Caladium / Angel Wings
Caladium bicolor
description
Caladium is a tropical tuber grown for thin heart-shaped leaves patterned in vivid colours.
benefits
- Flowering
- Suitable for containers
warnings
- Toxic to cats
- Toxic to dogs
How to care for Caladium
sunlight
Caladium grows beneath tropical forest canopies, where light is bright but softened by leaves overhead. Give it a bright spot indoors with filtered light to keep its colourful leaves vivid.
Bright indirect light
Place near an east window, or a little back from a south or west window behind a sheer curtain. Gentle early-morning sun is usually fine, but hot direct sun can scorch the thin leaves. Pale leaves or fading colour often mean it needs brighter filtered light.
watering
Keep the soil lightly moist while Caladium is growing leaves, but never leave its tuber sitting in wet compost.
Active growth
Water thoroughly about every 4-7 days in warm, bright conditions. Check first: water when the top 2-3 cm of soil feels dry and the pot is noticeably lighter, while the soil below is still slightly moist.
Low light or dormancy
As leaves yellow and die back, reduce watering sharply. If the tuber stays potted and warm, give only a small drink roughly every 3-4 weeks after the soil has dried almost completely. Keep a stored dormant tuber dry.
humidity
Preferred humidity
Caladium comes from warm, humid tropical forests, so it looks best with moderate to high humidity. It can manage around 40% indoors, but dry air often causes crisp brown leaf edges or leaves that struggle to unfurl.
How to increase humidity
- Group it with other plants to create a slightly more humid pocket of air.
- Keep it away from radiators, air conditioning, and cold drafts.
- Use a humidifier during dry heated months, especially if leaf edges begin to brown.
temperature
Preferred temperature
Winter minimum
Caladium comes from warm tropical conditions and dislikes chilling. Keep it in steady warmth while it is growing, away from cool windows, air conditioning, and doors. Growth slows as temperatures fall, and the foliage may die back for dormancy.
nutrition
April - August
Feed every 2-4 weeks while new leaves are actively growing, using a balanced liquid houseplant fertilizer at about half strength. Stop feeding when growth slows and the leaves begin to die back for dormancy.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen supports Caladium's large, colourful leaves. A balanced fertilizer provides enough without pushing soft, weak growth.
soil
Loose, rich, moisture-retentive soil
Caladium tubers grow best in an airy mix that holds some moisture without staying soggy. Combine potting soil with compost or coco coir and perlite or fine bark to keep roots supplied with air and prevent rot.
pH 5,5 - 6,5
This is slightly acidic soil, which suits caladium well. Most quality houseplant mixes fall close to this range; avoid adding lime unless you know your mix is very acidic.