HOUSEPLANTS > CALADIUM
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CALADIUM GUIDES
Caladiums are commonly grown as ornamental plant , valuate for their bombastic arrow - shaped leave-taking which have varied formula on the leaves that come along in white , pink and reddened .
In the UK , caladiums are usually grown as houseplants or as stamp tubers in the garden through the summertime months .
They are extremely prized for their ornamental ingathering , both when grown indoors and when used outdoors in the garden .
Overview
PreferredFull Shade or Partial Shade
ExposureSheltered
Height0.5 – 1 1000
Spread0.1 – 0.5 M
PreferredLoam or sand
MoistureMoist but well - drained
pHAny
This genus of plant in the family Araceae are usually called ‘ Angel Wings ’ , ‘ Elephant Ears ’ and ‘ The Heart of Jesus ’ .
There are over 1,000 nominate cultivars of caladium , all of which come from the original plant.1Caladium ( Angel Wings , Caladium , Elephant ’s pinna ) . ( n.d . ) . North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox . Retrieved May 2 , 2023 , fromhttps://plants.ces.ncsu.edu/plants/caladium/
There are 19 metal money within the genus ( according to the Accepted Species listed by Kew ) and all of these are aboriginal to South and Central America – and naturalised elsewhere in tropic climes.2Caladium . ( n.d . ) . Kew Royal Botanic Gardens . Retrieved March 13 , 2023 , fromhttps://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:30005919-2
Caladiums have been in polish in Europe since the mid eighteenth century , though when grown here in the UK , they do not tend to develop to the same size as they do in the tropics.3Deng , Z. ( 2018 ) . Caladium . Springer EBooks , 273–299.https://doi.org/10.1007/978 - 3 - 319 - 90698 - 0_12
They usually grow to a maximum of around 60 cm high-pitched and wide , though there are also smaller dwarf cultivars which are now available .
Common Varieties
Some varieties of caladium to take grow in the UK are :
And some other popular varieties to explore :
Where To Grow Caladium
Caladium thrives in partial shade in the UK where it receive a maximum of 2 hr of direct sun , but most cultivars grow somewhat well in full shade .
They do considerably in moist and fat but well - drain soil when raise outside and will prize a sheltered internet site .
Caladium tubers can only be grown outdoors year - bout in very warm parts of the British Isles , with sheltered and quick micro - climates .
However , they can also be grown outdoors over the summer months in cool spot , as long as they are provided with appropriate growing conditions and lifted and stored before temperature are consistently below 10 ° C and sure as shooting before the first freeze .
Most UK gardeners will choose to grow caladiums in container , which can be kept indoors twelvemonth - circular or moved under top before freeze threatens .
If mature caladium indoors , you should plant in a peat - liberal multipurpose compost or DIY combining weight , with moderately good drainage but also reasonably good piddle retention .
The container should be at least 15 atomic number 96 deep , astray enough to oblige the tuber and grant for some root expansion .
It should be placed in a location which receives practiced light but is out of direct sunlight .
Planting Caladium
Caladium bulb should be started indoors or in a greenhouse in pots in the early spring , ordinarily around 4 - 6 week before all risk of Robert Frost has passed in your area .
The tubers should be planted so that the turn tip is approximately 5 cm below the open of the growing metier .
The compost should be water sparingly at first and kept at around 20 ° speed of light to encourage the tubers to rouse from their hibernating winter phase angle .
If you are planting caladium in a suitable spot outdoors , you should do so once any risk of frost has passed and out-of-door temperature are warm .
Dig holes between 5 - 8 curium deep and place a tuber in each one , cover them over with soil .
you’re able to also transfer indoor - grown caladium tuber to your garden at this time , take care to position the container in a suitable shaded spot .
Companion Planting
caladium can be susceptible to aphids and other sap suckers .
When arise them outdoors , it may be helpful to add fellow plants close by which will attract beneficial insects that can help keep down the population of aphids and other pestilence .
Angelica , dandelion , Tanacetum parthenium , Anethum graveolens and fennel are just a few example .
To create attractive decorative dodge , you might grow caladium alongside other partial tint fan which add further flowers or interesting foliage , likehydrangeas , hostas , begonia , hellebores , impatiens , genus Convallaria and lamiums .
Of course , combining various unlike caladiums in containers or in the dry land can also help oneself you to achieve an attractive display , since there are so many different variants in terms of color and size to choose from .
Caladium Plant Care
caladium command regular tearing over the summertime months when grown in container , but are unlikely to require additional water when grown in the ground unless there is a extended menses of drought .
When water container - grow plants , check that that you keep the soil moist , but take care not to overwater and ensure that the container and medium are grant the urine to enfeeble comparatively freely .
Curtail watering significantly as wintertime approaches and only water when the grow medium is dry over the frigid month .
Over the summertime months , it is also a good idea to mist caladium leave on a regular basis with calcium - destitute water system .
caladium like a humid environment and an indoor position can sometimes be rather dry .
Mulch around caladiums spring up alfresco with salutary quality compost or other constitutional affair to provide dull - loss fertility .
Plants grown in container will also profit from watering with a balanced constitutional liquid fertiliser once a month , which will serve to keep the plants well-chosen and healthy .
If you are grow caladium in container indoors , hold off until the leaves die back naturally .
When they do , plainly leave the caladium medulla oblongata in the container and store it for next season at temperatures between 13 - 16 ° C .
If produce out of doors in all but the warmest regions , bulbs should be lifted and brought indoors before the first rime .
These bulb should also be stored at between 13 - 16 ° C until they are planted again the following class .
Caladiums will more often than not need repot every 2 - 3 year , ideally in spring .
Caladium plant do want some careful care , specially when grown indoors , but if you may care for them successfully , they can be attractive plant to have around .
