Caladium Red Ruffles

He's our favourite at What The Flower!

Foliage with incredible colours and veins, almost magical transparency...

The Caladium seems unreal!

It originates from the tropical zones of Brazil and is part of the great Araceae family. There are about fifteen different species and hundreds of hybrids, so there is something for everyone.

The caladium is recognisable by its very colourful foliage, which depending on the species, can have very pronounced veins, brightly coloured spots, very contrasting borders, or even a solid colour.

The shape of the leaf is sagittate, giving it a vague resemblance to the leaf of its cousin the Alocasia. On the other hand, its leaf is very thin and lets the light pass through beautifully. The leaves of the caladium are mounted on long stems, it can measure up to 90 cm high, its leaf can be up to 40 cm long.

Where to install it?

Light, heat and humidity are the three secrets to good germination. You should therefore find a bright spot without direct sunlight that could burn its foliage and avoid draughts. The more light it gets, the brighter its colours will be!

Substrate

A mixture, half special house plant potting soil, half heather soil with a good handful of perlite, will suit him perfectly. Adapt the pot size to the size of the tuber.

Maintenance

Water your Caladium generously, but always allow the substrate to rest and dry slightly between waterings: it should be kept slightly damp, but never soggy. If you place cups under your pots, be very careful not to leave any standing water. During the vegetative period, you can add special indoor plant liquid fertiliser, diluted in the watering water, to your watering water.

Be careful not to let the fertiliser come into contact with the leaf to avoid possible burns and make sure to respect the dosage indicated on your instructions: an excess of fertiliser could be fatal for your plant.

Wintering

At the end of autumn, the foliage of the Caladium wilts. It takes a short break until spring, when the temperatures are more suitable for it to flourish. So, when the leaves slowly begin to wilt and to see this beautiful foliage appear again the following year, gradually reduce the watering in late autumn.

Once the foliage has completely wilted, cut down the last stems and store the pot in a cool place (between 15 and 18 degrees Celsius) and away from the light. At the beginning of spring, all that remains is to remove the pot and gradually resume watering.

You can also dig up the bulb and store it in a bed of shavings or perlite in a cool, dark place.