loose, slightly acidic soil for good root growth and are heavy feeders.

Can you propagate caladium?

Caladiums are not actually bulbs but rather tubers. When propagating caladium, you can divide the tubers in the spring, notes Fine Gardening. In colder climates where the caladium isn't hardy, dig up and divide the tubers and store them over the winter to replant in the spring.

Does caladium come back every year?

The caladium plant (Caladium spp.) grows from bulbs and is hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 9 and 10. In warmer climates, the bulbs will come back each year. The tubers are easily damaged by cold temperatures, so you can also remove them from the ground for the winter and replant them in the spring.

Can you propagate caladium from cuttings?

This is another way to propagate more plants. When a Caladium leaf, and its petiole, break off with a bit of the brown tuber still attached, there is potential for this 'division' to grow new roots. These leaves have been rooting for only a few days.

Should I soak caladium bulbs before planting?

When planting caladium bulbs directly outdoors, wait until the soil temperature rises around the first part of June. Soak the bulb in warm water for about one hour and plant the bulbs bumpy side up, 2 inches deep into the gar- den. Amend the soil using a 1- to-1 ratio of soil and peat- moss and keep the location moist.

Can you propagate caladium in water?

Caladium leaves with even just a bit of the tuber still on the petiole will root in water. A new leaf is already beginning to grow (underwater) and once planted into soil, this rooted leaf will soon grow into a beautiful new plant.

Can you leave caladium bulbs in the ground over winter?

You may simply leave the caladium tubers in the ground if the bed where the caladiums are planted will stay relatively undisturbed and drains well. Keep the area mulched this winter to protect the tubers in case it is unusually cold. Because the ground here does not freeze, they will survive and come back up next year.