Where to locate caladium, the choice of place for the heat-loving plant
Caladium (Caladium)- representative of the family Aroid (Araceae). The homeland of this plant is Brazil, where it grows along the shores of the Amazon. This is a large heat-loving plant, which in natural conditions can reach up to 5 m in height.
At home, Caladium is used for starch extraction, and in our area this plant is popular because of its ornamental appearance. Caladium loves warm, humid places. For its good growth, it is better to choose the western and eastern sides.
The most acceptable temperature is + 20 ... + 25 ° С. Lighting should be bright, but not direct. It is better to choose a diffused light. Humidity should be very high. If you use a convector, additionally spray the leaves.
Did you know? The popular name for Caladium is "elephant's ears" (due to the size of the leaves).
Features landing Caladium
Caladium requires certain care at home. Particular attention should be paid to watering and feeding.
How to choose a pot and plant a plant
A pot for a caladium should be twice as large as a flower tuber. If you want to plant 2-3 tubers, the pot is better to pick up 10 cm in diameter. If more tubers, choose a pot with a diameter of 15 cm or more.
If you multiply caladium seeds, it is better to pick a smaller pot, and then just transplant the plant in a larger pot. The landing process is simple. The main thing is to do everything consistently: put a drainage layer on the bottom of the pot, a layer of sand on the drainage (it is better to use coarse-grained dry sand).
Put the ground prepared in advance for planting onto the sand in a slide, moisten a little. In the middle of the hill, make a well, fill it with sand, plant a Kaladium tuber there, so that only one third of the tuber is submerged in the ground, sprinkle with the remaining soil on top.
Important! If you want to get more leaves, not tubers for breeding, then the caladium should be planted deeper into the ground.
How to care for caladium before the formation of roots
The main factor in the care of caladium before the formation of roots - good drainage. After seeds are sown or tubers are planted, it is necessary to maintain the temperature + 25 ... + 30 ° С.
To do this, you can cover the plant with a lid or glass (but that light still penetrated). You need to water every 2-3 days, then “air out” the pots.
Rules feeding and watering caladium
Caladium requires abundant watering during the period of the most active growth, especially in summer. For large leaves you need a huge amount of moisture, otherwise, with a lack of water, the leaves will lose their decorative appearance. Around the Caladium should humidify the air, creating the effect of "fog".
But do not overdo it! Too big drops do not dry out for a long time. On the place of these drops may appear brown spots. At the end of the summer, the frequency of watering is reduced, and when the caladium drops the leaves and leaves for retirement, watering is stopped.
During the "sleep" period, you can slightly moisten the soil with a spray bottle so that the roots do not shrink. For fertilizing plants use mineral fertilizers, which include phosphorus, nitrogen and potassium. It is best to feed caladium in the period of active growth, every 3-4 weeks.
Important! Caladium, which only "wakes up", should be watered moderately. Before the appearance of the leaves of the plant does not require a large amount of moisture.
Features care in a dormant period
Caladium rest period begins from mid-October and lasts until early spring. At this time, the flower is not worth watering. You can only slightly moisten the soil by spraying water from a spray bottle.
Caladium should be moved to a dark, cool place where the temperature will be + 13 ... + 15 ° С. Caladium does not need any additional feeding. The plant tuber can also be stored in the rest period in another way: take the tuber out of the pot and store it in a warm, lit place.
What you need to know about transplant caladium
At home, the Caladium needs to provide good care and cultivation, which is the proper transplanting of the plant. It must be done annually, at the beginning of spring.
Before transplanting, carefully remove the caladium from the old pot, cut all the dried tubers. Put drainage, sand and substrate (a mixture of clay, leaf and turf soil) into the pot. After planting, moisten the soil a little.
Did you know? If you transplant the plant into a pot 3-4 cm deeper, its leaves will be much larger, and the color will be brighter.
Reproduction caladium, exploring ways
Caladium is very popular among flower growers. For its reproduction there are several ways: seeds, tubers, division of the bushes. Let us consider in more detail each of these methods.
Daughter tubers
Daughter tubers are best used during transplantation. On the rhizome choose the most developed tuber and carefully cut it with secateurs.
Slices need to "dry" with coal. After you have gotten and "dried up" the tuber, you need to leave it for a few hours, then disembark, following all the recommendations for planting the Caladium.
The division of large rhizomes
If you decide to propagate the plant by dividing large rhizomes, then you should know that With this method, there is a big risk of plant rotting. For the operation using a sharp shears, which divide the tuber "by the knee" - in the bend.
The division should be carried out in March, as soon as new shoots appear. Sections are sprinkled with charcoal and planted in the substrate. Planted tubers covered with plastic and wait for seedlings for 2-3 weeks.
Important! When using daughter tubers or the method of dividing the bush, you must choose those tubers that have at least one fresh bud.
Planting seeds
Seeds are sown in early spring in a mixture of peat and leaf earth. In one pot, you need to sow about 10 seeds (the percentage of sunrises 50:50).
After sowing, the seeds must be covered with polyethylene. The first sunrises appear in 2-3 weeks. Seedlings need to be watered from the moment of the first signs of land drying.
Did you know? When using seeds, there may be some changes in appearance. Leaf color may vary.
The tricks of successful cultivation
For successful cultivation Caladium requires proper watering, timely feeding and a comfortable place. And still it is worth paying attention to some tricks in the process of growing a flower.
- Caladium leaves must not be rubbed. Dust should be brushed with a fluffy brush (brown spots can form on the leaves from using a damp cloth).
- Tuber plants can not be watered from above (otherwise it can rot). It is better to water on the edge of the pot.
- Caladium often causes allergies. You need to work with him in gloves.
- Most often, the plant is affected by blight. Once a year can be carried out treatment means from this pest.
- Caladium grows best in acidic soil.
These are all the nuances that you need to know when growing Caladium. Adhering to such simple tips, you will be pleased with the healthy decorative appearance of your flower.
