Caladiums are tropical foliage plants that provide a splash of color in summer flower beds. They grow well in shaded areas, containers, hanging baskets, and as borders.
You can add drama to any landscape with the addition of caladiums. Their brightly-colored leaves, in shades of red, pink, white and green, are perfect in a grouping or as an accent for other plants.
Make Sure the Soil is Warm Before Planting Caladiums
"The most important factor when planting caladiums is temperature," explains Noel Durrant, owner of Caladium World in Sebring, FL. "Ideally the night temperature should be 68 degrees or warmer on a consistent basis before planting caladiums." She says caladiums that are planted when nights are cool are very slow to germinate, even if you are having 80 degree day time temperatures.
Proper Watering is Important to Healthy Caladium Plants
Caladiums should be kept moist during germination, without allowing the soil to become soggy. Cool nights and excessive moisture can cause a bulb to rot. Durrant points out that once a caladium breaks ground it is easy to tell when to water as they will droop very easily if thirsty.
