Planetagarden
What is a Strap Leaf Caladium? Caladium plants are known for striking foliage. The large, heart or arrow-shaped leaves come in a range of colors and patterns. Native to the subtropics, these plants generally thrive best in warm and shady spots. Varieties that can tolerate more sun are called strap leaf caladium.
- Do caladium bulbs come back every year?
- How long does it take for caladium bulbs to grow?
- What does caladium mean?
- Do caladiums like sun or shade?
- Will caladiums multiply?
- Should I soak caladium bulbs before planting?
- Does caladium need sunlight?
- How do you make caladiums Fuller?
- Does caladium need a lot of water?
Do caladium bulbs 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.
How long does it take for caladium bulbs to grow?
They do equally well outside or inside as houseplants. Regardless of which you choose, caladium bulbs can take between two and 12 weeks to germinate. Because they love hot weather, the warmer the ground and air temperature when you plant, the faster they will grow.
What does caladium mean?
: any of a genus (Caladium and especially C. bicolor) of tropical American plants of the arum family widely cultivated for their showy variably colored leaves.
Do caladiums 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.
Will caladiums multiply?
Worry not, it is only the leaves not the bulb. … Also, caladiums multiply as they grow, so one bulb may have now formed ten. (Hence, richer the soil, better the bulbs). The best thing to do is loosen up the soil from the sides and then dig for the bulbs with your hands.
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.
Does caladium need 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.
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.
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.
