Caladium Hortulanum Care — Pro Grower Tips!

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Caladium Hortulanum is a stunning plant that is found in hardiness zones 9 and 10. 

If the area you live in has good climatic conditions for Caladium Hortulanum, then this plant can even be grown outdoors. 

This is a tropical plant and is part of a large family known for its stunning colorful foliage.

Caladium Hortulanum belongs to the Araceae family and is native to tropical forests located in Central America. 

 

Caladium Hortulanum Care

Caladium Hortulanum needs to be kept in an area where the surrounding temperature ranges from 70°F to 85°F (21°C to 29°C). It enjoys staying in places where humidity levels are high, ranging from 50 to 70%. Water this plant only when the soil’s top 2 inches (5 cm) have become dry. 

 

Soil

Caladium Hortulanum does not require much in terms of soil as they only need a well-draining soil mix. Adding organic compost and damp peat will further improve your plant’s growth. 

Also, ensure that the soil pH is well balanced. 

Having a soil pH ranging from 5 to 7 (acidic to neutral) is perfect for Caladium Hortulanum.

 

Water

Caladium Hortulanum must be provided with moist soil throughout its growth and especially during the growing season. 

In order to make sure your Caladium Hortulanum is watered well, water your plant when two inches from the top of the soil dries up.

If your Caladium Hortulanum is not provided with enough water, then the leaves of your plant can start to turn droopy or yellow. 

You must also make sure that the pots being used for your plant is has drainage holes. The addition of mulch in the soil can help with moisture retention.

 

Light

Your Caladium Hortulanum needs to be provided with four hours of filtered sunlight. This can be done by keeping your plant near the south, west, or east window.

Partial shade sunlight or full shade works well for this plant as too much of it scorches the plant’s leaves. 

Scorched leaves do not have any treatment, and you will end up having to cut off the leaves.

 

Temperature

Caladium Hortulanum needs to be kept in an area where the surrounding temperature ranges from 70°F to 85°F (21°C to 29°C). 

This is the perfect temperature for the plant as it belongs to tropical forests.

This plant is also slightly frost resistant, rendering it capable of surviving temperatures up to 32°F (0°C). However, temperatures any lower than this can kill the plant. 

Caladium Hortulanum loves heat more than cold weather, which is why they also need their soil to remain warm.

 

Humidity

Caladium Hortulanum likes living in places with high humidity levels. Thus, you must keep this plant at 50-70% humidity level. 

Humidity can be regulated around Caladium Hortulanum by using a humidifier or by spraying the leaves of the plant with water.

 

Fertilizer

Caladium Hortulanum does not require a lot of fertilizer and normally only needs to be fertilized during spring and summer. 

An excessive amount of fertilizer is harmful to the plant as it can burn the leaves.

The best fertilizer to use is one with lower nitrogen. You can use any flowering plant fertilizer, but you’ll have to dilute it by 1/4. 

You can dilute the fertilizer by simply adding water to it.

Liquid fertilizer works well for this plant as well, and if it is too concentrated, you can also dilute it by adding water.

 

Repotting

You only need to repot Caladium Hortulanum once every 2-3 years. You may also want to repot your plant when your plant has not grown its full size, and the growth has stunted. 

If you wish to repot your plant, you should:

• Repot your plant mostly during spring. When repotting, spray the plant when chemical insecticide or pesticide to prevent infections and diseases.
• Put your Caladium Hortulanum in a container or pot bigger than the last one it’s in.
• Water your newly repotted plant once you have placed it in a new pot.
• Put your plant in a soil mix that is well-draining, has damp peat, and has organic matter.

During repotting, make sure all your equipment has been sterilized. Do not be too aggressive with your plant and provide it with the same care as before.

 

Pruning

When you want your plant to grow bushier, pruning is the best option. 

Pruning promotes further growth in your plant, which is why pruning Caladium Hortulanum every two to three weeks is recommended. 

When you prune your Caladium Hortulanum, follow these tips:

• Remove all the dead leaves. If you see any leaves that are dying, remove those as well.
• Even if your plant does not have any dead-looking leaves, you can still prune some off.
• Prune off older leaves so that more leaves can grow.

Pruning Caladium Hortulanum is not difficult and can easily be done by using sharp and sterilized equipment.

 

Propagation

Caladium Hortulanum can be propagating through its tubers or bulbs. 

These bulbs can be found at the bottom of the soil. In order to perform this sort of propagation, follow these steps:

• First, you will have to remove the “mother” plant from the soil.
• To remove the mother plant from the soil, you’ll have to rid of the excess soil on the top. Then turn the pot upside down while tapping the sides to make the plant slide out.
• When the plant slides out of the pot, gently place it in a clean area.
• Observe the soil and try to find large chucks on soil that look like they’re joined together. When you look closely, you will see these large chunks are actually bulbs.
• These bulbs will have a flat end and a pointy end.
• Take the blub and take a new pot.
• Fill the new pot with a well-draining soil mix, compost, and damp peat.
• Then place the bulb on top of the soil, with it’s pointed end facing upwards.
• Slightly push the bulb into the soil, or dig up some soil and place half the bulb into the soil. Make sure the pointed end is exposed to the air.
• Now water and fertilize your plant according to the same needs as your other Caladium Hortulanum plant.

You can also propagate your Caladium Hortulanum through separation. 

What this involves is simply digging your plant up and removing one group from the plant, and placing it in a new pot. 

Follow these steps to propagate with stem groups:

• In the first step, you must remove your plant from the pot; you can do this by tilting your plant upside down. Then tap the sides of the pot so that the soil lets loose from the pot.
• Once the plant is out of the pot, you will notice that your Caladium Hortulanum plant has several stems grown in different groups. What can be done here is to take just one whole group from the main plant.
• Once you have removed one of the groups, place it in a new pot. Remember, the pot should always have drainage holes in it.
• After placing the stem group into the new pot, start adding soil to the plant.
• Then water your plant so it can settle into its new pot.

When propagating using both of these methods, make sure that the tools you use are sanitized. Not using sanitized tools can cause the bulbs and stems to rot.

 

Blooms

Caladium Hortulanum does not have any blooms on them. 

They’re only grown for their foliage.

 

Growth

Caladium Hortulanum has medium-sized leaves that are 4.5 cm tall and has a diameter of 10 to 12 cm. This plant has a short height ranging from 1 to 1.5 feet. 

The Caladium Hortulanum can also be grown as a dwarf plant that is only 12 inches tall.

 

Common Problems for Caladium Hortulanum

 

Leaf Spot

Leaf spots are hard to diagnose sometimes; this is because their symptoms can vary depending on each plant. 

Leaf spots are most often caused by infections from a pathogenic fungus. However, leaf spots can sometimes also be caused by bacteria, air pollutants, and even insects.

If your plant has been infected by leaf spots, then once the fungi enter the leaves, the tissue starts to get destroyed. The size of the lead spots can vary as some are small while other spots are much larger. 

Parts of the leaves infected by fungi will have a black, reddish, tan, or brown color.

However, sometimes you will find that some infected leaves have areas that have red or purple borders. 

As Caladium Hortulanum already has red in them, make sure you observe your plant well to know whether or not it’s been infected. 

If this infection on the leaves lasts a long time, then your Caladium Hortulanum can defoliate completely.

Most of the time, people think their plant is instantly dying when they see leaf spots on them. They then end up applying chemical sprays to get rid of whatever fungi or insect is causing this issue. 

But this is not the right response and is a waste of your time and money.

Most trees can live with leaf spots, but a small plant-like Caladium Hortulanum might not be able to survive through it. 

What you can do is simply snip off all of the plant’s infected foliage. Your plant may have fewer leaves now, but it will survive.

In order to avoid leaf spots in the future, make sure whenever you propagate or repot, you always spray your plant with chemical sprays. 

Doing this will reduce the risk of leaf spots and other infections.

 

Root-Knot Nematodes

Root-Knot Nematodes are parasites that look like roundworms and can only be observed under a microscope. 

This parasite is known to enter the plant through the roots and will lay its eggs within the roots.

The roots then end up having a knot-like appearance, and over time the plants start to wilt, grow stunts, or the overall appearance of the plant looks dead.

Plants that grow in soil that is infected with this parasite have yellowish and decayed roots. These types of plants will then become even more susceptible to other diseases caused by bacteria or fungi.

The problem caused by Root-Knot Nematodes can be observed in Caladium Hortulanum by observing the roots. You can do this when repotting the plant or during propagation as well.

Adding carb meal, oyster shell flour, or neem seed meal to the soil can help your plant fight against Root-Knot Nematodes.

Preventing Root-Knot Nematodes from infesting your plant in the first place is a good idea. Practicing rotation is one of the best methods of preventing this infestation. 

All you have to do is simply repot your Caladium Hortulanum every two to three years.

 

Tips for Growing Caladium Hortulanum

There are a few tips that can be followed to make your Caladium Hortulanum thrive throughout its life. 

Some of these tips include:

• Surround your Caladium Hortulanum with high humidity levels ranging from 50 to 70%.
• Keep the soil pH between the range of 5 to 7.
• Provide your Caladium Hortulanum with fertilizers during the spring season.
• Repot your Caladium Hortulanum after two to three years.
• Keep your Caladium Hortulanum surrounding temperatures between 85°F to 32°F (29°C to 0°C).

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Caladium Hortulanum Care

 

Will my Caladium Hortulanum multiply?

As your Caladium Hortulanum grows, it will start to multiply as well. One bulb can end up forming ten more bulbs when your Caladium Hortulanum will grow.

 

By how many days will my Caladium Hortulanum become Dormant?

On average, a Caladium Hortulanum has a lifespan of one hundred and fifty days. This is the time period only from sprouting and becoming dormant.

 

Conclusion

Caladium Hortulanum is a stunning plant that has a variety of colors within its leaves. The plant is known for its stunning heart-shaped leaves and is often kept indoors for décor purposes. 

The reason why many choose to keep it within their homes and offices is because this plant remains small even once it has fully grown.

The Caladium Hortulanum is capable of growing blooms, but the leaves on this plant make up for this as they provide enough colors within them.