Caladiums are tropical perennials with colorful, heart-shaped leaves that are endemic to wet and dry tropical forests in South and Central America. Caladium bicolor, a Brazilian plant, is the most common of several decorative species of the genus Caladium in the arum family (Araceae). This species (also described as C. x hortulanum) has thousands of identified cultivars, but other species and hybrids are occasionally accessible. They are easy to cultivate as summer “bulbs” or houseplants, even though they are only hardy to zones 9 and 10.
Other popular names for caladium are angels wings and elephant ears (but don’t mix them with other plants with the common name elephant ears, such as Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma).
This is a “old-fashioned” shrub with striking leaves that has been cultivated in Europe since the late 1700s. The leaves have strongly colored midribs, contrasting borders, and mottled, veined, and striped patterns in varying colors of green, white, pink, rose, and/or red. The leaves are carried on long petioles that emerge directly from the underground tuber; there are no stems.
The fancy-leaved kinds, with their huge, heart-shaped or semi-heart-shaped leaves on long petioles (12 to 30 inches tall), are more compact than the strap- or lance-leaved types, which have shorter and narrower, ruffle-edged leaves on short petioles (usually less than 12 inches tall). The fancy-leaved forms have more leaves per tuber than the lance-leaved types (derived from C.picturantum).
Caladiums can bloom, producing a single (rarely 2-3) characteristic arum-type flower with a green or pinkish spathe encircling a short white spadix, despite being grown as foliage plants. White berries with a few to many seeds make up the fruits. Most people remove the inflorescence because it depletes the plant’s energy, which could otherwise be utilized to grow more leaves or a larger tuber.
Caladiums can be used to give color and texture to shadow gardens as well as deck and patio pots.
For maximum impact, plant them in realistic clusters of a single cultivar, or mix and match for a multi-colored effect in smaller spaces. To create colorful fountains, combine them with ferns, astilbe, and shade-tolerant iris, or intersperse them with other shade-loving plants. Impatiens or fuchsias with flowers in similar or contrasting colors are a good match.
Choose coleus or begonia varieties that compliment each other for a season-long display of color and texture in the leaf. As a stunning specimen plant and focal point in a flower bed, use a single, big plant in a raised pot or urn. Combine caladium with green or black elephant ears for a tropical appearance. The lance-leaved varieties are ideal for window boxes and smaller containers. In fresh flower arrangements, chopped leaves can keep for several days.
Caladiums have a tuberous corm that they grow from. Tubers come in a variety of sizes dependent on their diameter. The more leaf buds a tuber has, the more foliage it produces, hence bigger tubers yield more foliage. A huge, center bud is surrounded by multiple tiny buds on each tuber (eyes). The greatest leaves will come from the central bud, but it will also prevent the smaller buds from sprouting. By gouging off the main, center bud with the tip of a sharp knife, you can stimulate the small buds to grow and create more slightly smaller leaves. Just make sure you don’t hurt any of the nearby little buds.
Start caladium tubers inside 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date in the Midwest, or buy potted plants. Place the knobby side of the tuber with the eyes up (both roots and shoots come from the top of the tuber) and just cover it with dirt. Keep the container in a brightly lit, warm area (70°F or higher). After the final frost, move the growing plants outside either in pots above ground or buried into the earth, or transplant into the ground so the tuber is 11/2″- 2 deep. Because they prefer a wet, rich, light, and well-drained soil, most soils should be amended with plenty of compost or other organic material. It is frequently preferable to keep them in containers rather than planting them in the ground in locations with heavy soils.
Low temperatures will injure tubers and plants, and plants will not grow much until temps warm up, so don’t rush to move them out. They thrive in soil temperatures of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit, and planting them in chilly soil will cause the tubers to rot. Because high soil temperatures alter leaf color, plants in hot regions should be mulched to keep soil temperatures below 85°F.
Traditional varieties thrive in part-shade conditions. They will grow in full shade, but their vitality and color will suffer. Many newer, sun-resistant types, especially in cooler, northern climates, may be grown in part to full sun. Ensure that the soil is kept evenly moist but not damp throughout the growing season.
Caladiums are heavy feeders and, especially in containers, require regular fertilizing during the growing season. Because too much nitrogen can damage leaf color, choose a low-nitrogen or balanced formulation.
Caladiums thrive in the hot, humid summer months, but when the weather cools, they begin to droop and lose leaves. Tubers must be brought in before the first frost in temperate zones if they are to be retained during the winter (or before soil temperatures drop below 55oF). Lift any tubers in the ground, remove most of the soil, and dry for a week in a warm, shady location before cutting off the leaves and storing for up to five months in dry sphagnum moss or a mesh bag in mild temperatures (55-60oF). Tubers in containers can be carried inside for the winter and left undisturbed in the pots. As the leaves die back, allow the growing media to dry up. The containers can be kept in either light or darkness, but the temperature should never go below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. When new growth sprouts in the spring, start watering again.
As a houseplant, give a warm environment with plenty of humidity and bright but indirect light. Caladiums will go dormant after a few months in leaf, even if they are grown inside. Stop watering them when their leaves begin to wilt. Allow the plant to rest before watering it again after new growth appears.
Caladiums are mostly pest-free, especially in the north. Tuber rot, which can occur in storage or after planting, is most common in cool weather and can be avoided by following proper storage and planting techniques. Too much sun, not enough water, or fertilizer sitting on the leaves causes leaf burn or scorch on thin-leaved varieties. Caladiums can be propagated by separating tubers in the spring before potting them up. Allow the tuber to dry for a few days to callous over before planting; cut the tuber into pieces that have at least one eye or knob. If enough of the plant is consumed, it is poisonous, and handling the plants can irritate the skin of sensitive people.
Caladium cultivars come in thousands of varieties; these are only a few of the most popular.
How long does it take to grow caladium from seed?
As houseplants, they thrive both outside and inside. Caladium bulbs can take anywhere from two to twelve weeks to germinate, depending on the variety you choose. They thrive in hot temperatures, therefore the warmer the ground and air temperature when you plant them, the faster they will grow.
Are caladiums seeds or bulbs?
Caladiums are grown from corms, which are tuber-like thick, spherical roots. The corm, like a bulb, stores nourishment for the plant to use during the growing season.
It has eyeballs, which are bumps on it. The nodes from which the leaves shoot are known as growth nodes.
The roots of a corm, unlike a bulb, do not emerge from the bottom. Instead, they emerge on top of the corm, beside the budding leaves, and spread sideways.
There are no stems on this sort of plant, which is another distinguishing trait. Petioles, which are leaf stalks, sprout directly from the corm.
Caladium plants are divided into two types: fancy-leaf and lance or strap-leaf.
The fancy-leaf varieties feature a heart-shaped leaf and a little dip where the petiole joins the leaf. With mature heights ranging from 12 to 30 inches, these are the largest plants.
The lance or strap-leaf varieties have extended leaves and no dip. These plants are tiny, reaching a maximum height of 12 inches or less.
Many cultivated kinds are crossbreeds between two or more species. C. x hortulanum is the general name for them.
‘Candidum Junior,’ a white fancy type with dark green veining, or ‘Miss Muffet,’ a chartreuse and deep pink strap-leaf variety,’ are examples of hybrid species names that are sometimes followed by cultivar names.
Home gardeners can choose from a variety of multicolored plants with contrasting mid-ribs, veins, edges, mottling, and striping as a result of significant hybridization.
Do caladium come back every year?
Caladium plants (Caladium spp.) grow from bulbs and are hardy in USDA zones 9 and 10. The bulbs will return each year in warmer climates. Because cold weather can easily destroy the tubers, you can dig them up for the winter and transplant them in the spring.
What are the pods on caladiums?
Caladiums aren’t known for their flowers, but they do produce an unusual bloom when grown in larger tubers. The flower-like bud on a caladium is a spathe, which is a tiny modified leaf that sheathes the inner reproductive organs, as previously described. A spadix is located within the curving spathe. This is a stiff structure that houses the plant’s sexual organs.
The overall result isn’t really attractive, but it is an unusual plant adaption worth noting. The spathe/spadix is a gorgeous morphology in some species, such as calla lilies, and is regarded the most attractive aspect of the plant. Caladium inflorescences are small, green to green yellow, and unpleasant in appearance.
Caladium blooming can take a few years to notice, and even then, you’ll have to split the leaves to get a good look at these tiny flowers.
Can you grow caladium from seeds?
Caladium seeds must be exposed to light in order to germinate. So I scatter the seeds on top of the dirt and use a water bottle to spritz them with water. I cover my seed trays with plastic, keep them moist, and wait. I remove the plastic cover once the leaves begin to form.
How do caladium reproduce?
Caladium tubers, not bulbs, are the most common type of caladium. Caladium tubers can be divided in the spring when propagating the plant, according to Fine Gardening. Dig out and divide the tubers in colder locations where the caladium isn’t hardy, then store them over the winter to replant in the spring. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension recommends storing them in a dry, warm area at 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
Should I cut caladium flowers?
Greetings, Neil. On my patio, I have many large pots of caladiums that are starting to bloom. Someone recommended that I pick the flowers before they bloom. Is it a decent piece of advice?
Yes, it is correct. Flowers on some plants, such as coleus, lambs ear, santolina, and caladiums, aren’t particularly showy. They can actually make the plants look ragged, therefore they should be trimmed or nipped off before they form.
Greetings, Neil. In my Bermuda lawn, I have an area of this weed. What exactly is it, and how can I regulate it?
Answer: You have a good amount of johnsongrass in your system. It’s a perennial weed with enormous rhizomes and strong roots. Fortunately, it does not tolerate being mowed closely. Maintain a 1 1/4-inch bermuda turf, and the johnsongrass should thin out over the next few months. We now have no efficient weed treatment that will kill grassy weeds without destroying bermudagrass since MSMA was removed from the market.
What month do caladiums come back?
The more “eyes,” or growth points, a tuber has, the bigger it is. These tubers will develop into larger, fuller plants as they mature. Potato tubers are consumed for their carbohydrate energy source. Caladium tubers supply energy stores for tubers to go into winter hibernation and grow again in spring when the days lengthen and soil temperatures rise in the correct hardiness zones, just like potato tubers do when we consume them.
Where do caladiums grow best?
Caladiums thrive in shaded areas of the yard and garden. They thrive in full to partial shade in southern climates. Most caladiums can be grown in the sun in northern climates if they are given enough water and their leaves are shaded during the warmest portion of the day.