Caladiums ( Caladiumspp . ) aretuberous tropic repeated plantsin the arum family that are aboriginal to Central and South America . These plants are grown for their variegate , heart - shaped leave that depart in colour depending on thespecies and cultivar . They may be grown in the ground or as houseplants .
Also lie with as angel fender , these foliage plants are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zona 9 to 10 . They may be rise in the ground and dug up in the wintertime in cooler climate or kept year round as houseplants .
Caladium Plant Care Outdoors
Caladiums are circularise by implant the tuber directly into the land . These plants are stemless , with leaves arise directly from the genus Tuber . Before planting , it is a ripe idea to remove the great key bud from the genus Tuber , which will increase foliage yield .
However , as tropical plants , caladiums need warm land . Therefore , you must waitress until after the last Robert Frost when soil temperatures have reach 70 ° F before you plant caladium genus Tuber in the ground . While caladiums outdoors need consistent wet , well - run out soil is essential .
A soil psychometric test is the respectable way to specify what kind of fertilizer you should apply to caladium plants grown in the ground . Alternatively , feed your caladiums every six hebdomad with a fertilizer with a 12 - 6 - 6 formula .
Tip
Caladiums are considered overweight feeders and require fertilization with a formula low-pitched in atomic number 15 to look their best .
- caladium rise best in full shade or fond tad . * * Too much verbatim sun can diminish the colors for which caladium leaves are prized and can also result in leaf singe .
Caladiums in Containers
When growing caladium in container , it is important to pick out a pot with drainage hole . Otherwise , the caladium genus Tuber may rot in overly moist dirt .
caladium grown in container should be fertilized fortnightly with a soluble liquid plant food . Avoid fertilizers high-pitched in phosphorus . Too much atomic number 7 should also be avoided , as it can move the coloration of the leaf .
Indoor caladium plants should be placed in a room with high humidity where they encounter collateral light . Like outdoor caladiums , indoor plant go through point of sleeping , during which you should subdue watering . you could resume watering when unexampled ontogeny appears in early spring .
Care of Caladium Tubers
Caladium tubers can be prod up in the fall and overwintered indoors to be plant again in the spring . New tubers are normally used , however , since the leafage tends to decline after the first growing season .
If you like to dig up and store genus Tuber , dig them up while the leaves still have some color . provide them to dry out for two weeks and then take away all foliage and soil and store the tuber in a dry sensitive , like vermiculite , peat mossor perlite .
If you are growing caladiums in containers outside , you may simply fetch the containers indoors without removing the Tuber from the soil .
memory board caladium genus Tuber in a wry medium at a temperature of 50 ° fluorine or high .
The tubers should be keep at a temperature of 50 ° F or above . Because they have a propensity to rot , a caladium genus Tuber should not touch other tubers or light bulb in storage .
