Caladium plant: Introduction

Caladium plants are popular ornamental plants that can add vibrant colors to indoor and outdoor spaces. Their distinctive arrow-shaped leaves and attractive appearance make them appealing to anyone. These plants are easy to grow and require minimal maintenance.

Caladium plants can thrive in both indoor and outdoor settings and can tolerate a wide range of lighting and temperature conditions. They belong to the Araceae family, which has eight subfamilies. Within the Araceae family, Caladium plants are classified under the Aroideae subfamily.

Overall, Caladium plants are a great choice for anyone looking to add some color and life to their indoor or outdoor space without having to put in too much effort to care for them.

Let us explore the various types of caladium plants and how to take care.

Classification

Kingdom – Plantae

Division – Magnoliophyta

Class – Liliopsida

Order – Alismatales

Family – Araceae

Genus – Caladium

Origin

Originated in the tropical or subtropical regions of Central America and South America.

Caladium plants botanical description

This plant is mainly having tubers, stalks, and showy leaves.

The main attractive feature of this plant is its large colorful showy heart-shaped or arrow-shaped leaves.

The variety of sizes, tints, and shapes of leaves in caladiums inspires the creative gardener to have unique colors in the shady landscape until winter.

Another botanical description of this plant is they are perennial herbs and are formed in clumps attaining a height of 0.8 m tall (2).

Classification of commercial caladium plants

1. Fancy leaf caladium plant

Heart-shaped leaves are arranged in the form of an inverted “Y”. They are keen height in length with an average leaf size of around 30 -40 cm in diameter.

2. Strap & Dwarf caladium plant

As the name suggests, these varieties of Caladium are short in height 6-12 inches and there is no distinctive stem, leaves arise from the bottom.

3. Lance leaved caladium

It is in the middle of both the fancy leaf and strap leaf caladium. Leaf blades are broad sagittate to cordate-lanceolate, with basal lobes not obvious or broadly separated by a sinus. Generally, strap or lance-leaved caladiums are much shorter in plant height, produce more leaves, are more sun tolerant, and produce smaller tubers than fancy-leaved plants.

How to take care of the Caladium plant?

1. Sunlight

caladium prefer filtered sunlight, direct sunlight is not good for the leaves as they become discolored or brown when exposed to direct sunlight. If you want to keep this plant under direct sunlight then prefer morning light for only 2-4 hours.

2. Soil

Well-drained soil having rich organic matter is good for this plant.

3. Moisture

The plant should be kept in slightly moist soil and mulching is very important for this plant as it helps in preserving the soil moisture and conserving the water content in the soil.

4. Propagation

Caladiums are tuber–rooted and can be easily propagated by transplanting a piece of the tuber with the eye.

5. Effect of pests

Caladiums are remarkably free from major insect or disease problems and thrive in hot, humid weather.

Regular digging in the winter or low-temperature season is very important for the proper tuber health of this plant. Otherwise, in deep shad and without any care these plants develop weak stems and tubers which are not good for propagation.

Caladium plants types

1. Rose Bud caladium

This beautiful variety of caladium is best known for its eye-catching pink center and bright green background.
These plants also grow well under partial sunlight.
Proper watering is required for this plant.
The height of this plant is up to 40 cm.

2. Torchy Caladium variety

These plants are 45-60 cm in height.
Prefer partial to full sunlight.
Regular watering is necessary for its healthy growth.
Prefrerabble grows well in containers.

3. Polka dot caladium

This variety of caladium is also having heart-shaped leaves.
Needs partial sunlight and also grows well under full shade.
Due to its white, pink, and red spot or blotches, it is widely used for landscaping.

4. Rose glow caladium

The average height of these plants is 30-60 cm.
This plant is known for its beautiful red colored heart-shaped leaves.
they survive and grow well under partial sunlight. Regular watering is important.
Also suitable for planting in pots and planters.

5. Heart delight caladium

This variety is having a pink strap in the middle.
Leaves tend to go to a fuller dark red center as they mature.
The leaf blade is green in color. It has light pink-colored veins.
height is about 40-60 cm.
Prefers full sun to full shade.

6. Caladium Tapestry

Grows well in large planting pots.
used for general landscaping.
Need partial and full shade to grow.

7. White Christmas caladium

This plant is about 30-40 cm in height.
It is having 6-7 leaves and a leaf length of about 22 cm. It is heart-shaped.
This plant also prefers full shade or filtered sunlight.
Like other caladium varieties, it is also used for landscaping (1).

8. Angel’s wing caladium

Arrow leaf and are herbaceous in appearance.
Used mainly for landscaping. Propagation is via rhizomes.
Partial shade-loving plant.
Regular watering is needed.
Is a slow-growing plant (2).

9. Caladium ‘Siam Moon’

It is a herbaceous plant with pink heart-shaped leaves.
The venation is black net-like.
Need a moderate amount of water and well-drained soil to grow.
it is a shade-loving plant (2).

10. Caladium steudneriifolium

The leaf is completely green and arrow shape.
It has a deep midrib.
It can tolerate the sun compared to other plants.
Height is about 60 cm.
Moderate but regular water (1).

Caladium plant care and propagation