How to grow and care for Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent.
plant care guide about watering, fertilizing, trimming, repotting, cutting, propagating Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent., Wild eddo 'White Queen', Elephant’s ear 'White Queen'
Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent. 101 - Plant Care Instructions
Bright indirect light
16C° ~24C°
Every 7 days
Botany Encyclopedia
Family : Araceae
🌺 Flower
It has a thick, fleshy flower stalk with densely clustered, stemless flowers. This flower arrangement is called a spadix.
Genus : Caladium
🔖 Care Tips
In winter, the cold weather causes plant leaves to fall and enter dormancy. Maintaining a temperature above 20°C can prevent dormancy, but a brief dormancy is beneficial for bulb health. If leaves wilt, you can store the bulbs separately, but it's best to leave them in the pot. Caladium Bulb Storage: 1. Keep the temperature between 10-20°C. Below 10°C, they die; above 20°C, they sprout. 2. If the soil is too dry, do not water. Instead, mist the surface soil to keep it moist. 3. Store in a well-ventilated, dark place. Bulb Planting: When planting bulbs in April or May, place the rounded or pointed side up. Plant shallowly and cover with 1-2 cm of soil.
🏝️ Habitat Conditions
This plant grows in the Amazon rainforest and prefers a warm and humid environment.
🪨 Soil Mix
Mix the soil well to ensure good drainage. Typically, mix 30-40% perlite with the rest being potting soil. However, this can vary slightly depending on the situation and environment.
🌡️ Environment
Plants thrive at temperatures between 20-25°C. Growth slows below 20°C, so be cautious. They prefer humid environments. If the air is dry, mist the plants or place a water dish nearby to increase humidity. Ensure good ventilation when humidity is high to prevent mold growth.
☀️ Light
Each plant has different sunlight preferences. Some plants develop prettier patterns with more sunlight, while others may have leaves that burn. Adjust the light according to the plant's needs. Strong sunlight can dry the soil quickly, so check the soil condition and water frequently.
💧 Water
From spring to summer, water the plant when the surface soil dries out. Starting in late autumn, as the weather gets colder and the plant enters dormancy, gradually reduce watering.
🌱 Propagate
Divide the bulbs during overwintering and plant them in the spring to propagate.
💊 Fertilize
Fertilize once or twice a month from spring to summer for more vigorous growth. It's better to use granular fertilizer in the soil rather than foliar spray. Avoid fertilizing immediately after repotting; wait 2-4 weeks before applying fertilizer.
😵 Toxicity
Be cautious with pets and young children as it is toxic.
water
How to water Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent.
How often should I water?
check Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent. Every 7 days if it needs water when it’s very cold (below 5℃), water less frequently
When do I need to water?
the top 2-3 inches of soil is dry
Light & Location
How much light does a Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent. need?
Bright indirect light
Grow light
Light preference
Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent. likes Bright indirect light, Grow light day. The brighter the space, the better this plant grows.
Check if there’s an optimal place in your house!
This plant prefers
2K ~ 10K lux to thrive!
0
20K~
2K
10K
Temperature
Natural habitat
-32
-32~35℃
45
Houseplants
-15
16~24℃
45
Plants that grow in the wild and those that grow indoors prefer different temperatures. If you grow Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent. at home, make sure the temperature is 16~24℃.
Humidity
Ideal humidity
0
40~70%
100
Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent. prefers humidity about 40~70%. If necessary, increase humidity by misting, humidifier.
Fertilize
Collective Knowhow
When should I fertilize?
Only when your plant is healthy
How frequently should I fertilize?
1-2 times in growing season. A pinch for a small pot.
Characteristic
The taxonomic classification of Caladium bicolor (Aiton) Vent. is as follows. - Kingdom: Plantae, Phylum: Tracheophyta, Class: Liliopsida, Order: Alismatales, Family: Araceae, Genus: Caladium, Species: Caladium bicolor
| Characteristic Name | Characteristic Value |
|---|---|
| Lifespan | Perennial |
| Hardiness Zone | 2 - 9 |
| Taxonomy Name | Taxonomy Value |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Alismatales |
| Family | Araceae |
| Genus | Caladium |
| Species | Caladium bicolor |
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