Caladium (Angel Wings) - Care tips

Caladium (Angel Wings)

The Caladium or also called Caladium Bicolour is a plant that is tropical and she has here roots in Central America and the northern parts of South America. She can grow very tall and wide and it is even possible that she grows flowers shaped like Calla Lilies. This is a shade-loving plant and therefore ideal for shaded gardens, balconies and inside your home.

Her huge, heart-shaped leaves have given the Caladium many nicknames, such as ’Elephant’s Ear’, ‘Heart of Jesus’ and ‘Angel Wings’. The leaves are a kind of fragile so you need to protect her from the wind and direct sunlight. Caladiums are grown from tubers. This means that the Caladium and winter don’t go well together, way too cold if you ask her. In autumn, she will drop her leaves and this way she prepares herself for a long, deep winter sleep. Stop watering her when she goes into hibernation. Just keep the Caladium bulb in the pot, but store it in a dry place at about 12 °C. When she wakes up from hibernation in spring, treat her to some fresh potting soil and move her back to a warm spot where humidity is high. You’ll see that she quickly starts growing new leaves again. With your good care, you can transform her from bulb to beauty every spring for years and years!

Caladium Plant Care Tips

With excellent tolerance to lower light levels, they make a fabulous houseplant! They will appreciate the consistent warm atmosphere or your home and this way she can be encouraged to stay in leaf for far longer than those grown outdoors.

Light and placement for Caladiums

Caladiums are strong, but don’t be fooled. Her beautiful leaves may burn when placed in direct sunlight. So put your beauty in a place with indirect light. She also likes a place that is humid enough, so we advise you to spray your Caladium regularly to prevent her leaves to turn brown on the edges.

Water

The Caladium has clear wishes when it comes to watering. She likes her soil to be slightly moist. She will quickly hang, when she gets too little water. This is why we recommend to water her twice a week in the summer months and once a week in the other months. Just stay careful and do not give her too much water, in which case the tuber or the roots of the tuber will rot.

Nutrition

We recommend to give your Caladium some extra love by giving good plant food every two or three weeks during summer. In winter, she will go through a dormancy period and does not crave any plant nutrition.

Propagating Caladiums

Do you love your Caladium and would you like more of them? That is possible! You can propagate a Caladium by dividing the tuber in spring, just before potting them up. Cut the tuber into pieces and let the cuts dry for a few days. This so the plant can callous over before planting. Then put the dried cut in soil a let’s hope a new Caladium will grow!

Most common pest on Caladiums

Caladiums are not typically troubled by insects but the most common pests on Caladiums are insects such as aphids, mealybugs, trips and whiteflies. These insects pierce plants and feed on cell sap. Damage includes stippling, yellowed leaf sections and dead patches on leaves.

If pests are found, treat the plant immediately to remove the insects and prevent extensive damage. Not sure which pest is teasing you plant and know how to treat the plant? Our PLNTSdoctor knows what to do!

Are Caladiums poisonous for you pets or children?

Please be careful with your beloved pets and children, because unfortunately the Caladium is toxic for them. So keep your plants out of reach from your children and furry friends. We don’t want you being a plant parent is a problem for the rest of your loved ones.

Caladium plant for sale

At PLNTS.com you can buy different types of Caladium plants and tubers, like the Caladium Tie-dyed Tree Frog and the Caladium Red Bellied Tree Frog. With so many varieties to choose from, there really is a Caladium for everyone!

Whether you like your Caladiums big from the start or prefer to grow them from tiny BabyPLNTS into full-grown PLNTS - we’ve got you covered!