Among the people, the flower is known by various names. For the unusual shape of the leaves, he was nicknamed "Christ's heart", "elephant ears". The flower growers themselves call the leaves paper. They are thin and colorful. It seems that they are made of colored paper. With all the advantages, caring for caladium at home does not cause problems even for beginners. This article describes in detail all the subtleties of care.

Herbaceous plant of the aroid family. The natural area of ​​\u200b\u200bgrowth is the shores 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 is able to reliably protect a person from heavy rain. The leaves are thin, whimsically colored. The shape is arrow-shaped.

As a houseplant, caladium does not grow above 90 cm. More compact specimens are more common. As with wild relatives, the leaf blade is swept or heart-shaped. Coloring contrast, combines from 2 and more colors. Raspberry, pink, silver shades predominate.

In spring, the rosette of leaves produces an inflorescence in the form of a light yellow elongated cob. The inflorescence is surrounded by a white veil with a greenish tint. The flowers are odorless and have no particular decorative value. The main decoration is not a flower - caladium is grown because of the beautiful, unusual leaves. In the case of pollination, fruits are tied - dense round berries. In the apartment blooms and rarely bears fruit.

Breeders on the basis of natural varieties have bred many hybrids of various colors. In the color scheme, only blue shades are missing. Each leaf pattern is unique. Hybrid varieties are grown in the apartments. They are obtained by crossing several wild-growing caladiums. Few ornamental leafy plants can compete with Caladium for the beauty of its leaves.

Important! There are periods of active growth and dormancy in the life cycle of the Caladium. By the end of summer, the aerial part of the plant begins to gradually die. Tubers remain in the ground. They are stored until spring, transplanted and waiting for the appearance of young leaves.

Wild and cultivated species

Based on different types of caladiums, many hybrids have been bred. Each has its own characteristics, different original colors.

• Caladium bicolor. The plant is native to the Antilles. The foliage is arrow-shaped, about 30 cm. The color is variegated with a predominance of light green raspberry and red. Blooms at the end of winter. Mostly hybrid varieties are grown in apartments.
  
  
• Caladium Schomburg. Brought from the humid and warm Brazilian forests. Leaves are oval, small. The front side of the sheet is silvery red. The veins are green, distinctly stand out against a red background.
• Caladium Humboldt. The most common type in room culture. The plant is stemless. The rosette is formed from small arrow-shaped leaves. The color of the foliage is dominated by dark green. Large silver spots are scattered in the center of the sheet. Blooms in April. The flowering period is short, the flower is inconspicuous.
  
  

Important! The juice of the plant is toxic, like that of other aroids. It contains oxalate crystals. When it comes into contact with mucous membranes, it causes irritation, chemical burns, and pain. A large amount of the substance leads to swelling of the throat and breathing problems. Be sure to wash your hands after touching a flower! Keep the plant out of the reach of children and pets!

It is considered a relatively easy plant to grow. Beginners may have a little difficulty. 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. Poor illumination leads to the loss of variegated color, fading, inexpressiveness of the leaves.
• Temperature. Favorable temperature for growth is 20-25°C. Wintering in warmth - not lower than 20 ° C. At any time of the day, sharp fluctuations in temperature and drafts are excluded.
• Watering. In nature - a swamp plant. Watering uniform, regular, frequent. The abundance of watering depends on the characteristics of the soil. Preference is given to breathable, loose soils, drainage must be provided. Stagnation of water leads to acidification of the soil, the death of the flower. In autumn, as the leaves wither, the frequency of watering is reduced.
• Top dressing. Any liquid complex fertilizers are suitable. Bred in accordance with the instructions, make no more than 3 times a month. It is not recommended to overfeed the flower!
• Transfer. Every spring during the swelling of the growth buds. The lower part of the tuber is smooth, devoid of sprouts. Try to plant the tuber sprouts up. Improper planting will slow germination but will not harm the plant. The depth of planting affects the appearance of the plant. If necessary, to obtain additional shoots, the tubers are planted finely. The leaves will be smaller than usual. Deepening will increase the tuber and leaf size.
• The soil. The requirements for the soil are higher. It is highly undesirable to use ready-made store mixes. The substrate is made up of high-moor peat and hardwood. Recommended additives are sand, perlite, coconut fiber.

Important! Improper awakening after a dormant period can kill 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 dry for a long time. Constant dampness will lead to rotting of the tuber even before the foliage appears.

Reproduction and cultivation

At home, caladium from seeds is grown only from seed material purchased in specialized stores. Seeds rarely ripen on domestic plants, seedlings from them are completely different - maternal features are lost. To propagate the flower, daughter tubers are used.

• Planting seeds. Seeds are sown in light soil, moistened with a spray gun. The container is covered with glass, kept at a high temperature of 25-30°C. Regularly moisten the surface of the soil, arrange short-term ventilation. Entrances are expected to appear in 15-20 days.
• daughter tubers. In early spring, before planting, the tubers are cut into several pieces. Each part should have one shoot (bud). The process is similar to cutting a potato with eyes. Sections are immediately powdered with charcoal powder. The tubers are harvested in a shaded, well-ventilated, dry place for 2-3 days. Planting without drying threatens with rotting of tubers. Tubers are planted in separate pots, watering is stopped for a while. Before the appearance of sprouts, do not allow waterlogging of the soil.

Common Problems

Caladium is easily infected from other plants, suffers from improper care. Wet and Fusarium bacterial rot is the most dangerous. If a disease is suspected, the roots are removed from the pot and treated with fungicide powder.

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

Caladium will be a worthy decoration of any, the richest and most sophisticated flower collection. Its motley, unusually beautiful leaves attract the eye, leaving no one indifferent.

Caladiums are members of the Aroid family (Araceae). 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, in total 15 species are currently known. Due to the wide and brightly colored leaves, the plant is most often used as an ornamental. In tropical regions, it is used as an agricultural crop, as the flower tubers are rich in starch.

For beautiful leaves, the people call the flower: “Christ's heart”, “angel wings”, “elephant ears”. Bright and variedly colored leaves form a dense undergrowth in their traditional habitats (Brazil and Florida).

Under home and natural conditions, the plant can grow up to 90 cm in height. Beautiful caladium leaves 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 swept or heart-shaped.

Flowering is very unusual, appears after 3-4 leaves. The flower has an unusual appearance - an ear. It has male and female flowers. There is no perianth, 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 retires.

plant species

Caladium Humboldt

Caladium Humboldt

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

Caladium Schomburg

Caladium Schomburg

Sheet plates have an exotic look. The length of the sheet is 15 cm, it is painted in silver-crimson color with dark green veins. The varieties bred on its basis have an unusual beautiful color with a red border and silvery patterns along the veins. This species is native to Brazil.

Caladium bicolor

Caladium bicolor

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

plant care

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

Care in the natural habitat

The natural habitat for this species is tropical and less often subtropical forests. The lower tier of the forest, where the plant lives, covers them from direct sunlight. The natural high humidity of the air does not allow the leaves to dry.

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

Home Care

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

Location selection

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

In a garden plot, a plant in a pot is dug in or placed under the crowns of trees, arbors are decorated 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 dormant 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 room is the most difficult to maintain humidity, but you should not splash water. Drops of water can leave dark spots on the leaves. You can humidify the air by spraying water around the flower, or by placing the plant on a tray of pebbles and water.

The flower pot is chosen not very large. The soil is loose, so the earth dries out quickly. It should be watered little by little and often, stagnant 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, they begin at first slight watering, then plentiful. Lack of moisture will lead to rapid wilting of the leaves.

Diseases and pests

Tender leaves are attacked by whiteflies, aphids and mealybugs. To fight using special insecticides. Leaves can also suffer from late blight. Before each planting, the tubers are checked for rot and fungus. The affected areas are cut off and treated with fungicide powder.

Planting and reproduction

reproduction

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

At the end of February, a large tuber can be divided into parts. Each part should have several kidneys. The cut site is treated with coal or fungicide, dried. Often, children are formed 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 a leaf is cut off at the base and rooted in water. After the appearance of a small tuber, 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. In one pot, you can plant either one large or several small bulbs. The soil should be nutritious and loose. The composition of the land includes humus, peat and garden soil in a ratio of 1:1:1. It is useful to add sphagnum or coal in a small amount. The finished mixture is pre-sterilized.

Plant root stimulants

Rooting stimulants help not only the rapid rooting of the cutting, but also, thanks to phytohormones, improve the plant's survival in a new place. The composition of Kornevin, Heteroauxin, Kornerost includes substances such as indolyl-3-acetic, naphthylacetic and beta-indoleacetic acids. They promote cell division and stretching, forming new roots.

rest period

In September, the plant begins to prepare for hibernation. By this time, reduce watering and stop fertilizing. The tubers are removed, cleaned from the ground and checked for fungal attack. After processing, store in vermiculite or moss at normal room temperature until the first sprouts appear.

Use in landscape design

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

Decorative caladium is a gem of a home garden. A tropical plant, under favorable conditions, forms a sprawling bush with beautiful bright leaves. Attracts with a unique pattern on the sheet plate and a variety of colors. It is considered a capricious culture and, before the creation of hybrid forms, was grown exclusively in botanical gardens.

Photo gallery

plant description

Caladium belongs to the Aroid family, lives in tropical and subtropical zones of South America, mainly in Brazil. For the first time this plant came to Europe in 1800 thanks to the French botanist Pierre Ventane.

Caladium literally translates from the dialect of the natives as "a plant that has edible roots." For the amazing beauty of the leaves, it is called "angel wings", "elephant ears" and "heart of Jesus".

It is a herbaceous perennial plant. In its natural environment, it reaches 5 meters in height, and its arrow-shaped leaves during rain can replace an umbrella for local residents. The life cycle of the Caladium is clearly divided into periods of dormancy and active growth. In March, young growth is formed, which begins to dry out at the end of summer.

Often, an inexperienced grower fails to bring him out of hibernation, and they refuse to grow him.

In some countries, certain types of caladium are used as a vegetable crop, as the tubers contain a lot of starch. In indoor hybrid plants, the juice is poisonous - if it gets on the skin and mucous membranes, a burn is possible. Therefore, it should be located in places inaccessible to children and animals. All care procedures are recommended to be carried out with rubber gloves.

Coleus is similar in shape and color to the caladium leaf. By beauty and color scheme, you can find a certain similarity with decorative begonia. His "elephant burdocks" also resemble a syngonium. However, the conditions of detention and the size of cultures are fundamentally different.

The basis of the plant is a tuber, it has a rough surface and a rounded shape. It grows about 7-12 cm in diameter. A fibrous rhizome is formed from it, on which buds are formed.

Like all representatives of the Aroids, the inflorescence looks like an ear surrounded by a veil and does not differ in beauty. Small white buds appear on the peduncle in early spring, after the first leaves have formed. Flowering continues for several days, the aroma is absent.

Leaves are valuable for florists:

• size reaches 30 cm long and 15-17 wide;
• located on small cuttings;
• grow in the form of a rosette directly from the tuber;
• the shape of the leaf plate resembles a heart;
• on the surface are drawings of various shapes, colors and sizes.

The lifespan of greenery reaches 5-6 months, and in early autumn they wither and a long dormant period begins for the plant.

Signs and superstitions

“Paints are the smiles of nature,” said the popular 19th-century writer James Hunt. A person surrounds himself with those colors and colors that help to achieve harmony and peace of mind. Green leaves with a bright red caladium pattern inspire, give self-confidence. Indoor plants are a symbol of life, they humidify the air and saturate it with special energy and oxygen.

Caladium has no negative superstitions associated with it, and is not considered an energy vampire. The only danger is the toxicity of its juice.

Plants, according to the Taoist teachings of Feng Shui, must be placed strictly in the southern parts of the rooms, ideally it would be in the kitchen or living room. At the same time, it is necessary to put the pots at a distance from the person.

For lovers of compositions in the form of bonsai, the caladium will not fit unambiguously, since its aesthetic qualities lie in a lush bush. And also biological properties (lack of a stem) will not allow creating such a form.

Home care

During the growing season, the optimum temperature for the plant is 22-25°C. And during the rest period, the thermometer mark should not fall below 16 ° C. Caladium is able to grow in the shade, but in this case, the bright shade of the leaves will disappear. Intense diffused sunlight will allow the flower to show all the beauty of variegated foliage.

It is best for him to have window sills oriented to the north, northeast and northwest. In summer, it is allowed to take the pot outside, but it must be placed in partial shade, where there are no drafts.

A tropical guest needs to create a similar microclimate. Humidity for caladium should be at the level of 70%. This can be achieved by placing a pallet with wet expanded clay or moss under the pot.

You can’t spray it - drops of water will lead to the appearance of brown spots, you can spray moisture into the air near the flower.

The peculiarity of the plant is the need to prepare it for a dormant period and special care in winter:

Periodically, it is necessary to inspect the tubers for the presence of rot. In case of detection of affected areas, they must be cut off, and the cut should be treated with powder fungicides.

If the tubers are not dug up for the winter, then in the spring a complete replacement of the soil mixture is necessary.

The splendor of the bush can be increased if, before awakening, the largest apical bud is cut out - this way more leaves form in the caladium.

It is better to acquire a “sleeping” tuber at the end of winter, before it wakes up. It is advisable to purchase in specialized stores or greenhouses. The cost of a tuber depends on the variety and size (starting from 50 rubles apiece). A seedling can be purchased for 300 rubles, and a beautiful large bush will cost from 800 rubles. You need to pay attention to the leaves - they should be bright, juicy and shiny.

Tubers at least 5 cm in diameter must be cleaned of dry roots and carefully examined for decay. If an already planted plant was purchased, then it is transplanted for the next season. Transshipment is necessary if roots are visible from the drainage holes. The pot must be chosen 2 times larger in volume than the tubers.

Soil selection

The substrate for caladium needs to be light, with good oxygen access to the roots. Suitable ready-made soils for dieffenbachia and spathiphyllums. The optimal level of acidity is about 6 pH. You can make a soil mixture at home from the following components (in a ratio of 1: 1: 1: 0.5):

• peat;
• leaf land;
• humus;
• sand.

To prevent rot, the bottom of the pot must be drained 1/4 of the volume. Expanded clay can be used for this.

Treating the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate or copper sulfate will help get rid of pests before planting.

flower transplant

Caladium requires an annual transplant in March or early April. Tubers should be planted in 1 large or several small ones. The container is chosen so that about 4 cm remains from the roots to the wall of the pot. There should be room for growth between the bulbs. It is necessary to plant in this order:

1. Drainage.
2. substrate layer.
3. Tubers with eyes up.
4. Priming.

In hybrid caladiums, it is difficult to recognize the top of a "sleeping" tuber. You can determine it by putting the tuber on the calcined sand, without falling asleep from above. Spray the surface with warm water several times a day. After a few days, the buds will swell.

And you can put the tuber on the ground and cover with a glass jar or film. The first shoots are formed in a few weeks. Then you can plant the plant in a container.

After the appearance of the first shoots, a little substrate should be added to the pot, thus deepening the tuber. The depth of planting affects the decorativeness of the plant. On average, it should be equal to the size of the bulb. A shallowly planted caladium forms many children during the growing season, but this is reflected in the size of the leaves and the number of shoots.

The planted tuber should be sprayed and kept at a temperature of at least 25 ° C. Caladium should be watered only after the first sprouts appear.

reproduction

Caladium grown from seeds often does not retain varietal characteristics. They are tied at a flowering plant without artificial pollination, but quickly lose their germination capacity, sowing for the next season is allowed. The procedure is carried out in this order:

The first shoots appear 15-20 days after planting. After the formation of the first 2 sheets, the seedlings must be dived and planted. Re-transplantation is needed in late spring. By autumn, small tubers are formed, from which a formed plant grows the next season.

The easiest way to propagate caladium tubers. This should be done in February-March. There are several ways to divide:

• the mother tuber must be divided into parts so that two buds are preserved on each part;
• children - separated and grown as a separate plant.

The instrument for separation must be sharp and sterile. The cut must be treated with charcoal so that there is no decay. For the germination of tubers, a soil mixture of sand and peat is suitable.

Fertilization

It is necessary to start feeding the caladium in June, after the shoots stop growing. The plant needs balanced chemical fertilizers, which should include phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen in equal parts. Organic fertilizers include manure, manure, compost, humus (containing nitrogen), and wood ash is rich in potassium and calcium.

It is recommended to use universal mixtures for decorative foliage plants (such as Bona Forte, Agricola Aqua are suitable). It is necessary to dilute in accordance with the instructions, a lower concentration is allowed. Nutrients must be applied alternately once a week throughout the growing season. Starting from August and until the next season, it is not required to feed the flower.

Excess nitrogen leads to a change in color - green will prevail over the red tint.

Watering

Tropical flower loves regular watering. It is recommended to carry it out in small quantities, avoiding stagnant water. The need for irrigation can be determined by the drying of the top layer of the earth. Abundant watering begins after the emergence of shoots and is reduced in August. During hibernation, spraying is necessary so that the tubers do not dry out.

Water is needed soft, its temperature should be slightly higher than the environment.

Growing problems

Common diseases among caladiums are Fusarium and wet bacterial rot. They attack the root system. You can save the flower with the help of fungicides and transplanting into a new soil. Damaged roots must be removed, and the cuts should be sprinkled with charcoal.

Another disease that a tropical flower is susceptible to is phytophthora. You can diagnose it by yellow leaves. Fungicide treatment is also used for control.

Despite resistance to insect pests, with a disturbed care regimen, the plant is affected by spider mites. It appears in dry air and is determined by the presence of cobwebs. There are also pests such as aphids and mealybugs. You can see them with the naked eye. Damaged leaves should be cut off and treated with soapy water and insecticides.

The most common mistake of flower growers is excessive wetting of the substrate in the first months after planting, as a result of which the roots rot. This can also be determined by white spots. And if the edges of the angel leaves dry, then you need to adjust the amount of fertilizer or move the pot to a darker place.

Leaf discoloration indicates a lack of light. Brown edges indicate a low room temperature. Brown, withering and curling leaves - it is necessary to increase the humidity of the air and protect it from drafts.

The best prevention of diseases and pests is the correct watering regime, the necessary illumination and storage of tubers in winter.

Types of Caladium with photos and names

The Caladium genus includes 15 main species, on the basis of which many varieties have been bred by breeders. They are different in size and color. Popular are:

1. Humboldt (caladium-humboldtii). It consists of a rosette of arrow-shaped leaves up to 10 cm long and about 5 cm wide. On a dark green surface, the leaves have silver spots in the center. The miniature cultivar Myriostigma has white flecks on the surface.
2. Schomburg (Caladium shomburgkii). It is distinguished by oval heart-shaped burdocks, which grow up to 15 cm in length and up to 10 in width. The leaves, depending on the cultivar, may be green (Venosum cultivar) or red (Erythraeum cultivar) with a silver or yellow veined pattern.
3. Bicolor (Caladium bicolor). The leaf plate reaches 30 cm in length. The Rosalie variety attracts with a bright green border on a red background. The Florida Cardinal hybrid has glossy crimson leaves with a bright green streak along the edge. White Christmas is unique with a silvery surface with dark green stripes along the veins and spots.

In nature, it is a herbaceous plant resembling a liana. Under natural conditions, it reaches up to 5 meters in height, and the leaves are such that a person can hide under them during rain. Under natural conditions, caladium grows as an undergrowth in tropical forests.

The name translates as "a plant with edible roots" is not accidental. One species, called Caladium esculentum, is grown in the tropics of South America, harvesting regularly from starch-rich rhizomes.

Leaves caladiums have an original shape, for which they are popularly called "Elephant Ears", "Angel Wings", "Christ's Heart". Patterns on sheet plates have a variety of patterns, and the range of colors does not contain only blue and blue shades.

Most often, the color is white, red, green, yellow, purple. Perhaps the presence of multi-colored spots.

Liana-like plant does not have a stem and creates a basal growth of leaflets, developing into dense rosettes, reaching a diameter of up to half a meter.

Caladium is a perennial tuberous a plant, at the base of the root system there is a flattened rough tuber, resembling a dark brown cone at the beginning, and then grows into a turnip with a diameter of no more than 10 centimeters. In the center of the tuber, a strong base of the bush is visible, and on the sides there are dormant buds. Fibrous and strong roots grow from the root collar.

When three or four leaves appear, you can expect flowering. It is an ear-shaped inflorescence containing male and female flowers wrapped in a pointed white or green veil, observed for up to several days. After pollination, after 2 months, round reddish berries ripen.

Caladium is a poisonous plant, its juice is dangerous if it enters the esophagus and upon direct contact, it can cause allergies. Garden work on the care and planting of Caladium should be done with gloves. It is necessary to exclude possible contact of children with this plant, and also not to place it in children's rooms.

There are 15 known types of caladium, consider the popular ones.

This is the ancestor of potted hybrids with a characteristic dark green leaf color with silver stripes tapering to the edge. The arrow-shaped leaves are up to 10 centimeters long and up to 5 centimeters wide. Flowers that open in spring, resembling candles, have no decorative value.

This variety of caladium is distinguished by oval leaf surfaces up to 15 centimeters long and a variety of colors. A reddish-silver leaf pattern with green veins is common.

This species has arrow-shaped leaves, reaching a length of up to 30 centimeters. Drawing in the form of a red spot on a green background. Various color options available.

Favorite Caladium hybrids by gardeners:

Rosalie- the plant is distinguished by reddish leaves with a green border.

pink beauty- a variety with red veins of the leaf surface, pink in the center with a green border.

Florida Cardinal- leaves with a raspberry center and a green border.

Home Care

Hybrid varieties of caladium grown by flower growers do not enjoy their sympathy, despite their original appearance. The reason is a six-month dormant period that occurs in the fall.

Watering

The growth period begins in late March or early April, when the caladium is brought into the light and provided with abundant moisture at a temperature of +22 to +27 degrees Celsius. The frequency of watering is approximately 1 time per week. Excess water from the pan must be removed.

In summer, the plant needs 0.5 liters of moisture per day, divided into morning and evening intake. The water temperature should not be lower than +22 degrees Celsius.

It is desirable to water carefully, when drops of moisture get on the leaves, dark spots appear. Systematic removal of dust from the leaf surface is required.

Humidity

A tropical guest is kept at a humidity of about 70%. To do this, you can install a jar of water nearby, or place a flower pot on wet pebbles in a pan, and cover the surface of the earth with moss. You can also humidify the air with a household humidifier or steam generator.

top dressing

Top dressing is introduced from the end of May, only 2-3 times for the entire season. For this, a special liquid mineral fertilizer is used.

Leaves are falling

In September, when the leaves turn yellow and fall off, the plant goes to sleep. Flower pots are cleaned in a dark place until spring. The minimum temperature during this period is about +20 degrees Celsius.

During hibernation, care for the plant continues. A few tablespoons of water is enough to keep the soil from drying out.

If rotting is detected, it is necessary to cut out sore spots with a sterile knife and process the sections with crushed coal.

Illumination and air temperature

When grown at home Caladium is preferably placed in partial shade, with northern or western window illumination, excluding direct sunlight and drafts.

A guest from the tropics prefers an air temperature of at least 22 degrees Celsius and a humidity of about 70 percent. During the growth period, it is necessary to water abundantly and spray around the flower, avoiding direct moisture on the leaf surface.

The soil

For growing at home, use ready-made soil for Aroids. But you can prepare the substrate yourself, using a mixture of one part of peat, one part of leafy soil, one part of compost and half of the sand.

Feature of flowering: in room conditions, the caladium blooms and bears fruit extremely rarely.

Growing in the garden

When growing caladium in the garden it is planted in places of scattered sunlight. This corresponds to the conditions of natural growth of vines in the shade of other plants. In summer, abundant soil moisture is comfortable.

The soil for growing caladium is made from a mixture of compost, leafy soil, turf and sand with the addition of peat.

In late autumn, tubers are dug out of the ground, cleaned of old roots and placed in a box with sawdust, sphagnum moss or vermiculite.

reproduction

Caladium can reproduce vegetatively and seeds.

Vegetatively

For vegetative reproduction, daughter tubers are used or a large tuber is divided into several parts, each of them requires the presence of at least one kidney. It is important to sprinkle the cut surfaces with charcoal powder and dry them in the air.

seeds

reproduction seeds produced to obtain new hybrid varieties. Therefore, they are used from specialized stores. Growing caladium from your own seeds does not make sense, since this method does not preserve varietal characteristics.

Sowing seeds is carried out in a mixture of sand and hardwood, moistened at a constant temperature of +30 degrees Celsius under a film or glass. After 3 weeks, you can observe the spitting of the sprouts, and after a month they must be planted in separate containers. By autumn, full-fledged tubers are already growing.

Diseases and pests

A common disease of Caladium is root rot from overwatering. Fusarium and wet rot often appear on the roots during the first month after planting, when the first leaves have not yet grown.

If after 1.5 months the caladium has not acquired leaves, it is necessary to check the root for rot. Using a sterile knife, cut off the damaged parts and sprinkle the sections with powdered fungicides.

Caladium can become a victim of an attack by aphids, mealybugs, spider mites. Upon detection pests the plant needs to be treated with insecticides.

What to do if mold appears?

mold on leaves appears due to waterlogging and drafts. To eliminate it, it is necessary to reduce humidity and remove the flower pot in a closed place without drafts.

What to do if the leaves turn yellow and others?

Appearance yellow leaves can be explained both by the unsatisfactory conditions of the plant, and its infection with phytophthora, which can be controlled with the help of fungicides.

swirling leaves indicate a lack of moisture in the soil and high air temperature. To cure the flower, spraying and increasing watering are used.

Brown edges of the leaf surface indicate the freezing of the plant.

and the need to move it to a warmer place.

leaf pallor and the loss of contrast of patterns occurs with a lack of sunlight. You can use special lamps or move the vine to a comfortable lighting zone.

Video review

Caladium requires attention all year round, but the efforts of caring gardeners a hundredfold pay off in the summer with a generous fireworks display of new unique patterns, magnificence of colors that delight the eyes of connoisseurs of exotic elegant diversity.

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Growth:

The genus Caladium comes from South America, where it grows in forest glades and along river banks.

Plant description:

Size and type of plant:

Caladium bicolor is a tuberous plant with heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves on long petioles that rise directly from the tubers. In the wild, Caladium grows up to 40–90 cm.

ON THE PICTURE: In cultivation, Caladium bicolor is grown for ornamental foliage.

Leaves:

The leaves are thin, their size varies, but usually the average length of the leaf is 30–38 cm, the petiole is about the same length. The color of the leaves is varied.

The leaves of Caladium Bicolor can be almost completely white with a slight tinge of green along the veins, and may be mottled, veined, spotted, or marbled in pink, red, or white and green.

flowers:

The flowers are white, small, inconspicuous, collected on the cob.

The plant is poisonous and should be kept away from pets and children. Contact of Caladium Juice with sensitive skin may cause irritation.

Agricultural technology:

Temperature:

During the growing season, the temperature should be at least +18–24°C. In the summer, you can take Caladium to fresh air, if necessary, bringing the pot into a warm room. When the nights get colder in autumn, the plant is brought indoors and kept in a sunny window until the leaves begin to wilt.

Lighting:

Caladium needs bright light, but should not be exposed to direct sunlight. When grown outdoors, the pot is placed in a shady place.

Watering:

Caladium is a tropical jungle plant and should be watered moderately during active growth, but the soil mixture should be completely saturated with moisture. As the leaves begin to dry and die off in early autumn, watering is reduced.

Air humidity:

The plant needs constant high humidity. To increase humidity, the pots are placed on trays of wet pebbles and the foliage is sprayed daily. In dry air, the leaves begin to shrivel within an hour or two.

Fertilizer:

During the period of active growth, the plant is fed every two weeks with a half dose of standard fertilizer.

Substrate:

To grow this species, use a mixture based on peat, and put shards from a clay pot or other drainage material on the bottom of the pot. Dormant tubers are transplanted into fresh soil in the spring. It is better to take a pot with a diameter of about 8 cm for small tubers and 13 cm for larger ones. The tubers are buried to a depth equal to their thickness, that is, tubers 2 cm thick are planted to a depth of about 2 cm. In order for Caladium bicolor to start growing again, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of at least + 21 ° C.

rest period:

Tubers need a rest period of at least five months, that is, from the beginning of autumn to the beginning of spring. At this time, they should be stored in pots in a dark place at a temperature of about + 15 ° C and watered very rarely, about once a month.

Diseases and pests:

Most problems (for example, premature wilting of leaves) are caused by non-compliance with the necessary conditions of maintenance: maintaining constant heat and high humidity.

Reproduction:

For propagation of Caladium in the spring, before growth resumes, small nodules are separated from the mother plant and planted in pots. From each such tuber a new plant is formed. Young tubers reach maturity in one or two years.