Caladium bicolor. How to grow caladium in an apartment

Caladium is the name of a genus of plants that grow in South America. It is believed that they got their name from the edible roots that Indian tribes consumed as food.

In the wild, along the banks of tropical rivers, coladium thickets form dense undergrowth. The height of these plants can reach five meters, and the size of the leaves is fifty centimeters long and twenty centimeters wide. Its leaf shape is wide, with a pointed end, which is why many call it elephant ear. The flower is inconspicuous, unisexual, surrounded by a whitish-yellow blanket. The fruits are a panicle with berries.

There are about fifteen species of this plant. One of them, Caladium esculentum, has edible roots rich in starch. In Brazil it is grown as an agricultural plant.

Most species grow only in the wild. But those of them that had decorative leaves were cultivated. And as a result of selection, new varieties of caladium were developed, which are used as garden, greenhouse, and indoor plants.

Decorative varieties of caladium

The very first species, which was cultivated back in 1773, is the bicolor caladium. It grows well at home. Currently, many varieties of this species are known. All varieties differ in leaf color.

For example, varieties such as Brandywine, Fannie Munsone and Scar Beauty are bright red in color and have green edges. And Candiudum, Mixed Whites, June Bride - white and green. Speckled leaves in varieties such as Gingerland, Miss Muffet.

As a result of selection, varieties were bred that have spear-shaped leaves with a long petiole. This variety's leaf length reaches thirty centimeters.

Another common species is Caladium Humboldt. It has smaller leaves, their length does not exceed ten centimeters. Its color is green with gray-white spots. The peculiarity of this caladium is that with the right additional lighting it does not shed its leaves during the dormant period.

In landscaping, a decorative species is often used - garden caladium. This is a large-leaved species, the size of the leaves reaches forty centimeters. It has the same variety of colors as caladium bicolor. It requires special care, so it is planted mainly in greenhouses.

It is classified as a plant with a pronounced dormant period. Leaves appear in late spring and disappear in early September. In winter, it goes into a dormant period and the flower loses its decorative properties.

Caladium care

In nature, caladium studio grows in the tropical forests of Latin America in a humid, hot climate. Therefore, decorative species require special care.

When transporting a plant, even in warm weather, try to wrap it in polyethylene or paper to protect it from drafts.

To make the caladium flower delight you with its decorative foliage, use the following tips on how to care for it at home:

The air temperature in the room where caladium studio grows during the growing season should be within 24-26° C. And in winter it should not fall below 15° C;
During the growth and growing season, the flower requires intense lighting. The place where the plant stands should be well lit, but try not to let the sun's rays fall directly on the leaves;
It does not require intensive watering. Make sure that the soil does not dry out, but is not too wet. If there is too much moisture, the roots and leaves may rot. During the dormant period, it is better to store the tubers in moist peat. If you do not have this opportunity, periodically water the soil in which the tuber is located. When the plant begins to wake up after winter, you should not water it too much. It is better to simply moisten the soil from above;

The flower is especially demanding of air humidity. During the growing season, spray the leaves every day with warm, softened water. Choose the smallest spray nozzle for spraying. Never wipe the leaves of a flower with a damp cloth. Such care will only harm them. To make it easier to maintain humidity at home, place the flower pot in a tray with damp expanded clay or moss. At night, the pot with the plant can be covered with a plastic bag;
From the end of March until the beginning of August, fertilize with complex fertilizer every fourteen days;
The soil in which the flower grows should be fibrous, light and well-permeable to moisture; be sure to place good drainage at the bottom of the container. You should also add bone meal, sand and peat;
In February, the first growth buds begin to appear on the caladium. At this point, it should be transplanted into a new pot, bud up. The depth to plant the tuber depends on what kind of leaves you want to enjoy. If you want to have large, few leaves, plant the tuber deeply, and if you want the bush to be denser, plant the tuber shallowly. In this case, it will produce additional shoots, but the leaves will be small. It is better to plant plants in small pots.

Caladium diseases

Spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs most often infect the plant. Therefore, periodically inspect the leaves of the flower. If pests are found, treat it with chemicals.

The most common disease is all kinds of rot. Not only tubers, but also stems and leaves die from them. If rot appears on the tuber, cut it out and treat the tuber with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Remove rotting stems and leaves in a timely manner.

Caladium propagation

Propagation of the flower at home occurs by dividing the tuber or by seeds.

In the first case, you can use daughter tubers or carry out propagation by dividing the main tuber into parts in which at least one bud should remain. The sections must be treated with ash and planted in separate containers.

In the second case, the plant is grown by planting seeds immediately after collection, and by autumn the first tubers appear, which are stored and planted in permanent soil in February.

Growing beautiful plants is best achieved by using two-year-old tubers.

Caladium and homeopathy

All parts of the plant are poisonous; if ingested, the juice causes:

burn;
swelling of the larynx and mucous membranes;
conjunctivitis, corneal burn.

The flower is popularly known by different names. For the unusual shape of its leaves, it was nicknamed “Christ’s heart” and “elephant ears.” Flower growers call the leaves themselves paper. They are thin and colorful. It seems that they are made of colored paper. With all its advantages, caring for caladium at home does not cause problems even for beginners. This article describes in detail all the intricacies of care.

Herbaceous plant of the araceae family. Its natural habitat is the banks of the Amazon and the tropical rainforests of Latin America. In nature these are large plants. There are specimens up to 5 meters tall. One sheet can reliably protect a person from heavy rain. The leaves are thin, intricately colored. The shape is arrow-shaped.

As a houseplant, caladium does not grow higher than 90 cm. More compact specimens are more common. Like wild relatives, the leaf blade is arrow-shaped or heart-shaped. The color is contrasting, combining 2 or more colors. Crimson, pink, and silver shades predominate.

In spring, a rosette of leaves produces an inflorescence in the form of a light yellow elongated cob. The inflorescence is surrounded by a white blanket with a greenish tint. Flowers are odorless and do not have any special decorative value. The main decoration is not the flower - caladium is grown for its beautiful, unusual leaves. In case of pollination, fruits are set - dense round berries. It rarely blooms and bears fruit in an apartment.

Breeders have developed many hybrids of various colors based on natural varieties. The color scheme lacks only blue shades. The pattern of each sheet is unique. Hybrid varieties are grown in the apartments. They are obtained by crossing several wild caladiums. Few ornamental foliage plants can compete with caladium in the beauty of its leaves.

Important! The life cycle of caladium has periods of active growth and dormancy. By the end of summer, the above-ground part of the plant begins to gradually die. The tubers remain in the ground. They are stored until spring, replanted and wait for young leaves to appear.

Wild and cultivated species

Many hybrids have been developed based on different types of caladiums. Each has its own characteristics and is distinguished by its original colors.

Important! The sap of the plant is toxic, like other aroids. It contains oxalate crystals. If it comes in contact with mucous membranes, it causes irritation, chemical burns, and pain. Large amounts of the substance lead to swelling of the throat and breathing problems. After contact with the flower, be sure to wash your hands! Place the plant out of the reach of children and pets!

It is considered a relatively easy plant to grow. Beginners may have some difficulties. The basis of cultivation is the creation of a warm, humid microclimate, protection from sunlight and drafts.

Lighting. The optimal location is west and east. The light is bright and diffused. Low illumination leads to a loss of variegated color, fading, and inexpressiveness of the leaves.
Temperature. Favorable temperature for growth is 20-25°C. Wintering in a warm place - not lower than 20°C. At any time of the day, sudden temperature fluctuations and drafts are excluded.
Watering. In nature it is a marsh plant. Watering is uniform, regular, frequent. The amount of watering depends on the characteristics of the soil. They prefer breathable, loose soils, and be sure to provide drainage. Stagnation of water leads to acidification of the soil and death of the flower. In autumn, as the leaves wilt, reduce the frequency of watering.
Feeding. Any liquid complex fertilizers are suitable. Dilute in accordance with the instructions, apply no more than 3 times a month. It is not recommended to overfeed the flower!
Transfer. Every spring during the swelling of growth buds. The lower part of the tuber is smooth, devoid of sprouts. They try to plant the tuber with its sprouts facing up. Improper planting will slow down germination, but will not harm the plant. Planting depth affects the appearance of the plant. If it is necessary to obtain additional shoots, the tubers are planted shallowly. The leaves will be smaller than usual. Deepening will lead to an increase in tuber and leaf size.
The soil. Increased demands are placed on the soil. It is highly undesirable to use ready-made store-bought mixtures. The substrate is made up of high-moor peat and deciduous soil. Recommended additives are sand, perlite, coconut fiber.

Important! Improper awakening after a period of dormancy can destroy the plant. Until the leaves appear, watering is very moderate. By this time, the tuber has not yet had time to grow small roots to absorb moisture, there is no evaporation through the leaves - the soil will take a long time to dry. Constant dampness will lead to rotting of the tuber even before the leaves appear.

Reproduction and cultivation

At home, caladium from seeds is grown only from seed material purchased in specialized stores. On domestic plants, seeds rarely ripen; the seedlings from them turn out completely different - the maternal characteristics are lost. Daughter tubers are used to propagate the flower.

Planting with seeds. Seeds are sown in light soil and moistened with a spray bottle. The container is covered with glass and kept at a high temperature of 25-30°C. Regularly moisten the soil surface and arrange short-term ventilation. Entries are expected to appear in 15-20 days.
Daughter tubers. In early spring, before planting, the tubers are cut into several parts. Each part should have one shoot (bud). The process is reminiscent of cutting a potato with eyes. The sections are immediately dusted with charcoal powder. The tubers are placed in a shaded, well-ventilated, dry place for 2-3 days. Planting without drying threatens tuber rotting. The tubers are planted in separate pots, and watering is stopped for a while. Before sprouts appear, do not allow the soil to become waterlogged.

Common problems

Caladium easily becomes infected from other plants and suffers from improper care. The greatest danger is posed by wet and fusarium bacterial rot. If a disease is suspected, the roots are removed from the pot and treated with fungicide powder.

Among the insects there are common pests of indoor plants - aphids, spider mites, mealybugs. Insecticides will help cope with them. Yellowing of the leaves may indicate improper care or late blight. It is recommended to treat the flower with fungicides just in case. In first place in terms of frequency are problems associated with violation of the care regimen.

Caladium will be a worthy decoration for any, even the richest and most sophisticated flower collection. Its variegated, unusually beautiful leaves attract glances, leaving no one indifferent.

Everyone loves bright flowers. In order to keep a well-flowering plant in your greenhouse, you need to observe subtleties of maintenance. The secrets to growing large types of flowers are the same. The capricious plant requires individual provision of conditions. In this selection, the editors tried to provide some tips to avoid mistakes when cultivating a particular flower. For further action, you should understand which class the purchased plant belongs to.

General information about the Caladium plant

CALADIUM (Caladium) - a genus belonging to the aroid family, has about 15 plant species. Their main area of distribution is the tropical forests of America, and the name of the flower in the local language of the natives means “a crop with edible roots.” However, quite a lot of sonorous names have been assigned to Caladium - Heart of Christ (Heart of Jesus), Elephant Ears or Angel Wings. The caladium plant owes all these epithets to its beautifully colored and paper-thin leaves. Large, basal, more or less arrow-shaped, they are distinguished by their heart-shaped shape, bright spots and completely unpredictable patterns. Caladium flowers form small, collected in a spadix.

Caladium is a perennial tuber crop that delights with its appearance from late spring to early autumn. In winter, a dormant period begins: the plant rests until the next season, shedding all its leaves. Temporary “stagnation” should be treated calmly. The pot with the tuber must be put in a dark place - under the bathtub, under the bed or in the pantry - and until spring, occasionally check its condition by watering the (slightly!) dry soil.

Caladiums are bred in industrial flower farms, botanical gardens, indoors, as a foliage and ornamental crop. They have high requirements for living conditions and, without observing the strictest regime, can die. The best habitat for an indoor exhibit is a closed flower window, and for a garden specimen - a separate greenhouse.

Main types and varieties of caladiums

Several thousand varieties of this ornamental crop are usually combined into one huge group of garden caladiums (C. hortulanum Birdsey). At the same time, in home growing conditions, the most common are:

Caladium bicolor (C. bicolor) Herbaceous stemless plant with elongated, slightly flattened tubers with a diameter of 3 cm and a length of up to 10 cm. Small, inconspicuous flowers are collected in a spadix - an inflorescence traditional for all aroids. Numerous hybrid forms, differing in leaf color, have become widespread in culture. As a rule, the color is blue-green with uneven white, red or silver spots and inclusions. The shape of the leaves is spear-shaped, heart-shaped or arrow-shaped, they are triangular in outline and can reach a length of 30 cm. The leaf blade is much shorter than the petiole.

Caladium Humboldtii (C. Humboldtii) A herbaceous plant native to the tropical rainforests of Brazil. Numerous leaves on long petioles have an arrow-shaped, ovate shape. They reach a width of 4 cm, and a length of about 6-8 cm. The color of the plate is dark green with whitish-silver spots of the most bizarre and unique shapes. In the presence of additional artificial lighting, this variety of caladium does not shed its leaves even during the winter dormant period.

Caladium Schomburg (C. schomburgkii Schott) This inhabitant of the rainforests of Brazil and Guiana is characterized by elliptical leaves, slightly heart-shaped at the base. They can reach 15 cm in length and 12 cm in width. The leaf plate, red on top, is much lighter below; between the veins ornate silvery spots and patterns appear.

Caladium has gained a reputation as a capricious houseplant - apparently because it is very difficult to bring it out of its dormant period. Care requirements for different varieties of caladiums vary significantly.

Caladiums are relatively shade-tolerant, but to maintain bright leaf color they need to be provided with intense, indirect light. The most suitable for caladiums are north-eastern and north-western windows.

The temperature during the growing season of caladium should not fall below 20-22 degrees. Since this plant has a clearly defined dormant period (when the caladium sheds all its leaves), its tubers are stored at a temperature of 16-18 degrees in autumn and winter.

It would seem that a tuberous plant should be afraid of moist soil, but since caladium naturally lives near the banks of rivers, during the growing season it is not afraid of excess moisture. In summer, caladium requires abundant watering and frequent spraying. To spray caladium leaves, it is better to use distilled water and use a sprayer that creates fine splashes (“artificial fog”). If large droplets of water fall on the caladium and do not dry for a long time, then dark spots form on the leaves.

Feeding caladiums during the period of active growth is carried out every two to three weeks, using complete mineral fertilizer with an equal content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Since caladiums have a dormant period in the cold season, towards the end of summer and early autumn their watering begins to be gradually reduced, and then stopped altogether. In winter, caladium tubers are stored in the same soil and in the same pot where the plant grew. In February or spring, caladium tubers are removed from the soil, cleaned of old roots and leaf bases, and planted in fresh substrate.

The soil mixture for caladium must be fertile, sufficiently acidic and contain the following components: half-rotted leaf substrate, humus soil, peat and coarse sand in equal parts (coniferous soil can be used instead of peat). Add a glass of dry mullein to a bucket of this mixture.

When selecting a container for planting a caladium tuber, keep in mind that the diameter of the pot should be twice the diameter of the tuber. A layer of drainage is placed on the bottom of the pot, then a layer of coarse sand and half of the prepared, well-moistened substrate, which is placed in a slide. A depression is made in the hill, which is filled with sand and a caladium tuber is planted in it so that about a third of the tuber is immersed in the sand. Then the remaining earthen mixture is added to the pot. If you plant a caladium tuber shallowly, it forms many children, but to the detriment of the size and decorativeness of the leaves. This feature can be used if you want to get as many caladium nodules as possible for propagation.

If the caladium nodules are young, then 2-3 pieces are planted in a pot with a diameter of 10 cm, and 3-5 pieces in a pot with a diameter of 15 cm. The most beautiful plants develop from mature caladium tubers of the second year. To obtain compact caladium bushes with a large number of leaves, some amateur gardeners advise planting the tuber with the crown down.

Before the sprouts appear, water the caladium very carefully, otherwise the tuber will rot; It is during this period of plant development that the tuber can very quickly disappear from excess moisture.

After the first leaf appears, the caladium is transferred to a larger container. The substrate is covered with moss on top, which prevents excessive evaporation of moisture.

Caladium propagates vegetatively by small daughter bulbs or by dividing large mother bulbs (the divisions must have one bud). All sections are sprinkled with charcoal powder or treated with a weak solution of fungicides (foundazol, benlat, bayleton).

Caladiums are also propagated by seeds. With this method of propagation, varietal characteristics are split, and as a result, plants may appear whose leaf color will differ from the original forms. You can buy caladium seeds in the store, or you can try artificially pollinating your plant (caladium quickly produces a flower arrow). With successful artificial pollination, caladium seeds ripen in two months. They are sown immediately after collection in a mixture of leaf soil and sand in a ratio (4:1) to a depth equal to the diameter of the seeds. Good drainage in the pot will ensure successful germination of caladium seeds and favorable development of seedlings.

Caladium seeds require very high temperatures to germinate. Cover the top of the container with the crops with glass and maintain the temperature of the substrate at least 25 degrees (preferably 30 degrees). Caladium shoots appear 2-3 weeks (depending on the temperature) after sowing. Water the drying soil and emerging seedlings using a spray bottle. The first time it is better to spray the crops with a solution of foundationazole. Raise the glass from time to time to ventilate.

Caladium seedlings dive twice, and by autumn they will form small nodules.

Caladium is affected by aphids, mealybugs, and spider mites. If you notice these pests, treat the plant with pyrethroid insecticides.

Elena Borovikova

All about caladium on the website Gardenia.ru

Caladium is a plant with large, very beautiful leaves of a wide variety of colors. They are shaped like a heart or the tip of a spear, maybe that’s why it has another name "Heart of Jesus".

Veined leaves may have a double color. The primary colors are purple, yellow, white, red and green, depending on the variety.

The plant has no stem, leaf growth is basal.

Its peculiarity is that leaves grow only from late spring to late summer. Then they wither and die, and the plant goes into a deep dormant period until March.

Kinds

Caladium bicolor

The photo shows the appearance of “caladium bicolor”:
Its leaves have a double color - a red center against a background of dark greenery

Caladium esculentum

Photo of the species “caladium esculentum”:
Significantly differs from other varieties in the height of leaf petioles. They grow up to 100 cm and have huge leaves up to 80 cm.

Caladium violaceum

The photo shows the species “caladium violacecum”:

It is distinguished by a slightly bluish tint of leaves with a red or lilac lower part.

Caladium hybrid

The photo shows the “hybrid caladium” view:
This variety has an almost white leaf pierced with reddish veins, and a green mesh seems to be draped over the top.

Home care

Caring for this flower requires constant care, but it also pays off handsomely with its beautiful views in the summer months.

Post-Purchase Care

It is better to buy caladium in the form of a tuber, where you can immediately see problems, if any. On him there should be no stains, damage or softening.

If you take a ready-made flower, you need to pay attention not only to the presence or absence of diseases, but also to the soil in the pot.

If she swampy, such a plant not worth taking. If everything is in order, then there is no need to replant it after purchase. He just needs the usual care during the growth period.

Trimming

Pruning is contraindicated for caladium; after growth ends, the leaves fall off on their own. It is imperative to remove them from the pot so that they do not start to rot.

Watering

When caladium grows, it needs plenty of water. You need to water as soon as the top layer of soil dries out. Watering is reduced when the castings stop growing. In winter, the tubers remaining in the ground are only slightly moistened so that they do not dry out.

Important! Caladium should be watered with warm boiled water.

Landing

Planting begins with germination of the tuber. To do this, sand is poured into a saucer and a tuber is placed on top. In order for buds to hatch on it, the room must be light and warm, at least 22 degrees. The sand must be dry and clean.

After germination, the tuber is planted in a pot. The size of the tuber is usually about 5 cm, which means the pot should be at least 10-15 cm in diameter.

The bottom is filled with a layer of drainage, then coarse sand and half of well-moistened soil.

Again, sand is poured in a slide, a hole is made in it, into which the tuber is placed with the buds up, so that half of it remains on the surface. From above it is filled with the second half of the prepared earth.

You can plant 2-3 young nodules in a pot with a diameter of 10 cm, 15 cm – 3-5. The planted tuber is watered very sparingly to avoid rotting.

When the first shoots appear, you can transfer the plant to a deeper pot.

Important! When planted deeply, the plant produces large leaves, and when planted shallow, it produces more leaves.

Transfer

Caladium needs replanting annually until the plant breaks dormancy. To do this, the tubers are removed from the pot in which they overwintered, thoroughly cleaned and inspected for damage. Then they are separated and placed in fresh substrate in the same way as when planting.

The soil

The most favorable soil composition for caladium is leaf and humus soil, sand and peat, all in equal parts. It prefers acidic soil.

Top dressing

The plant needs to be fed once every three weeks in spring and autumn, when leaves are actively growing. The fertilizer must contain potassium, phosphorus and nitrogen.

Growing from seeds at home

Growing a plant from seeds may not produce the generic characteristics (leaf color) for which they reproduce. If you cross-pollinate the plants, you can get seeds in two months.

They need to be sown immediately after harvest. The mixture for germination should consist of leaf soil and sand in proportions 4:1. The seed should be buried exactly as deep as its size. The soil needs to be well drained.

Seed germination requires high temperatures - from 25 to 30 degrees. The higher the temperature, the faster the seedlings will rise.

The container with the planted seeds can be covered with film or glass and ventilated from time to time. Watering should only be done with a spray bottle.

Shoots appear in 15-20 days. They are replanted twice. Tubers are finally formed by autumn.

Reproduction

Reproduction needs to be done in early spring when the tubers are removed from winter pots. The daughter young tubers are separated. You can divide an adult tuber. It is cut into pieces with a sharp, disinfected knife so that each piece has a kidney.

The sections are sprinkled with crushed charcoal or activated carbon and set aside for a couple of days to dry. Then each part is planted in a separate pot.

Temperature

As a native inhabitant of the tropics, caladium requires high temperatures.

Minimum temperature should not fall below 20 degrees. The plant is also sensitive to drafts - it may begin to lose leaves.

Important! In winter, tubers are stored at a temperature of 16-18 degrees.

Lighting

To maintain the decorative appearance of the leaves, the flower needs good lighting. However, the light must be diffused. The optimal location in the apartment may be east or west windows.

Air humidity.

Reduction of humidity is unacceptable in the room where this houseplant lives is below 70%. To maintain this level, you can spray distilled water around the flower, avoiding getting it on the leaves as much as possible. You can place the pot in a tray with wet pebbles.

Benefit and harm

At caladium poisonous juice, therefore it should be kept away from children, and your hands should also be protected with gloves when caring for it. Residents of this plant’s homeland used its tubers for food, which is why it has the name “plant with an edible root.”

Diseases and pests

Caladium is susceptible to fungal diseases such as late blight, a wet bacterial rot that affects the tuber. To avoid these problems, you need to adjust the watering mode.

Pests that the plant may suffer from are aphids, spider mites and mealybugs. You need to fight them with help insecticides.

If you follow the rules of care and maintenance of the flower, it will reward you with lush leaves of extraordinary beauty and elegance.

It is worth remembering that this exotic specimen is known for its “obstinate disposition,” so you need to explore all the intricacies of caring for caladium at home. It will also not be superfluous to consider the famous varieties of the species.

This tropical bush can easily decorate a flower bed or lawn. In the shade of a tree with a not very dense crown it will look representative.

General characteristics

The first thing that catches the eye of housewives is the appearance of the flowerpot. They carefully examine its leaves, as well as inflorescences.

Leaf Shape

Depending on the variety, this perennial has different leaf shapes. The most famous are:

In the shape of a heart. Familiar to many under their middle name – “Christ’s Heart”.
The most thin shape, almost triangular.
Like the tip of an arrow or spear.
Large and wide, like elephant ears.

They do not have a clearly defined stem. The leaves grow directly from the rhizome. In the natural environment they reach 5 meters, and decorative specimens are only up to 30 cm.

War paint

This variety of Aroids is valued for its amazing combination of bright colors. Although there is very little green color, it is still dominant. Moreover, the leaves come in both dark swamp and greenish-white tones. They often depict “compositions” of:

patterns;
veins;
mosaic ornaments;
grid pattern;
abstract spots;
gradation of shades (smooth transition from one to another).

A distinctive feature of some species is a contrasting multi-color border. In rare cases, the edges of the leaves may be slightly wavy. Among other things, caladium seduces with its extraordinary combination of bright colors, such as:

lilac;
pink;
silver;
crimson;
yellow.

This is not a complete list of color variations. The only thing is that the leaves never have a bluish tint.

The plant is poisonous. Contact of juice with the skin can cause an allergic reaction (rash, redness). Therefore, the flowerpot should be kept away from children.

Inflorescences

They can be described in two words: miniature and inconspicuous. The flowering resembles an ash-colored ball wrapped in a pale palanquin. It looks like he is in a cocoon. For exotic lovers, the inflorescences will be associated with the wild tropics.

Collection of varieties

At home, there are up to 15 popular varieties of the caladium flower. Each of them differs in appearance, tubers, and living conditions. Here are some of the famous varieties.

The soil should have a loose and coarse fibrous structure, but sufficiently nutritious. Soil acidity is neutral.

Schomburg

The shape of the leaves faintly resembles a heart. The length of the plate is 15 cm and the width is 12 cm. Their base has an oval or elliptical shape.

Bicolor

It is popularly known as bicolor arum. The incomparable combination of two contrasting shades of red and green makes the triangular leaves the highlight of the greenhouse. At the same time, there are varieties with white pigmentation.

Pink spots on a dark background look sophisticated and romantic. This would be an exceptional decor option for the bedroom.

Large leaves look elegant on thin stems. Their width is 10-19 cm, and their length is more than 30 cm. This decorative caladium flower will fit perfectly into an empty corner of the living room.

Humboldt

As the name suggests, the complementary color to dark green is a metallic shade of silver. The pattern is formed by shapeless spots of different sizes. The central and side veins are always made of green.

At the peak of growth, the length of leaves of this type is 8 cm and the width is 5 cm. They are ovoid in shape with a built-up edge. Since the foliage is small, 10 to 25 units can fit in one pot.

These are the most famous and widespread varieties. In addition, rare, but at the same time more luxurious species were bred. Among them there is caladium, photos of some are given below:

Florida "Sweetheart", "Sunrise" and "Red Ruffles".
Carolyn Worton.
"Pink Beauty"
Fanny Manson.
"Candy land"
Scarlet Pimpernel.
Rosalia.

The Florida variety is distinguished by its oblong leaf shape. Scarlet veins are a characteristic feature of the group. A unique species of the Araceae family is Rosalia. Thanks to the glossy brown-red surface with dark edging, this flower looks elegant.

As already noted, these exotic varieties are very finicky. Thus, it is important to learn some of the features of planting and caring for caladium.

Secrets of care: from planting to hibernation

Home care of this type must be carefully thought out and planned. It is always necessary to scrupulously monitor:

soil condition;
temperature;
lighting;
humidity.

When caring for it, it is necessary to take into account that the birthplace of this plant is the Amazon rainforest. Such an understanding will help create decent conditions for him.

The main thing that needs to be done when caring for it at home (photos of all the details are given below) is to protect it from cold and direct sunlight.

The pot should be placed on windows in the western or eastern part of the house. After all, this variety prefers a shady habitat.

In order for a houseplant to grow wildly, it is important to constantly maintain the following parameters at normal levels:

Temperature. In summer, the thermometer should not fall below 21-25°C, and in winter – 16°C.
Humidity. You need to keep it as high as possible.
The soil. The soil must contain the following elements: long-term humus, leaf waste, sand.
Spraying with a spray bottle. This procedure must be carried out so that the dew settles smoothly on the leaves. Therefore, you need to spray around or above it, then there will be no brown pigmentation on the leaves.
Watering. To do this, you need to use settled water and, preferably, it should be soft.
Fertilizer. Caladium needs mineral fertilizing twice a month in spring and summer. During hibernation it should be stopped.

The dormant season begins in August, so you should not worry if the leaves begin to fall. New shoots will appear in March. But in order for them to start growing, you need to periodically (1-2 times a month) moisten the tubers so that they do not wrinkle. As a result, by spring they will be ready for transplanting.

The ideal way to maintain soil moisture is a tray. You can pour gravel, moss or expanded clay into it.

Reproduction

It can be made in two ways: using tubers and seeds. Of course, in the latter case this process will take longer. To do this, you need to take a container with a peat-sand substrate and sow the seeds. The resulting mini plantation must be covered with a glass lid. If you water 2-3 times a week and ventilate, sprouts will sprout in a month. By September, the tubers themselves are formed.

When replanting annually, preventive measures should be taken against late blight. To do this, you can use new generation fungicides.

The most efficient propagation method is tubers. They should be transplanted at the end of winter or early spring. In this case, it is necessary to observe all the subtleties of the procedure:

Carefully separate the tubers. Large specimens should be cut in half or into 4 parts, depending on the number of buds.
You can use charcoal as a powder for cuts.
The soil should contain sand and peat.
They need to be replanted into a larger pot than before.
It is important to place seedlings in a warm and well-lit place.
Watering should be done as the soil dries.

In winter, the flower may begin to rot. Damaged areas need to be cut off by treating the surface with some kind of powder-type fungicide.

All this will allow the exotic plant to feel at home. However, it is important to remember that its main enemy is aphids. Having discovered this pest, it is important to thoroughly wash the leaves under running water. When they dry, they should be treated with insecticides.

With this care, this flower will delight its owners for many years. It will create a cozy feel in the room as well as a great view in the living room.

Caladiums are members of the Araceae family. It is a tropical herbaceous species found in South America. The French botanist Etienne Pierre Ventan first described this species in 1800 in Malaysia. The genus is not at all numerous; a total of 15 species are currently known. Thanks to its wide and brightly colored leaves, the plant is most often used as an ornamental plant. In tropical regions it is used as an agricultural crop, as the flower tubers are rich in starch.

Because of its beautiful leaves, people call the flower: “Heart of Christ”, “Angel Wings”, “Elephant Ears”. Bright and variedly colored leaves form a dense undergrowth in their traditional habitats (Brazil and Florida).

In indoor and natural conditions, the plant can grow up to 90 cm in height. The beautiful leaves of caladium on thin fleshy petioles are painted in various colors, both variegated and plain. The size of the leaf plate reaches 50 cm, the shape is arrow-shaped or heart-shaped.

Flowering is very unusual, appears after 3-4 leaves. The flower has an unusual appearance - a spadix. It contains male and female flowers. The perianth is absent, the flower is covered with a white or pink pointed veil. As a result of flowering, berries are formed.

There is only one species with an edible rhizome rich in starch. The root system is represented by a flattened tuber, with a diameter of 7 to 10 cm. During the growing season, thin fibrous roots appear from the tuber, which die off when the plant goes dormant.

Plant species

Caladium Humboldt

This species became the ancestor of many domestic varieties and is more often used in culture than others. Arrow-shaped leaves 10 cm long are collected in a rosette. The almost white (silver) leaf plate with a green edge hides the inconspicuous flowering. A small flower-cob blooms in April, odorless.

Caladium Schomburg

The leaf blades have an exotic appearance. The leaf length is 15 cm, it is painted in a silver-raspberry color with dark green veins. The varieties bred on its basis have an unusual beautiful color with a red border and silver patterns along the veins. This species is native to Brazil.

Caladium bicolor

Caladium bicolor arrived in our greenhouses from the Antilles. Hybrid varieties are most often grown, as they have more resistant characteristics to diseases and dry air. They are distinguished by a large leaf blade (up to 30 cm), crimson, red, purple color.

plant care

The caladium flower is an ornamental plant that delights with its foliage for several months. Caring for caladium is not very difficult, but it is necessary to observe the conditions of the dormant period.

Care in natural habitat

The natural habitat for this species is tropical and, less commonly, subtropical forests. The lower tier of the forest where the plant lives protects them from direct sunlight. Natural high air humidity prevents the leaves from drying out.

In gardens, the flower is planted together with the pot. Considering its tropical origin, it will not winter within Russia, but in the summer it can decorate any garden or open veranda.

Home care

For good development, the plant requires dormancy. Good lighting without direct sunlight or additional lighting if the flower is on a north window. The plant also needs to maintain humidity at 70%.

Location selection

At home, the western and eastern sides are suitable for caladium. Bright sun can cause burns on tender leaves. A lack of light will have a bad effect on the color of the leaves; it will be less bright and the pattern will not be expressive.

In a garden plot, a plant in a pot is buried or placed under the crowns of trees, they decorate gazebos with it, protecting the plant from direct sunlight.

Temperature

The flower feels great both at home and in summer in gardens in temperate climates. During the rest period, it is very important to maintain the temperature at +18...+20 degrees. Temperatures below +15 degrees will lead to the appearance of diseases and affect the germination of caladium.

Watering and humidity

The ideal humidity during the active growing season should be 70%. The most difficult thing to maintain humidity in a room is to avoid splashing water. Drops of water can leave dark spots on the leaves. You can humidify the air by spraying water around the flower, or place the plant on a tray with pebbles and water.

The flower pot chosen is not very large. The soil is loose, so the soil dries out quickly. Watering should be done little by little and often; stagnation of water will lead to rotting of the tuber. During the dormant period, the tubers are not watered and only after planting in the ground in the spring, watering begins lightly, then heavily. Lack of moisture will lead to rapid wilting of the leaves.

Diseases and pests

Tender leaves suffer from attacks by whiteflies, aphids and mealybugs. Special insecticides are used for control. Leaves may also suffer from late blight. Before each planting, tubers are checked for rot and fungus. The affected areas are cut off and treated with fungicide powder.

Planting and propagation

Reproduction

There are vegetative and generative methods of propagation. It is difficult to obtain seeds on your own; they will not bear hereditary characteristics and will quickly lose their germination capacity. For germination, the soil for aroid plants is sterilized and well moistened. The container with seeds is covered with glass or film and placed in a warm place +25...+30 degrees. By autumn, small tubers form.

At the end of February, a large tuber can be divided into parts. Each part must have several buds. The cut site is treated with charcoal or fungicide and dried. Children often form next to the mother tuber. They can be carefully separated and planted as an independent plant.

In May, propagation by cuttings is possible. The stalk with the leaf is cut at the base and rooted in water. After the small tuber appears, it is rooted in the soil.

Transfer

Every spring, after checking and cleaning the tubers, they are planted in pots with a large layer of drainage. You can plant either one large or several small bulbs in one pot. The soil should be nutritious and loose. The composition of the soil includes humus, peat and garden soil in a ratio of 1:1:1. It is useful to add sphagnum or coal in small quantities. The finished mixture is pre-sterilized.

Plant root stimulants

Root formation stimulants not only help rapid rooting of cuttings, but also, thanks to phytohormones, improve the survival rate of the plant in a new place. The composition of Kornevin, Heteroauxin, Kornerost includes substances such as indolyl-3-acetic, naphthylacetic and beta-indolylacetic acids. They promote cell division and elongation, forming new roots.

Rest period

In September, the plant begins to prepare for hibernation. By this time, reduce watering and stop feeding with fertilizers. The tubers are removed, cleared of soil and checked for fungal damage. After treatment, store in vermiculite or moss at normal room temperature until the first shoots appear.

Use in landscape design

Caladium looks very exotic in our gardens; its bright leaves will decorate any flower bed. A flowerpot with a flower can be placed on a veranda or balcony, protected from direct rays. Tall species look good under the shade of trees.

Caladium attracts attention with its beauty and pronounced decorative effect. Despite all the hassle associated with its cultivation, it is popular among florists, landscape designers and ordinary amateur gardeners. This plant is native to the tropics and subtropics, so For the successful growth of caladium, it is necessary to create the conditions familiar to it.

Description

Caladium is a garden or indoor plant loved by many exotic connoisseurs with large elegant leaves of various colors. Their shape is often compared to the shape of a spear tip or a heart. Veined leaves are often gifted by nature or breeders with a contrasting color consisting of two shades. The most common colors of caladium leaves are purple, yellow, white, red, green. This vine does not have a stem, has basal growth of leaves, which grow over time and create dense rosettes with a diameter of up to half a meter.

At the base of the caladium root system there is a roundish-flattened tuber measuring 7-10 cm in diameter, at the top of which the rudiments of the future plant are clearly visible and, a little to the side, lonely dormant buds.

It is worth noting that The inflorescence is often mistaken for a caladium flower. It appears following the opening of the third or fourth leaf and looks like a substantial spadix of male and female flowers wrapped in a pointed blanket. Very often the “blanket” takes on the same color as the leafy part. The whole process of enjoying flowers usually lasts no more than a day, and after 4-5 weeks, round orange-red berries ripen in place of the inflorescence.

Caladium is a poisonous plant. It is dangerous both when it enters the esophagus and simply when working with it.

During planting activities, it is necessary to protect your hands with gloves, and child contact with this plant is strictly prohibited.

Species and varieties

Consider popular plant varieties.

Caladium Humboldt

This species lies at the very foundation of breeding work on many potted hybrids. Its difference is the dark green color of the leaf plates, on the outer side of which silver stripes diverge from the center, tapering towards the edge. The leaf blades reach 10 cm in length and 5 cm in width. The flowers, which resemble candles in appearance, open in the spring, but do not provide much decorative value.

Caladium Schomburg

This variety of caladium is distinguished by oval leaves up to 15 cm in length and up to 12 cm in width. The upper side of the leaf plate is painted in silver-reddish tones with green veins.

Decorative varieties:

Venosum– on its oval green leaf plate there is a red border and a vein in the center, and the lateral veins are outlined with yellow streaks;
Erythraeum– on a dark red leaf there are silver patterns along the veins.

Caladium bicolor

The leaves of this species are much narrower than those of the others, and their shape is often characterized as arrow-shaped. A bright red blot radiates from the very center along the edges with sharp tips on a green background. The length of the plate reaches 30 cm.

There are quite a lot of hybrid varieties.

Rosalie– the green edging is clearly visible on the red leaves.

Pink beauty– in the very center the leaf is pink, along the edge there is a green edging, the veins are outlined with a bright pink stripe.

Florida Cardinal– the leaf blades are shiny and colored in a crimson hue; there is a bright green wide border along the edge.

White Christmas– the surface of the leaf is silvery, on which there are dark green stripes along the veins and small dark green spots.

Red Flash– the literal translation of this variety is: “red flash”. And this is no coincidence - the appearance of the leaf plate of Caladium “Red Flash” resembles a photo of a bright explosion, painted in red tones. A bright crimson stripe runs along the leaf and diverges into sharp, wide veins towards its edges, and a scattering of light spots is located on a green background. The length of the leaf plate reaches 30 cm.

Home care

Provided that certain requirements are met, caring for and growing caladium on your own is not so difficult.

Here is a general care plan for plants grown in houses and apartments.

The end of March and the beginning of April is the time when a pot of caladium is brought into the light after hibernation and provided with abundant watering.
At the same time, the comfort temperature for the natural development of caladium is in the range from +22 to +27 degrees Celsius.
In spring, watering should be plentiful, but not excessive. The frequency of watering is approximately once a week. Any water that accumulates in the pan must be poured out.
In summer, the frequency of watering increases to twice a day, approximately 0.5 liters of water per plant.
Watering caladium is carried out with water at room temperature not lower than +22 degrees Celsius.
When drops of water fall on the leaves, they appear as dark spots. Therefore, it is important to be careful when watering.
It is advisable to place a container of water near the pot so that the water evaporates and provides the moisture necessary for the flower.
Fertilizers are applied starting at the end of May. In total, 2-3 feedings will be needed per season.
With the onset of autumn, caladium falls asleep. Its leaves dry, and the plant itself is put away in a dark place until spring.
During hibernation, caladium is also cared for. Its soil needs periodic wetting, and in order to avoid drying out, a few tablespoons of water will be enough.

When growing caladium in the garden, it is planted in a moderately lit, slightly shaded place without direct exposure to ultraviolet radiation, because in its usual natural conditions this plant is in the shade of other plants. Implemented it abundant watering in the summer, and spraying is also encouraged.

Cultivation in open ground is carried out in a mixture from a compost component, leaf soil, sand, turf soil with charcoal.

In late autumn, after the leaves have dried, the tubers are dug out of the ground, cleaned of residues, sprinkled with a mixture of sand and earth, then placed in a cool place where they hibernate.

Reproduction methods

Caladium reproduces in three possible ways: daughter tubers, tuber division and seeds.

To propagate caladium daughter tubers, during transplantation in the spring, the children are separated from the mother tuber, placing them in a separate flowerpot or pot. This method is considered one of the most common and simplest.
Use method of dividing tubers also quite simple. To do this, an adult specimen must be divided into 2 or 3 parts and planted in different containers. Be sure to leave at least one bud on each part. The tuber is divided with a disinfected knife, and the live sections are sprinkled with coal powder and planted in a sand-peat mixture. Germination is carried out in a bright and warm room with a temperature of +22.24 degrees Celsius.
Caladium grown seeds in order to obtain a new variety. Seeds must be purchased in specialized stores. Since this is a hybrid, it does not make sense to collect your own seeds at home, since some characteristics of the mother plants may be lost in subsequent generations. The seeds are sown in a mixture of sand and deciduous soil with regular moistening and maintaining the temperature at +30 degrees Celsius. Pecking of sprouts can be observed after 2-3 weeks, and after a month they can be planted in independent containers. In the summer season, caladium is picked again, and by autumn small tubers are already formed.

Features of flowering

At the end of May, after the first 4 leaves have appeared, the development of the inflorescence begins in full swing - an elongated ear of a light shade in yellowish tones, wrapped in a white-green or leaf-colored blanket. Flowering does not occur in tandem with pronounced odors and lasts only one to several days. After pollination, dense, spherical berries ripen.

It is worth noting that under indoor conditions, flowering and fruit ripening occur very rarely.

Diseases and pests

Caladiums, like many plants, are susceptible to various diseases and pests.

Bacterial rot

Plant tubers are susceptible to Fusarium and wet rot. If damaged areas are detected, the tubers are cut to healthy tissue using a sterile knife, and the cut areas are sprinkled with powdered fungicides.

Caladium is the name of a genus of plants that grow in South America. It is believed that they got their name from the edible roots that Indian tribes consumed as food.

There are about fifteen species of this plant. One of them, Caladium esculentum, has edible roots rich in starch. In Brazil it is grown as an agricultural plant.

Decorative varieties of caladium

The very first species, which was cultivated back in 1773, is the bicolor caladium. It grows well at home. Currently, many varieties of this species are known. All varieties differ in leaf color.

As a result of selection, varieties were bred that have spear-shaped leaves with a long petiole. This variety's leaf length reaches thirty centimeters.

Caladium care

In nature, caladium studio grows in the tropical forests of Latin America in a humid, hot climate. Therefore, decorative species require special care.

When transporting a plant, even in warm weather, try to wrap it in polyethylene or paper to protect it from drafts.

To make the caladium flower delight you with its decorative foliage, use the following tips on how to care for it at home:

The air temperature in the room where caladium studio grows during the growing season should be within 24-26° C. And in winter it should not fall below 15° C;
During the growth and growing season, the flower requires intense lighting. The place where the plant stands should be well lit, but try not to let the sun's rays fall directly on the leaves;
It does not require intensive watering. Make sure that the soil does not dry out, but is not too wet. If there is too much moisture, the roots and leaves may rot. During the dormant period, it is better to store the tubers in moist peat. If you do not have this opportunity, periodically water the soil in which the tuber is located. When the plant begins to wake up after winter, you should not water it too much. It is better to simply moisten the soil from above;

The flower is especially demanding of air humidity. During the growing season, spray the leaves every day with warm, softened water. Choose the smallest spray nozzle for spraying. Never wipe the leaves of a flower with a damp cloth. Such care will only harm them. To make it easier to maintain humidity at home, place the flower pot in a tray with damp expanded clay or moss. At night, the pot with the plant can be covered with a plastic bag;
From the end of March until the beginning of August, fertilize with complex fertilizer every fourteen days;
The soil in which the flower grows should be fibrous, light and well-permeable to moisture; be sure to place good drainage at the bottom of the container. You should also add bone meal, sand and peat;
In February, the first growth buds begin to appear on the caladium. At this point, it should be transplanted into a new pot, bud up. The depth to plant the tuber depends on what kind of leaves you want to enjoy. If you want to have large, few leaves, plant the tuber deeply, and if you want the bush to be denser, plant the tuber shallowly. In this case, it will produce additional shoots, but the leaves will be small. It is better to plant plants in small pots.

Caladium diseases

Spider mites, aphids, and mealybugs most often infect the plant. Therefore, periodically inspect the leaves of the flower. If pests are found, treat it with chemicals.

The most common disease is all kinds of rot. Not only tubers, but also stems and leaves die from them. If rot appears on the tuber, cut it out and treat the tuber with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Remove rotting stems and leaves in a timely manner.

Caladium propagation

Propagation of the flower at home occurs by dividing the tuber or by seeds.

In the second case, the plant is grown by planting seeds immediately after collection, and by autumn the first tubers appear, which are stored and planted in permanent soil in February.

Growing beautiful plants is best achieved by using two-year-old tubers.

Caladium and homeopathy

All parts of the plant are poisonous; if ingested, the juice causes:

burn;
swelling of the larynx and mucous membranes;
conjunctivitis, corneal burn.

is the general name of tropical plants of the Araceae family, which includes about 15 species, each of which differs in leaf shape, color, size, and so on. The plant is also popularly known as: “Elephant Ears”, “Heart”, “Angel Wings” due to the shape of its leaves.

This plant was first described in 1800 by the French botanist Etienne Pierre Ventana. The sample he received was delivered from the Malaysian archipelago. Interestingly, local residents used this plant as a vegetable crop and in some countries caladium is still used to produce starch.

The main place of natural growth is tropical America (Brazil, Florida). In their natural habitat, caladiums form a dense undergrowth five meters high.

Caladium is a perennial herb with large, heart-shaped, thin leaves. The color of the leaves is juicy, and the shape is very beautiful: arrow-shaped, triangular, pointed or heart-shaped. The patterns on the leaves are whimsical and decorative, they consist of beautiful spots, veins and multi-colored transitions. Under natural conditions, the leaves reach from 30 to 50 cm in width. Caladium grows best in greenhouses, home gardens and greenhouses.

The color range of caladium leaves is very diverse: from silver and pink to crimson and purple. With proper care, the plant looks simply magnificent and will delight not only you, but also guests who will certainly want something similar in their home. True, the plant cannot be called beautifully flowering; the flowers are inconspicuous - unisexual without a single flower. Collected into cobs (inflorescences).

[!] This plant should not be confused with cladium from the Sedge family.

The founders for creating home varieties were: Caladium humboldtii, Caladium bicolor, Caladium schomburgkii.

K. Humboldt, K. two-color, K. Schomburg

Subsequently, various hybrids were bred, differing from each other in the shape, size and color of the leaves. Now there are a lot of varieties of caladium and every year more and more new, even more exotic, plant species appear.

Caladium, or more precisely, indoor hybrids, are very common among owners of small apartments with glazed balconies or loggias. But due to seasonality, that is, the period of long dormancy required by caladium, not every gardener is ready to grow a capricious exotic guest. In addition, during hibernation it is necessary to have a free, warm place for storage. But over time, and as information spreads, the situation changes. And the beauty of caladium certainly attracts attention.

As mentioned above, there are now a huge number of varieties of caladium. Some of the most beautiful and popular ones are in front of you:

"Candyland" - green leaves with wide creamy pink veins
"Florida Sweetheart" - pink-purple leaves with a narrow green border at the edges
"Florida Red Ruffles" - leaves are pink, gradually turning into green, the edge of the leaf blade is wavy

'Fannie Munson' - raspberry-pink leaves with darker colored veins
"Florida Sunrise" - a silver-green elongated leaf blade decorated with scarlet veins
“Pink Beauty” - pink-green spots over the entire surface of the leaf

"Scarlet Pimpernel" - light gray-green leaves decorated with wide, bright pink stripes along the veins
"Rosalie" - glossy red-brown leaf blades, leaf edge - green
"Carolyn Whorton" - spotted pattern over the entire surface of the leaf

Caladium care

Rest period

The most important information needed by every flower lover who decides to start a caladium is how to organize the dormant period that is vital for the plant.

All summer, caladium grows and develops in normal conditions, characteristic of other indoor plants. But gradually, starting in September, caladium needs to prepare for a period of rest. At this time, watering the plant is gradually reduced and feeding with mineral fertilizers is eliminated.

Then, in October, the caladium is prepared for wintering. The exact time of the start of the dormant period will be indicated by the plant itself - if massive drying out and falling of leaves begins, then it’s time.

Preparation for the dormant period occurs as follows: the fallen dry leaves are removed, while the leaves remaining on the plant must be preserved, and the tubers of the plant are laid for winter storage.

The plant can be stored either in pots or in another way - after the leaves fall off at the end of the season and the substrate dries, the tubers can be removed from the bowl and shaken off the ground. After that, put it on the windowsill under a lamp for a week. The air temperature should be about + 20 degrees Celsius. Then you need to put the tubers in a bag with moss, perlite or sand in a dark and warm place; they can be planted again in the spring.

[!] Before replanting, the tubers must be carefully checked. They should be free of fungus, mold, various diseases and pests, otherwise all the work will be in vain.

The air temperature in the room in which wintering caladiums are stored is very important. It should be approximately 18-21 degrees Celsius. If the temperature drops below 15 degrees, there is a high probability of various diseases appearing on the tubers. And at a temperature of 10 degrees, caladium may even die.

Lighting, air humidity

Caladium loves diffused light. With little sunlight, the color of the leaves becomes less bright and saturated. It is good if the window where the plant is located is oriented to the western or eastern sides. On a northern window sill, if there is insufficient light, you can use special phytolamps, which are available in a wide range in specialized stores.

Optimal air humidity is about 70%. The leaves need to be wiped from dust from time to time and sprayed with a spray bottle, especially in dry weather or when exposed to direct sunlight.

Temperature

During the active period, caladium, like other tropical plants, loves humidity, warmth and does not tolerate drafts and cold. The optimal temperature for growing caladium is from + 15 to +26 degrees Celsius. During rest, the optimal temperature will be from + 15 to + 20 degrees Celsius. Sharp temperature fluctuations are unacceptable in any season.

Reproduction

The plant reproduces in two ways:

seeds
dividing the tuber

Propagation by seeds is used extremely rarely. This is a very labor-intensive method, accessible only to experienced gardeners.

[!] In the hands of a novice, inexperienced gardener, a plant obtained from seeds may lose its varietal qualities.

You should only contact seeds if there are no other options. Also, this method is used in the selection of new varieties.

Propagation by dividing the tuber is much preferable, since this method is quite simple - the tuber is cut into several parts in March. Each part must have a bud-eye. It is better to sprinkle the tuber sections with ash to avoid infection with rot. Then each tuber must be planted separately. Watering at first should be minimal, otherwise the tubers will begin to rot.

How to choose and buy caladium

Before planting, you need to make sure that the climate is comfortable - this is a temperature from + 20 to + 25 degrees. In some cases, + 15 is enough. Lighting should be diffused, and direct sunlight should not be allowed, otherwise the leaves will begin to dry out at the edges.

You can buy caladium in tubers or pots, already sprouted. The plant is sold both in florist shops in your city and on the Internet. When purchasing, pay attention to the size of the tubers: the larger they are, the larger the plants will be in the end, of course, subject to proper care. The easiest way to find caladium is in online stores, since the plant is not very common and is quite difficult to purchase.

The best time to buy caladium is early spring. If you bought a germinated specimen, then you just need to replant it.

Before purchasing, you need to find out everything about the variety - climate preferences, care features, etc. There are a lot of varieties and new ones appear every time, for example, shade-tolerant ones. Each hybrid has its own pattern, color combination and leaf shape. As a rule, flower shop workers will help with the choice and give general recommendations regarding planting, care, replanting, and propagation.

Planting in a pot

When planting a tuber in a pot, it is necessary to lay a layer of drainage about 2 cm high at the bottom and immediately check it by pouring a little water. If the water does not drain, the drainage is not good enough. After drainage, a layer of sand is placed on top and half of the prepared substrate is placed on top, which is pre-moistened. The rest of the substrate is presented in a slide, in the middle of which a depression is made. A small amount of sand is also placed in the recess.

The tuber itself is planted in the sand by a third. Afterwards the main part of the substrate is added.

[!] If the tuber is planted shallowly, it will produce a lot of “babies”, but at the expense of the size of the leaves: they will most likely be very small. Their decorative effect may also suffer.

If the tubers are very small, then about three can be planted in one pot with a diameter of 10 cm. Three to five tubers can be placed in a dish with a diameter of 15 cm. Planting occurs in the same way as described above. With proper care, the most beautiful caladiums come from adult tubers of the second year.

Drop off on the street

If caladium will grow outside, it is better to plant it next to ferns, moss and balsam in order to avoid direct sunlight. And planting under trees would be an ideal option. This will also protect the plant from strong winds, which can damage leaves and shoots. If there are no trees, then you need to choose a windless side with a small amount of direct sunlight.

When planting outdoors, the plant needs well-drained soil. Compost or chopped leaves are suitable for this. All this is placed at a depth of 15 cm. Regarding the soil, all recommendations are the same as with the potted version, only the tubers need to be planted at a distance of about 20 - 30 cm from each other.

Planting seeds

If you still want to try a more complex method of planting caladium - with seeds, here are some tips. Small seeds are placed in small bowls at a temperature of +20 - +25 degrees. Periodically, the soil is moistened by spraying; after 10-20 days, the first shoots should appear.

Watering, fertilizing, soil

It is necessary to water the caladium with settled water at room temperature strictly around the tuber. Top watering is unacceptable: water can get on the tender leaves and they will rot. The frequency of watering should be optimal - both overwatering and drought are harmful to the plant.

In summer, the plant can be watered once a week. During summer watering, be guided by the moisture content of the soil in the pot - the top layer should dry out a little. Gradually, by autumn, watering should become more and more rare.

In winter, during hibernation, caladium should be watered no more than once every 20 or 30 days, provided that the tubers remain in the pots. When storing tubers in bags, this is not necessary, but you can ventilate them from time to time and check them for the presence of mold or putrefactive diseases.

In addition, in the summer, at least once every 12–14 days, you can apply mineral fertilizers. There is no need to feed the plant in winter.

As for the soil, it should be coarse, loose and nutritious with neutral acidity. Of the ready-made options, soil for roses or palm trees is a good choice. To prepare the soil yourself, you need to take one part each of turf soil, humus soil, peat and sand.

Diseases and pests

Caladium is very often affected. Mealybugs are also common. To combat these pests, use special chemicals - insecticides. Use all medications very carefully and be sure to read the instructions. Carefully monitor the condition of the plant after applying insecticides.

The most common disease of caladium is. The appearance of rot is most often associated with a violation of the watering regime, as well as with improper storage of the plant during the dormant period.

Possible problems when growing caladium

Mold on leaves. A possible reason for the appearance of mold is waterlogging of the soil or the influence of drafts. Try watering less often or moving the caladium bowl to a place where there is no draft.

The leaves are curled. Most likely, watering is too scarce or the ambient temperature is too high. Try to increase the intensity of watering, spray the flower.

Leaf edges are brown. Most likely, the plant is freezing and needs to be moved to a warmer room.

The leaves are pale, the pattern on the leaves is not contrasting enough. The likely cause is lack of sunlight.

Leaves and shoots are sticky and deformed- This . The use of insecticides or pyrethrum is necessary.

The tuber begins to rot. Check watering frequency and temperature conditions. Too frequent watering and low air temperatures lead to the appearance of rot.

The leaves turn yellow and dry out. If this phenomenon occurs in the fall, this is normal, as the plant is preparing for a dormant period. However, if the leaves turn yellow and dry out during the active season, most likely there is insufficient watering, and there are also problems with the drainage system of the pot

Dried edges of leaves. Most likely, the plant is harmed by an excess of sunlight, very frequent feeding or insufficient watering.

Poor growth or small leaves– lack of fertilizer and light, insufficient watering, improperly prepared substrate.

One of the most common problems when growing caladium is rotting tubers. It is very easy to determine whether the root system is in order: if no new shoots have appeared within a month or a month and a half after planting the tubers in the ground, then most likely the tuber has rotted. In this case, dig up the soil, remove the tuber, clean it of dirt and carefully inspect it. If the tuber is soft and light yellow in color, the plant has died and will not produce a new crop.