Origin. South America.

Description. The genus "Caladium" is very extensive; this plant has tubers from which heart-shaped, very thin leaves on long petioles appear. The length of the leaf plate can reach 30 - 40 cm. The shades of the leaves are very diverse - in all shades of green, white, red, crimson, pink and purple, with spots and stripes of all shapes and sizes. The veins can be highlighted in a brighter color. The flowering of this plant is short and is not of particular value, so it is recommended to remove the flower stalks so that the plant does not waste its energy on flowering.

Varieties:

two-color - Caladiumbicolor

Spectacular, evergreen, herbaceous plant height from 30 to 80 cm. Leaves are spear-shaped, on long, thin, glossy petioles. The shades of the leaf plates are very diverse and consist of all kinds of combinations of white, green, red and pink. During the flowering period, the plants form a small inflorescence - a cylindrical spike, surrounded by a waxy, thick, white or cream-colored blanket.

zamyefolia - Caladium zamiaefolium

Surprisingly, the first title Zamioculcas - Caladium zamifolia. Zamioculcas or dollar tree is a slow growing herbaceous perennial evergreen plant. The full name of the plant is Zamioculcas zamiaefolia, due to its resemblance to zamia. The stems are tall, powerful, dark green with many glossy, fleshy, elliptical leaves arranged oppositely or alternately in 2 rows. In fact, the division into leaves and stems is arbitrary - in fact, both stems and leaves are very large modified complex leaves. The leaves are up to 10 cm long and about 3 cm wide, arranged in opposite pairs. Often young leaves, with their powerful growth, literally push away old ones. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, collected in an inflorescence - a spadix surrounded by a spathe; flowering often goes unnoticed. Only old plants bloom; after flowering, they can shed their leaves. As a storage organ, the plant has small tubers in the root system, reminiscent of potatoes.

Height. Caladium can reach a height of 60 cm.

Caladium care

Caladium at home - temperature . During the growing season, caladium needs normal room temperature in the range of 20 - 24 ° C. During the dormant period, the temperature is reduced to 16 ° C.

Indoor caladium - lighting . A very brightly lit place, but without direct sunlight. In partial shade, the color of the leaves fades, but when grown in the sun, burns may appear on the leaves. During the dormant period, when the leaves die, caladium tubers are kept in the dark.

Care and cultivation . These beautiful plants They love warmth and long daylight hours. In the fall, the plant's leaves die off and it goes into a dormant state in winter, which can last up to 5 months. However, you can save caladium until next season. In the fall, reduce watering to dry the soil, remove dried leaves and place the pots with tubers in a cool, dark place with a temperature of about 16 ° C.

Substrate. Nutritious, loose soil. A mixture of leaf humus, peat and coarse river sand is suitable to improve drainage.

Top dressing. Every 2 weeks in spring and summer - during the growing season, with fertilizers with a high nitrogen content in half the concentration.

Purpose. A very valuable decorative foliage plant; a combination of several varieties in one pot looks great. Caladium's leaves are so showy that it is often grown alone. .

Caladium flowering time . The flowers are inconspicuous and appear at the end of summer.

Air humidity . High air humidity is required. Place the pot on a tray of damp pebbles or use a room humidifier. Spraying is not recommended. Does not like cold drafts, but it is worth providing for good air movement around the plant.

Soil moisture . Watering begins with the appearance of the first shoots in the spring. Caladium should be watered moderately; dry the soil before each watering. When the leaves begin to wilt, gradually reduce the frequency of watering. During the dormant period, the soil simply should not dry out completely.

Transfer. Sometimes caladiums are thrown away after the end of the growing season, since all aboveground part the plant dies and the plant enters a long period of dormancy. At this time, the tubers can be left in pots or removed and stored in dry peat until early spring. In spring, tubers are planted in pots so that the top layer of soil above them is the same thickness as the height of the tuber. Water the plant after planting, and place the pot in a warm place out of direct sunlight. Multi-colored leaves will appear within a few weeks.

It is difficult to imagine a more spectacular and diverse decorative foliage plant than caladium. This amazing representative of the flora flaunts on many windowsills.

And what are his poetic words worth? popular names- “Heart of Christ” and “Angel Wings”! Getting a caladium and taming it is not at all difficult - you just need to learn the intricacies of caring for it.

Spectacular caladium and its types

Caladium(Caladium) belongs to the family Araceae and is a genus of 16 species. These are tropical plants native to the forests of Central and South America.

Caladiums- These are tuberous perennials with bright and fairly large heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves.

The translation of the name of this representative of the flora reminds us that the natives consider it “a plant with an edible root.” And another popular name for the plant is “elephant ears.”

According to form caladium tuber resembles a dark brown cone, and with age, a turnip with a diameter of no more than 10 cm.

In the center of the tuber there is a powerful base of the bush, and on the sides there are dormant buds. The roots of caladium, growing from the root collar, are fibrous and strong.

The plant has no stems - its leaves are formed directly from the bud and grow on long petioles. Rosettes of leaves can form bushes with a diameter of up to 90 cm. At home, the height of a caladium bush can be from 30 cm to 1.5 m. On average, the plant lives in an apartment for 2 or 3 years.

Leaves by shape They look like an arrow, and their base is like a heart. The leaf blade, the length of which can range from 20 to 45 cm, is thin and leathery. Caladium leaves can have a wide variety of colors, and the veins on them are usually contrasting and clearly defined.

When 4 leaves appear on the plant, you can expect flowering. A modest inflorescence in the form of a white cob, covered with a white or green blanket, stays on the plant for several days. 2 months after pollination, round berries ripen on the caladium.

As a rule, in home floriculture you can only find hybrids of the main species, which are very interesting varieties. Species Caladiums are considered only as the original representatives of the genus, and they are interesting in their own way:

Caladium Humboldt(Caladium humboldtii), also called Caladium myriostigma(C. myriostigma) or Caladium argintes(C. Argyntes) is a native of Brazil with arrow-shaped leaves up to 10 cm long, characterized by a dark green surface with silver spots.

Caladium bicolor(Caladium bicolor), also called bicolor arum or Arum bicolor, is a species that came to us from the Antilles and from the mountainous regions of Brazil. It is interesting with arrow-shaped leaves up to 30 cm long, color that varies from green to red, and spots of various colors and shapes.

Caladium Schomburg(Caladium schomburgkii) is a plant native to Brazil and Guiana, distinguished by red oval leaves up to 15 cm long with silvery areas between the veins. There are variations with coloring and veining of various colors.

Most loved by flower growers hybrids caladium- This:

• Sea Gull- a variety with green leaves decorated with white veins.
• Rosalie- a plant with red leaves and a thin or wide green border.
• Pink Blush- caladium with dark pink or dark red leaves and a green rim.
• Pink Beauty- a variety with red veins, a pink central part and a green border.
• Carolyn Whorton- a plant similar to the previous variety, but there are slightly fewer green spots on its leaves, the pink tint predominates.
• John Pul- a plant with a red-green palette of leaves.
• Pink Cloud- caladium with red-green leaves, the color of which includes a transition from a red-scarlet center and white veins to a pinkish-green border.
• Florida Cardinal- a very impressive variety with a crimson leaf center and the same veins and a wide green edge.
• Scarlet Pimpernel- a plant with rich red veins and the center of the leaf, surrounded by a light green area.
• White Christmas- a magnificent caladium with dark green veins on a white leaf surface, decorated with or without dark green spots.

Features of caring for caladium

Experienced flower growers claim that caladium is not capricious, but it is not so simple either. Basic it requirements- this is timely watering, winter period rest and the correct diameter of the pot.

Selecting a location

The more bright colors Caladium leaves are colored, so more diffused light he needs. The plant does not tolerate direct sunlight, which can cause severe leaf burns.

Best place for “angel wings” - this is a window in the northeast or northwest. Throughout the year, caladium feels good at temperatures from +18 to +25 °C.

Watering and humidity

Beginning from spring to August, caladium will not refuse abundant watering as the top layer of the substrate dries out.

At first active growth he needs about a glass of water per week, and in the summer - already 0.5 liters of water per day, divided into morning and evening intake.

Overdrying unacceptable, as it leads to deterioration appearance plants. However, excess moisture is also dangerous - the caladium tuber easily rots. Water for irrigation requires soft and warm water.

In late August, watering begins little by little. shrink, which leads to drying and dying of leaves. The plant is preparing for a dormant period during which it does not need to be watered.

Caladium prefers air humidity about 70%. However, you should not spray it - this spoils the decorative appearance of the leaves. It is best to spray small splashes of water over the plant from a sprayer, place the pot with it on a tray with wet pebbles, and cover the surface of the ground with moss.

You can also grow caladium in a florarium or humidify the air using a household humidifier or steam generator.

Rest period

Absolutely any caladium needs six-month wintering. In mid-latitudes, the plant goes dormant in September or October. From this moment on, the caladium loses its leaves and “goes into hibernation.” The minimum temperature at this time is about +18 °C.

During the winter tubers may be in dry soil or placed in a box with sawdust, sphagnum moss or vermiculite. In the latter case, you must first clear them of soil and remove old roots.

When found rotting it is necessary to cut out the sore spots and treat the sections with crushed coal. In mid-January, a strong growth bud is formed, and in February the plant can already be planted in the ground.

Transfer

Caladium will be happy with anyone nutrient soil with a neutral pH, well permeable to air and water. If desired, you can create a special mixture for this plant from:

• 1 part leaf soil;
• 1 part humus soil;
• 1 part peat;
• 0.5 parts coarse sand.

The plant will also respond favorably to heather soil, pine bark mulch and greenhouse soil. Caladium is sometimes grown in peat.

In February or March After each dormant period, it is necessary to plant the plant tubers in fresh soil.

The container for planting must correspond to the size of the tuber: if its diameter is from 1 to 3 cm, a pot with a width of 9 to 12 cm is used, and if the tuber size is from 4 to 6 cm, from 17 to 19 cm.

Some small nodules can be planted in a single flowerpot that is free enough for their growth. The tuber should be planted with the pink bud facing up.

If desired get it by fall a large number of “babies” need to place the tuber shallowly, digging it into the ground.

If the goal is cultivation a beautiful and voluminous bush, the tuber is buried to a depth of 5 to 10 cm. This helps to awaken dormant buds and the appearance of many new leaves.

After landing and before the first leaves appear, watering should be minimal - only light moisture. Next, the plant is watered as usual.

Top dressing

During active growth, caladium will not give up weekly portions of complex mineral fertilizer. During wintering, the plant is not fertilized.

Reproduction

Caladium can multiply vegetatively and by seeds.

Vegetatively. For this, daughter tubers are used or the main tuber is divided into several parts containing at least one bud. It is very important to sprinkle the cuts with charcoal powder and air dry them a little. Then you need to plant the tubers in the ground according to the instructions above. Once pests are detected, the plant needs to be treated with insecticides.

Diseases

Main disease caladium is root rotting resulting from overwatering. The appearance of rot is most likely during the first month after planting the tuber, when the leaves have not yet grown.

If, 1 or 1.5 months after transplantation, the caladium still has not acquired leaves, you should dig up the tuber and check whether it has rotted.

Healthy tuber under the skin it is colored pale yellow.

Common problems

Caladium may exhibit atypical diseases if care rules are not followed.

• The leaves are rotting- drops of water getting on them.
• Caladium is withering away - low humidity air and drafts.
• Leaves fall in autumn- the plant is preparing for a period of dormancy.

As you can see, handsome caladium presents certain care requirements. However, you can find an approach to it - you just need to be patient and follow everything the necessary conditions. For all the work, the florist will be rewarded with fireworks bright leaves original coloring.

And for the most curious, we invite you to watch a video about caladium

Caladium (Caladium) is a showy herbaceous tuberous plant with beautifully colored large arrow-shaped leaves, which is why it is sometimes called “elephant ears”. Belongs to the Araceae family.

Caladium species naturally grow in forests, along the banks of rivers and reservoirs in the tropics of South America, most in Brazil.

In this article you can get acquainted with the types of caladium indoor plants, get recommendations for caring for the flower at home and see the photo of caladium below.

Types of caldium with photographs

View caladium humboldt(Caladium humboldtii) has smaller leaves, 7-10 cm long and 5 cm wide, dark green with numerous silver-green spots. The inflorescence is the same as that of the previous species, but much smaller in size.

Caladium Humboldt flowers appear in March-April. With additional lighting in the autumn-winter period and regular watering, the plant can retain its leaves all year round.

View Caladium Linden (Caladium lindenii) It is distinguished by oblong, pointed leaves up to 60 cm long and 20 cm wide. The photo of caladium shows that the white main veins stand out brightly against a dark green background. The petioles are green with purple stripes and reach a height of 60 cm.

Caladium bicolor

Caladium bicolor(Caladium bicolor) has a lot in culture hybrid forms, often appearing under the collective name Caladium bicolor hybridum. This is a plant with cone-shaped tubers up to 10-12 cm in diameter and arrow-shaped leaves on strong petioles. Leaves up to 30 cm long and 15-17 cm wide are of various colors - from green with white and red spots on the upper side of the blade to red with green edges and white with rare green pigmentation.

The flowers are small, collected in an inflorescence-cob. The spathe consists of a yellowish-green tube that tightly covers the cob and a whitish plate that dries quickly. Blooms in February-March.

Caladium care

Caladium is very sensitive to temperature and humidity. Prefers bright places, but protected from direct sun, does not tolerate drafts. In winter, a dormant period begins; the tubers are stored in the dark at a temperature of 12-15°C. In summer, a temperature of about 22-25°C is required.

During the growing season, water regularly. During the growth of new shoots, the air around the plant is irrigated several times a day; from August, watering is limited until the leaves dry out and fall off, after which the watering is stopped. When caring for caladium during the dormant period, the substrate is occasionally and slightly moistened, which avoids excessive drying out of the tubers.

Feed after the shoots appear and until August once a week, and apply fertilizers for decorative foliage plants.

In February, dried tubers are cleared of soil and planted in small pots with a diameter of 8-9 cm. When sprouts appear, caladiums are transplanted into large containers with a soil mixture consisting of turf soil, humus, peat and sand (1: 1: 1: 0.5) with the addition of sphagnum and bone meal.

After transplantation, until roots form, maintain the optimum soil and air temperature of 20-25°C, water very moderately and only slightly moisten the substrate. When planted shallowly, the tuber forms many children, which has a bad effect on the size and decorativeness of the leaves. However, this feature can be used to obtain large quantity nodules during reproduction.

Propagated by daughter tubers, division after a dormant period, less often by seeds. Tubers can be divided into several parts depending on the number and location of the formed buds. The cut areas are sprinkled with crushed charcoal and dried for several hours.

When the air in the rooms is dry, plants are affected by spider mites, aphids, mealybug.

Attention! The sap of all parts of the plant is poisonous and can cause allergies. It is not recommended to place caladiums in rooms where there are small children.

Caladium is a charming plant with decorative leaves. It belongs to the Araceae family and is common in tropical and subtropical rainforests of Latin America. For the amazing beauty of its leaves, caladium is called “angel wings”, “elephant ears” and “heart of Jesus”. Alas, the period of wakefulness and active growth is only a few months a year. If you provide the caladium with comfortable maintenance, it forms a spreading bush with leaves of amazing beauty.

Botanical characteristics

Caladium – herbaceous perennial with a tuberous root system. The rough, flattened tuber is 7-10 cm in diameter. Several growth points are visible on the upper part. A fibrous tissue develops from the bottom of the tuber root system.

The life cycle of caladium is divided into periods of rest and active growth. From the end of August, all its grassy growth begins to dry out. Only tubers are stored until March. At the beginning of spring, young shoots appear from the ground.

Caladium leaves on long, fleshy petioles grow directly from the tuber. IN natural environment The height of the bush can reach 5 m. Indoor plants are 40-90 cm in height. The arrow-shaped or heart-shaped leaf plate has a contrasting color. The leaf length is about 30 cm and the width is 15 cm. Since leaves are the main decoration, there are many types and varieties of plants with a wide variety of colors. The foliage can be crimson, silver, pink.

At the end of spring, after the first 4 leaves appear, an inflorescence begins to develop - an elongated ear of a light yellow hue. He is surrounded by a white and green blanket. Flowering is practically not accompanied by aroma and lasts only a few days. After pollination, dense, spherical berries ripen. IN room conditions Flowering and fruiting occur extremely rarely.

Types of Caladium

The Caladium genus includes 15 main species. Let's look at some of them.

It is this species and the varieties bred on its basis that are most often found in cultivation. The stemless plant consists of a rosette of arrow-shaped leaves up to 10 cm long and about 5 cm wide. The dark green leaf plate has large silvery spots in the center. The inflorescence blooms in April, but does not attract much attention.

Plants prefer humid Brazilian forests. The oval leaves grow up to 15 cm in length and up to 12 cm in width. On the front side, the leaf is painted in silvery-red shades with green veins. Decorative varieties:

• Venosum - on an oval green leaf, the border and central vein are highlighted in red, the lateral veins are outlined with yellowish stains;
• Erythraeum - on the dark red leaf blade there are silvery patterns along the veins.

Distributed in the Antilles. It is distinguished by arrow-shaped foliage up to 30 cm long. Its color is dominated by red, crimson, and light green colors. The cob appears at the end of February.

The culture is dominated not by caladium species, but hybrid varieties. Among them, the most attractive are the following:

• Rosalie - red leaves have a bright green border;
• Pink beauty - the center of the leaf is painted pink, there is a green border along the edge, and the veins are lined with a bright pink stripe;
• Florida Cardinal - shiny crimson leaves edged with a wide bright green stripe;
• White Christmas – on the silvery surface of the leaf there are dark green stripes along the veins and small dark green spots.

Growing

Caladium is propagated by vegetative and seed methods. The seeds quickly lose their viability, and it is almost impossible to obtain them at home. Seedlings do not inherit the varietal characteristics of the mother plant. Sowing is done in a container with soil for aroids. They are germinated at a temperature of +25...+30°C under film or glass, in conditions high humidity. Shoots appear within three weeks. They are regularly sprayed with warm purified water. Until autumn, seedlings form small nodules capable of overwintering independently.

Vegetative propagation is carried out by dividing or rooting daughter tubers. At the end of February, a large tuber with several buds is cut into pieces. Each division must contain at least two buds. The cut areas are dipped in crushed charcoal and dried for 24 hours. Later, the tuber is planted in specially prepared soil.

If during the season a baby is formed near the mother tuber, in the spring it can be planted in separate pot and grow as an independent plant.

It is possible to propagate caladium by petioles. To do this, the leaf with the petiole is cut off at the very base at the end of May. Root it in warm water. When a tiny semblance of a tuber forms at the end of the petiole, it is transplanted into peat soil. In autumn, the size of the tuber will reach 5-7 mm and the plant will go into a dormant state.

Caring for a plant at home

Caring for caladium at home is not very difficult. Alas, but the flower makes me happy beautiful foliage only a few months, but even after that during the rest period it also needs care.

In early spring, the tubers are replanted. The pot must match the size of the nodules. The smallest ones can be planted several in one pot, but you need to leave them space to grow. The pink dot on the tubers should be located on top. To get a large spreading bush, the nodules are planted to a depth of 5-10 cm.

It is best to take special soil mixtures for caladium. They are distinguished by their light structure and high water permeability. The acidity of the soil should be neutral. The composition usually includes humus and leaf soil, peat, river sand and a little charcoal.

Caladium needs intense but diffuse lighting. The more variegated the foliage, the more light is needed. Direct sunlight quickly causes burns. The result is ugly brown spots. It is best to place pots of caladium on east or west windows.

The optimal air temperature is +22…+27°C. Cold temperatures below +20°C are undesirable at any time, even during the rest period.

Caladium can adapt to normal indoor air humidity. He will respond gratefully to spraying. Lack of moisture leads to drying of leaves and reduced growth rate. If necessary, pallets with wet expanded clay are placed near the bushes.

Caladium loves regular watering, but in small portions so that the water does not stagnate in the soil. The top layer of soil should dry out between waterings. From August, when the leaves begin to die, watering is reduced and gradually stopped completely. During the dormant period, it is allowed to irrigate the soil with a few spoons of water. In the spring, with the appearance of sprouts, watering is increased, but very carefully.

They begin to fertilize caladium in June, when most of the leaves have already appeared. A solution of mineral fertilizing with a high content of phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium is poured into the ground weekly. Fertilizers are stopped in August.

Diseases and pests

During the dormant period, caladium tubers are susceptible to rot. If affected areas are detected, they are cut off to healthy tissue and treated with powder fungicides. Treating must be carried out annually during transplantation. Leaves may suffer from late blight. It is also treated with a fungicide.

Caladium can be affected by aphids, mealybugs and spider mite. If pests are detected, you should thoroughly wash the leaves under a warm shower and then treat them with an insecticide.

is the general name of tropical plants of the Araceae family, which includes about 15 species, each of which differs in the shape of the leaves, color scheme, sizes 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. I wonder what local residents this plant was used as vegetable crop and still in some countries caladium is 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 – perennial herbs with large, thin leaves similar in shape to the card suit “hearts”. 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. IN natural conditions 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 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 Pink colour, smoothly turning into green, the edge of the leaf blade is wavy

• 'Fannie Munson' - raspberry-pink leaves with darker colored veins
• "Florida Sunrise" - silver-green leaf blade elongated shape 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 sheet plates, leaf edge is 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 the usual, characteristic and other indoor plants, conditions. 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 overwintering 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 windowsill, 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 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, provided 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 most good time to buy caladium - 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, transplantation, reproduction.

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. A dish with a diameter of 15 cm can accommodate from three to five tubers. 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 there will be replanting under the trees 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

Caladium should be watered with settled water. room temperature strictly around the tuber. Top watering is unacceptable: water can get on the delicate 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 supplements. There is no need to feed the plant in winter.

As for the soil, it should be coarse, loose and nutritious with neutral acidity. From ready-made options Soil for roses or palm trees is good. 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. Possible reason the appearance of mold - 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 poor or the temperature environment 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 does not have enough contrast. 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 regime. 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 - rotting of the 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.