Gardeners love growing caladiums because their leaves have interesting shapes varying from the heart to lance. Besides, the foliages look like a masterpiece highlighting a perfect combination of colors like pink, red, green, and white. During the day, the caladium plants stand out among others, livening up your winning tropical garden. Although they come with no blossom, their presence, be it under a tree or among shrubs, is meaningful.
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Which One is the Most Favored?
There is a vast variety of caladium plants in the world. Some of them include caladium fannie munson, caladium with white leaves and lush veins, and caladium Florida sweetheart. Out of those popular varieties, the pink symphony has been fancied in the last few decades. The plants are caladium perennials that stress the elegance of wide, pink foliages with fine, green veins. Ideally grown in a pot, this cute species is well under the direct sun.
Preparation before Growing Caladium Plants
Selecting caladium bulbs carefully is the early thing you need to do. Be sure to have a go with tubers of which size are around 2.5 inches regarding diameter. You have to understand that size matters. Larger indicates that the tubers are potential to have more points of growth, or called eyes. Every single eye is where the sprout starts to grow and develop. The healthy bulbs are normally rounded, bonny, and firm as well.
Before the main elements of the plant are cultivated, they are usually stored in a place with a temperature under 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The level of humidity of the bulbs’ surroundings is usually around 75 percent. To prevent the slow growth of the sprout, it’s vital that you store the bulbs in room temperature. Don’t let them exposed in a chilly condition.
It’s Time to Plant Caladium Flower
Some of you might wonder about when to plant caladium bulbs. Since it belongs to a tropical flower requiring full sunlight, hence ensure that you grow the tubers either in summer or spring. They are absolutely winter hardy. What happens if they’re planted in cold soil? The worst case is that not only can’t they develop but the roots are found to rot easily. The best temperature for the growth medium is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Shade and sun are the following considerations to think about. Depending on the zone you’re living, caladium flower necessitates different treatment. In the northern area, it can perform well in the sun as long as the plant gets adequate water. Meanwhile, it develops greatly in the southern zone relatively warmer, regardless of the shade – full or partial shade is fine.
Speaking of places to grow, caladium flower is convenient in numerous ways. Caladium in pots and planters is quite prevalent among garden flower enthusiasts. You can place them in relaxing areas of your home like patio and deck as a charming decoration. If you want to let them look different, you might have a try on a window box and hanging planter. Alternatively, if you want to grow the plants directly in the soil, try the mailbox garden.
Handy Tips on Growing Caladium Plants
When the tubers are ready to plant, immediately dig a hole in the ground reaching 3-inch depth. Then, let them sit in the hole and cover it with the soil. Although the plant is fine under the sun exposure, keep in mind that providing some shade during the sunny day is nothing yet important. In some cases, this decorative floral species requires cool temperature, and the right way to do that is by shadowing it with other plants.
To get the most of its fast growth letting the plants have great fertility, you might apply fertilizer. For the best option, you are free to add some organic compost. It’s quite easy to make the plant’s nourishment. You can benefit your kitchen scraps, mainly biodegradable ones, like the waste of fruit and vegetable. Start combining the scraps with the soil you dig then form a composting pile precisely on the ground.
De-Eyed Procedure to Produce More Bushes
If you wish for more bushes, have a try on the de-eyed procedure. With a sparing knife, you can start trimming the eye parts of the main sprout carefully. While taking this step, make sure that you don’t harm the surrounding tissue. Plant the de-eyed tuber in your lovely pot and wait for a couple of weeks. Some days later, the new sprouts start developing, and even they look denser than the ones that don’t get the de-eyed treatment.
How to Care Palladium Plants
When it comes to palladium plant care, there are two essential factors you can’t take lightly – feeding and moisture level. Like the rests of garden plants, caladium is in need of adequate watering. When the sunny summer comes, it’s vital that you water the colorful species on a daily basis. Besides, you can’t let them exposed in a drier condition. Consequently, maintaining the moist, with the standard level of wet is highly essential.
In addition to the basic palladium care, the daily checking on the pot or planter should be performed. Make sure everything is all right and balance. Don’t water the plant too much. As long as the soil is slightly wet, palladium plants can enjoy their life well. How about the light requirement? As previously clarified, the best illumination for this is the one called filtered sunlight.
To support the maximum growth of palladium plants (other than adding the organic compost), you can feed them with Osmocote fertilizer. This nourishment is comprised of a multiplicity of nutrients needed by palladium such as nitrogen, potassium, and not to mention the phosphorous compounds. Besides, you can use the liquid feed for additional food. In a few words, caladium plants are a type of tropical perennial that doesn’t require complicated care. The plants with bright, colorful leaves can be grown in multifarious places from pot to open garden. With regular watering and feeding, they can thrive well at your green space.
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