CALADIUM – THE FANCY LEAVED PLANT
Caladium is natural habitants of tropical rain forests of South America. It is a member of the Araceae (Arums) family of plants and is valued and grown in a garden for their beautiful and colourful foliage. These plants display heart shaped and multi-coloured. The leaves may vary from 15 to 60 cm in length. The color of their leaves ranges from green and silver white, green and red, pink with green edge, white with red blotches or green veins and some have lavender spots. They do flower during the season but these are overshadowed by the beautiful and colourful leaves They grow best in warm and moist atmosphere with a minimum summer temperature of 20-25°C and a minimum winter temperature of 10-15°C.
The Botanical name is Caladium x Hortulanum.
Soil Type: rich well drained sandy loam. The acidity of your soil will also help to determine the color of your caladium leaves. A high acid level will cause the darker colors to be most dominant.
Where to plant: Caladium plants can be grown in pots or garden patch. They do wonders when planted as a border or in a mass planting.
Planting method: As the spring sets up place the bulbs on leaf mould which is kept in a shallow wooden box or clay pot. In case you have allowed the bulbs to remain in the pots, dig them out and shake off all the loose soil and then place them on the leaf mold. As soon as the roots emerge you can plant them in 6 or 10 inch pots. Caladium bulbs should be planted with only two inches of rich soil above their heads. You cannot plant the caladium bulb the wrong way as the plant will right itself while growing unless your caladium bulb is already growing a shoot. Plant all bulbs already growing in the direction of the shoot
Light requirement: They do best in a partially shaded area. In case the caladium plants are grown in completely shaded area of the garden, the green color will be most dominant.
Fertiliser requirement: Use good grade compost mixed wit two parts loam, and equal parts peat, leaf mold and dried cow manure. When the bulbs have taken root and the leaves have emerged to a size 2-4 cm apply Liquid fertiliser every fifth week.
Water requirement: They require regular water to keep the soil moist. Avoid heavy watering. Between watering the leaves should be washed with a spray of water to enhance the beauty of their leaves. At the end of summers when the leaves dry up watering should be stopped.
Care of the bulbs: When the foliage has died back, the bulbs should be removed, washed in water and then dipped in Captan (Captaf, Hexacap or Bangtan), dried and kept stored in a moderately warm place till early spring. In case you are allowing the bulbs to be kept in the pots, ensure you do not water them during the dormant stage.
Some recommended varieties:
Ser No Name of the Variety Flower Colour
1 Caladium Humbold Silver and green
2 Caladium Mrs.Haldeman Green and pink
3 Caladium Pink Beauty Pink with green edges
4 Caladium White Queen Green and white
5 Caladium Rainbow Multi colour in red, pink and white
6
The Botanical name is Caladium x Hortulanum.
Soil Type: rich well drained sandy loam. The acidity of your soil will also help to determine the color of your caladium leaves. A high acid level will cause the darker colors to be most dominant.
Where to plant: Caladium plants can be grown in pots or garden patch. They do wonders when planted as a border or in a mass planting.
Planting method: As the spring sets up place the bulbs on leaf mould which is kept in a shallow wooden box or clay pot. In case you have allowed the bulbs to remain in the pots, dig them out and shake off all the loose soil and then place them on the leaf mold. As soon as the roots emerge you can plant them in 6 or 10 inch pots. Caladium bulbs should be planted with only two inches of rich soil above their heads. You cannot plant the caladium bulb the wrong way as the plant will right itself while growing unless your caladium bulb is already growing a shoot. Plant all bulbs already growing in the direction of the shoot
Light requirement: They do best in a partially shaded area. In case the caladium plants are grown in completely shaded area of the garden, the green color will be most dominant.
Fertiliser requirement: Use good grade compost mixed wit two parts loam, and equal parts peat, leaf mold and dried cow manure. When the bulbs have taken root and the leaves have emerged to a size 2-4 cm apply Liquid fertiliser every fifth week.
Water requirement: They require regular water to keep the soil moist. Avoid heavy watering. Between watering the leaves should be washed with a spray of water to enhance the beauty of their leaves. At the end of summers when the leaves dry up watering should be stopped.
Care of the bulbs: When the foliage has died back, the bulbs should be removed, washed in water and then dipped in Captan (Captaf, Hexacap or Bangtan), dried and kept stored in a moderately warm place till early spring. In case you are allowing the bulbs to be kept in the pots, ensure you do not water them during the dormant stage.
Some recommended varieties:
Ser No Name of the Variety Flower Colour
1 Caladium Humbold Silver and green
2 Caladium Mrs.Haldeman Green and pink
3 Caladium Pink Beauty Pink with green edges
4 Caladium White Queen Green and white
5 Caladium Rainbow Multi colour in red, pink and white
6
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1 comment:
can leaves of plants be so colourful? Never knew it! During the next season i propose having a theme garden. give me some more names of lovely coloured plants.
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