How to care for your Caladium
Use these instructions to care for a Caladium. This guide will tell you how to water a Caladium; its light, temperature, humidity preferences and any additional care it might need to help it grow.
Caladium
Your caladium will thrive best in bright to medium-bright indirect light. It can tolerate direct morning sun like in an eastern or northern window. Avoid areas in which it will be exposed to harsh afternoon sun.
Water your caladium when the top 25% of soil is dry. Water thoroughly, and be sure to empty the saucer of any excess water to prevent root rot. When the plant goes dormant in the winter, water very sparingly to allow the plant to rest. Begin watering again in the spring to “wake” the plant out of dormancy.
Your caladium prefers a humid environment. Mist the leaves regularly, place a humidifier nearby, or use a pebble tray to raise the humidity.
Your caladium prefers temperatures between 65-80°F. Avoid cold drafts and sudden temperature changes. Over winter, when the plant is naturally dormant, keep it in an area that stays above 60°F. In spring, very warm temperatures at 75°F or above are helpful to “wake up” your caladium more quickly.
For best results, use a liquid houseplant fertilizer diluted to half the recommended strength once a month during the spring and summer. Never apply fertilizer to dry soil; always make sure the soil is damp before feeding your plant. No fertilizer is needed in the fall and winter months.
Your caladium is considered to be toxic to pets and humans if ingested. Can cause mouth and stomach irritation.
Even indoors, your caladium will most likely go into a dormant stage after producing new leaves. This is the normal lifecycle of this tuberous plant. Cut back on watering when old leaves start to die back in the fall, and to encourage the plant to come out of dormancy in the spring, you’ll want to water, apply a weak fertilizer, and keep the caladium in a warm location. Prune off the old discoloring leaves as they appear.
