A Detailed Guide to Caladium Planting Methods and Care Essentials

Caladium, also known as angel wings and heart of Jesus, is a perennial evergreen herbaceous plant in the genus Caladium of the family Araceae. The basal leaves of caladium are peltate, arrow-shaped or heart-shaped, beautifully colored, with a great many varieties; the spathe is green, greenish-white above, shell-shaped; the spadix is a fleshy spike. Underground it bears enlarged tubers, oblate, toxic, causing numbness of the throat and tongue if eaten by mistake. Caladium is native to the Amazon River basin in South America, and prefers high temperatures, high humidity and a semi-shady environment; it is not tolerant of low temperatures, frost or snow, and requires loose, fertile, well-drained soil.

The growing environment of caladium

Caladium is native to the Amazon River basin in South America, and prefers high temperatures, high humidity and a semi-shady environment; it is not tolerant of low temperatures, frost or snow, and requires loose, fertile, well-drained soil. The optimum temperature is 20-30°C; the optimum temperature for the growing period from June to October is 21-27°C, and the optimum temperature for the dormancy period from October to June of the following year is 18-24°C. It should not drop below 10°C at night, and 10°C should be maintained during dormancy; it does not like strong light, with a shade level of 30-40%.

Propagation methods of caladium

Caladium can be propagated by division or by separating the tubers. Division can be done throughout the year, but it is best to separate the tubers after winter dormancy and before the leaves sprout in spring. Cut away with a blade the small tubers growing around the mother tuber, dry them in the shade for 1 day, and then plant them. The mother tuber can also be cut into pieces, each piece bearing an eye, dried in the shade for 1 day and then planted; the cut surface should be smooth, which helps the wound heal and roots and seedlings to form.

How to grow caladium

1. Soil: Caladium prefers clayey soil, and is mostly grown in a mix of five parts clayey field soil, two parts leaf mold and three parts sand.

2. Light: Caladium likes sunlight, but not excessively strong light. If the light is insufficient, the leaf variegation darkens and the leaves grow leggy and appear weak.  

3. Watering: Caladium likes moisture, and needs plenty of watering in spring and summer.

4. Temperature: Caladium is not cold-tolerant; the optimum growing temperature is 25-30°C, and it must not go below 15°C. At 22°C the tubers sprout and grow leaves, and when the temperature drops to 12°C the leaves turn yellow and wither. 

5. Fertilizing: During the growing period, fertilize caladium once a week, applying nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium together, with nitrogen as the main component.