Caladiums are toxic to animals and humans.
The narrower the leaves, the greater the sun they can withstand.
Growing them outdoors in containers gives you more control over light conditions.
The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak
When growing them in a garden, give them partial to full shade; full sun scorches their leaves.
Garden soil should be similarly rich and well-drained.
The ideal soil pH is slightly acidic, at 5.5 to 6.2.
The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak
Water
When leaves appear on the plant, water as needed to keep the soil evenly moist.
Never let the plant dry out, as leaves may turn yellow and drop.
If growing outdoors during peak heat, water every day.
The Spruce / Anastasiia Tretiak
Stop watering the plant when the leaves start to die back.
Resume watering in spring after winter dormancy.
New leaves will reappear as temperatures warm.
The Spruce / Anastasia Tretiak
Temperature and Humidity
Caladiums are seasonal tuberous plants, even in the tropics.
Caladiums grow best from spring into autumn, peaking in the summer.
The warmer, the better for caladium houseplants.
Kanchanalak Chanthaphun / Getty Images
Keep the humidity as high as is practical.
Plants grown this way should be started indoors for four to six weeks before transplanting in warm soil.
Caladiums' rest period comes in the autumn or winter.
MAsummerbreak / Getty Images
It isn’t determined by temperature or light cycle but by how long the plants have been growing.
Fertilizer
Fertilize the plant every two weeks during the growing season with liquidfertilizeror use slow-release pellets.
In many cases, cultivars are sold without names.
Almost all cultivars are descended fromC.
bicolor, native to South America.
Some books list these plants asC.
Choose your variety based on its appearance.
They will make a showy border or a single plant.
Keep the soil moist but not soggy.
verify the pots have ample drainage holes.
Pull up the tubers, store them, and replant them next year for another show.
Common Pests
Caladium is not bothered by many detrimental pests.
But, they may be afflicted bycaterpillarsandgrasshoppersthat chew on the leaves and need specific ways to eliminate the activity.
If your caladium leaves turn unsightly colors, the issue may be easy to fix.
Overly bright sun can burn the leaves.
Caladiums do not multiply on their own.
At most, they form new tubers underground from the main tuber.
These plants need warmth and high humidity indoors and outdoors.
It will be easy to care for if caladium gets enough light and humidity.
The warmer the air and ground temperatures, the faster caladium will grow indoors and out.
However, they are known as slow-growing plants.
The plants are perennials, which means they can last season to season.
However, from sprouting to dormancy, they are showy for about six months out of the year.
Poisonous and non-poisonous plants.
National Poison Control Center.
Caladium bicolor.Missouri Botanical Garden.
