Caladium Carolyn Whorton Care — Useful Info in a Nutshell

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The Caladium Carolyn Whorton is a treat for the eyes. The plant has heart-shaped leaves, green margins, and red veining. 

The plant has large leaves, and the beautiful pink color adds to its beauty. 

I am a big fan of the Caladium Carolyn Whorton as it’s an excellent choice for indoor plants.

The plant comes from the Caladium– Angel Wings family. Other plants within the family are also very pleasing to the eye. 

Caladium Carolyn Whorton belongs to the Bulb type and grows out of bulbs, which are a modified version of a plant stem. 

 

Caladium Carolyn Whorton Care

Caladium Carolyn Whorton loves to hide under a shade, so avoid direct sunlight. It is ideal to keep the soil hydrated and fertilized to provide the best conditions for plant growth. Maintain humidity between 50-70% and temperature between 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit  (21-27 degrees Celsius). 

 

Soil

If you have decided to grow a Caladium Carolyn Whorton in your house, you should know what soil it will like. 

The soil is the home of the plant, so make sure the plant is comfortable. Plant your Caladium plant under 2-3 cm of soil while keeping it well-drained. 

If placed under partial sun, ensure the tuber (a storage stem usually grows under the soil) is well-watered. Avoid using cold soil as it hinders the growth of this plant and can cause tuber rot. 

About soil type, you should try the loam soil type. Loam soil’s a mixture of clay, silt, and sand. 

This type is easy to work with, well-drained, and fertile. For soil PH, the plant can grow in all kinds of soil — neutral, alkaline, and acidic. 

 

Light

It’s fascinating to know that plants make their food from sunlight, but every plant isn’t the same. 

Caladium Carolyn Whorton plant likes to stay under a partial or complete shade.

Direct light can burn the leaves. So be very careful about the lighting in the house. 

You can grow the plant under the partial sun if you keep the soil wet. Generally, growing the plant under a shade is ideal.  

 

Watering

The Caladium Carolyn Whorton requires regular watering. Watering the plant is very important as the soil shouldn’t get dry. 

One thing to avoid is to submerge it in water as that’s not good for the plant. You can water it once a week to make the soil wet but not too much. 

You can keep a pot at the bottom of your planter so that it collects extra water. 

Do make sure to throw excess water away as it does affect your plant. To suck up extra water, you can place rocks at the pot’s bottom! 

 

Temperature and Humidity

The ideal temperature for the Caladium Carolyn Whorton is 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit  (21-27 degrees Celsius)

Temperature is a crucial factor when it comes to sustaining life. On earth, humans exist as the sun, and greenhouse gases regulate temperature. 

The same goes for plants! Plants need the right temperature to grow, make food and reproduce. 

Caladium Carolyn Whorton is a tropical plant. That is why it enjoys warm, humid, and moist conditions. 

To grow, they need a temperature of at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit or 21 degrees Centigrade. 

You can plant the tuber indoors in a warm room with a bright light to make sure it gets moist and humid conditions.

During winters, Caladium Carolyn Whorton requires extra care as the temperature and the humidity drops in this season. 

You can store the tubers in a warm, moist condition during the winter season to plant them next summer. 

If you can manage to maintain temperature indoors, you can save your entire plant in winters. 

It does take a bit of care against low temperatures, but the precious leaves are worth it in the end!

 

Humidity

Keep the humidity for the Caladium Carolyn Whorton between 50-70% for ideal growth.

Damp areas in the house such as a bathroom serve as an excellent location for this plant.

Fertilizer

Soil has its limits when it comes to promoting plant growth. If you keep planting in the same ground, it will lose its capacity to feed the plant over time. 

Thus, to ensure the soil is well-fed with nutrients, it’s essential to add the right fertilizer. 

For Caladium Carolyn Whorton, you can use an 8-8-8 fertilizer. An 8-8-8 fertilizer has 8% Nitrogen, 8% Phosphorus, and 8% potassium calculated by weight. 

The right amount matters, so you should add two tablespoons per square foot. The 8-8-8 fertilizer is inorganic, so add some organic waste as well.  

Adding a 2-3 inch layer of compost or pine mulch into the soil can be great. It will help improve drainage and soil aeration. About mulch, it’s nothing fancy!

Mulch is dead leaves, organic compost, or bark used to insulate or enrich the soil. Caladium plants feed on high amounts of potassium and phosphorus. 

When you plan to grow these tubers for the next season, add 1 tablespoon of fertilizer with a 5-10-10 NPK per foot can be a great idea!

Add the 5-10-10 fertilizer to the soil every 4-6 weeks during the growing season to help your plant thrive! After all, you are what you eat, and the same goes for plants. 

Make sure the fertilizer doesn’t touch the leaves as that can be dangerous to the delicate leaves. 

Another step to keep in mind is to water the plant after adding the fertilizer to prevent fertilizer burns.

 

Propagation

After understanding the plant needs and the conditions it requires, it is time for propagation. You will mostly get these plants in the form of dormant tubers or potted plants. 

Tubers are available in different sizes and have different prices based on size. 

For a more prominent display, you can get a large size tuber with more buds. Depending on your choice, buy tubers and take the following steps. 

1. Take the plant out of its pot while separating the soil from the plant’s roots.
2. With a sharp knife, cut the bigger bud to make sure it doesn’t hinder the growth of smaller buds.
3. Cut the old and long roots to get smaller even roots.
4. Transfer the plant to another pot and submerge the roots in the soil 2-3 inches deep.
5. Make sure the new soil has fertilizer added.
6. Keep the plant indoors till it grows for about 30-40 days.
7. Water the plant and keep it hydrated.

 

Growth

Starting from the very beginning, the plant’s bulb takes 2-12 weeks to germinate. About size, the Caladium Carolyn Whorton grows up to a height of 18-24 inches and a width of 8-12 inches. 

The leaves range in lengths of 12-30 inches or 31cm-76 cm. Like humans, plants also need the right conditions to grow well. 

If you provide moist soil and humid conditions, the plant will grow faster. Try to think of your plant as a pet. 

It grows better if you give it what it wants! About growth rate, the beginning phase is challenging, and it takes a lot of time to develop. 

I start in the spring, and the plant begins growing at the beginning of summer. 

The plant stays alive year-round if given the right conditions. If not cared for, the leaves die as winter approaches. 

As mentioned earlier, you can store bulbs and reuse them the following season. So no waste occurs, and old bulbs bring a new plant to life each season. 

A pretty easy-going plant, I would say!

 

Potting

If you start with caladium bulbs, take well-drained soil and plant the bulbs 1.5-2 inches in the soil. The bulbs take 2-3 weeks to show initial growth. 

Use 4-12-0 fertilizer to grow roots for your bulb. 4-12-0 is 4% Nitrogen, 12 phosphorus and 0% potassium. 

As you don’t have any foliage in the beginning, so potassium is not needed. About foliage, it’s the collective term for plant leaves. 

 

Different Methods of Propagation

I use two methods to propagate a caladium.

I either start from a plant that already has leaves or start from scratch, meaning from bulbs or a tuber. 

 

Starting from the Bulbs

1. To start from bulbs, cut each bulb a little bit to create a crater on each bulb. This is de-eyeing. It promotes better growth of the plant foliage. The dormant bulbs also start to emerge if you de-eye the bulbs in the tuber. 
2. Let the doe-eyed tuber rest and heal for 2-3 days. 
3. Plant the tuber 2 inches deep in well-drained soil. 
4. Water the plant and wait for 2-3 weeks to see initial growth.

 

Planting the Flowers

If you have a plant with a few leaves and you wish to transfer it, then follow the steps below:

1. Take a caladium plant and remove any previous soil from it. 
2. Do not damage the roots during this process.
3. Once that’s done, prepare new soil with fertilizer while ensuring it’s moist.
4. Add your roots to the new soil keeping the roots 2-3 inches deep.
5. Make sure no roots are above the soil.
6. Make sure the fertilizer doesn’t touch the leaves. 
7. Water the new soil till it’s wet and moist.
8. Do not submerge the plant in water.
9. Keep watering and avoid drying out the soil.
10. Keep the plant indoors if the outside is cold. 

 

Common Problems with Caladium Carolyn Whorton

 

Burnt Leaves

Direct sunlight and fertilizer exposure to leaves can cause them to burn.

Lack of water can also burn the leaves. Thus ensure your plant gets proper light and moisture. 

Avoid exposing leaves to the fertilizer. 

 

Tuber Rot

Bacteria and fungus can cause your poor tuber to rot. 

To avoid the plant from getting sick, buy healthy tubers. Give it the right food to grow, and you’ll grow a healthy plant. 

 

Spots on Leaves

If you see brown or light tan spots on lower leaves, it means an Anthracnose fungus has attacked it. 

Remove such leaves to save the plant. 

 

Tips to Keep Caladium Carolyn Whorton Problem-free

Plant owners can follow some important tips to prevent their Caladium Carolyn Whorton from common problems. 

These tips are given below: 

• Buy healthy tubers which are disease-free.
• Make sure the atmosphere is humid and moist.
• Do dry the soil out; keep watering it.
• De-eye the bulbs to get spectacular foliage.
• Avoid fertilizer from touching the leaves.
• Water the soil after you plant the tuber and after you add the fertilizer.
• Keep the plant under a shade.
• Under direct sunlight, keep the soil well wetted, so your plant can survive the high exposure.
• Protect the plant from direct sunlight for ideal results.
• Do not freeze the tuber while storing as it can rot.

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Caladium Carolyn Whorton.

 

How much sun exposure does Caladium Carolyn Whorton need?

Caladiums need shade against the direct sun as the leaves can get damaged. If you have planted a caladium outdoors, water the plant more to help it withstand direct light. Make sure to protect it from sunlight during the hottest part of the day. 

 

How do I plant a Caladium Carolyn Whorton?

You can plant a caladium tuber 2-3 inches in well-drained soil with fertilizer added. De-eye the bulbs for fuller foliage. 

 

What makes a caladium fade?

Caladium leaves fade and die if the soil lacks moisture and nourishment. Make sure to water the soil to keep the leaves from fading away. 

 

Can I overwater a caladium?

While these plants need water and moist conditions, do not submerge them in water. It can damage the plant. Use a pot below the planter to catch extra water.

 

Conclusion

The Caladium Carolyn Whorton is a beautiful plant. It showcases gorgeous patterns and colors. 

With nutrition-rich, moist soil, it can grow faster and maintain its leaves for long. 

Keep it under a shade and avoid direct sunlight. Never let the soil dry out and keep it well-watered. 

Keep the soil fertilized and keep a check on the temperature. While it must seem overwhelming at first, this plant isn’t high maintenance at all. 

I recommend you try planting one yourself with the above instructions. I’m certain that you’ll fall in love when you see the leaves bloom!