Caladiums, known as “Angel Wings” or “Elephant Ears,” are tropical foliage plants prized for their stunning, colorful leaves featuring vibrant patterns of white, pink, and red. Native to the warm, humid rainforests of Central and South America, these seasonal tuberous plants thrive in shaded conditions. While typically grown as summer annuals outdoors, Caladiums can be successfully grown indoors as houseplants. Success depends on replicating their native environment, requiring attention to specific conditions like light, temperature, and humidity.
Creating the Ideal Indoor Habitat
Caladiums flourish in bright, indirect light, which maintains the intensity of their leaf colors. Direct sunlight is damaging, as intense rays can easily scorch the delicate foliage, leading to brown patches. An east-facing window receiving gentle morning sun, or a spot several feet from a south or west-facing window, provides ideal illumination.
Replicating tropical warmth is necessary for continuous growth, with an ideal temperature range between 65°F and 80°F during the active season. Temperatures below 60°F can cause premature dormancy, so place the plant away from cold window glass, air conditioning vents, or external doors. Caladiums also demand high atmospheric moisture, ideally requiring humidity levels between 60% and 75%.
Meeting Humidity Needs
To meet this requirement, place the potted plant on a pebble tray filled with water, ensuring the pot is not sitting directly in the water. Using a small room humidifier nearby is a more effective method for consistently boosting air moisture. Grouping the Caladium with other moisture-loving houseplants can also create a localized humid microclimate.
Watering, Feeding, and Potting Needs
During the active growing season from spring through fall, Caladiums require consistent moisture to support their large leaves. Keep the soil evenly moist but never waterlogged, which prevents the tuber from rotting. Check the soil regularly, watering when the top inch or two begins to feel dry to the touch.
Potting and Drainage
Proper drainage is essential, so Caladiums should be planted in a well-draining, peat-based potting mix. The container must have drainage holes to allow excess water to escape, and any water that collects in the saucer should be emptied promptly.
Fertilization
Providing nutrients supports rapid growth, so apply a liquid houseplant fertilizer every four to six weeks during the spring and summer. Use a diluted solution of fertilizer, and avoid applying it to dry soil, which can burn the roots. Repotting is only necessary when the plant has completely outgrown its current space, as Caladiums do well when slightly pot-bound.
Understanding the Dormancy Period
Caladiums are seasonal plants that naturally enter dormancy, typically in late fall or early winter as light levels diminish. This is a normal part of the life cycle where the plant transfers energy from the leaves back into the underground tuber. The foliage will begin to yellow and die back completely over several weeks.
Once the leaves start to fade, gradually reduce both watering and feeding, stopping completely when the foliage has died back entirely. The tuber needs a resting period of at least ten weeks to regenerate for the next growing season. You can either leave the tuber in the pot with the soil completely dry, or dig it up, clean off the soil, and store it.
If storing the tuber outside of the pot, keep it in a cool, dark, and dry location, such as a closet or basement, where temperatures remain above 50°F. In early spring, replant the tuber in fresh soil, place it in a warm, bright location, and begin very light watering to encourage new growth.