Is Caladium bicolor an indoor plant?
Caladium bicolor, called Heart of Jesus, is a species in the genus Caladium from Latin America. It is grown as a houseplant for its large, heart or lance-shaped leaves with striking green, white, pink, and red blotching. Caladium bicolor (Araceae) is a horticulture plant also used by some traditional medicine practitioners in the treatment of diarrhoea and other gastrointestinal disorders.
Is Caladium bicolor an annual?
Caladium ‘Bicolor’ exhibits a seasonal growth pattern, emerging in spring and entering dormancy in winter. This cyclical nature is a hallmark of perennials, setting them apart from annuals. Caladiums are tender perennials, growing bigger and better each year in warm climates where they may be left undisturbed. The catch is that they are tropical by nature, and want to stay warm, even when dormant. The general rule of thumb tells us to store them at 60F or warmer, even when the tuber is dormant.While these plants require a little extra care when grown indoors, their lush showy growth makes it well worth the effort. Most caladiums are native to the warm tropical rainforests of Central and South America. When grown indoors, they need ample bright, but indirect sunlight to grow.Caladiums are not reliably winter hardy below USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 10. Temperatures should remain high and not drop below 60°F at night. An extended period below 45°F will damage the plant.In most parts of the country, caladiums are grown as annual plants. They are enjoyed from spring to fall, and then discarded, similar to how you might grow petunias. Generally, we do not recommend storing bulbs for the winter and replanting the following spring.When you first plant your caladiums, they’ll enjoy moist—not soggy—soil. The more sun they are growing in, the more quickly the soil will dry out, so you’ll want to keep an eye on them until they are established. Once they are rooted in and flourishing in your garden, they will only need average amounts of water.
What plants pair well with caladiums?
Ferns thrive in shade and their lacy, graceful fronds pair beautifully with the bold, heart-shaped leaves of caladiums. Varieties like tassel fern, autumn fern, and Japanese painted fern complement caladiums nicely. For flowers, wax begonias and tuberous begonias add continuous color. To help caladiums take in the perfect amount of water, try bottom watering—an ideal method for sensitive plants in small or medium-sized pots. Place the pot in a container filled with lukewarm water and let it sit for around 20 minutes. Then drain the water, let the pot drip-dry, then return it to its tray.Watering and Fertilizing Caladiums like a little bone meal or 6-6-6 once a month or so – more for caladiums in full sun. Watering in early the morning or late in the afternoon seems to make them happy – you don’t need to soak the ground. Again, caladiums in sun want more water too.Caladiums thrive in the hot and humid conditions of summer but will start to droop and lose leaves as temperatures cool. If the tubers are to be kept over the winter in temperate areas, they must be brought in before the first frost (or before soil temperatures drop below 55ºF).Enjoy the flourishing leaves of the caladium throughout the spring, summer, and fall. As fall temperatures cool, the leaves will begin to decline. Gradually water the plants less and less as the leaves yellow to help the tubers become dormant. They will emerge again the following spring, usually in April.