Caladiums, often called Angel Wings or Elephant Ears, are tropical plants famous for their dazzling, colorful foliage. They are cultivated almost exclusively for their vibrant, heart-shaped leaves, which display complex patterns of red, pink, white, and green. Caladiums do produce a bloom, but since the leaves are the main attraction, the flowers are rarely the reason a gardener grows them.
Describing the Caladium Bloom
The flower structure of a caladium is botanically classified as an inflorescence typical of the Araceae family, which includes plants like the Peace Lily and Calla Lily. This structure consists of two main parts: a spathe and a spadix. The spathe is a modified leaf that forms a protective, hood-like covering around the central stalk. This spathe is usually a pale, unassuming color, often white or greenish-yellow, and is frequently hidden among the plant’s much larger, ornamental leaves. Enclosed within the spathe is the spadix, a fleshy, rigid spike that holds the actual, minute flowers. The bloom is small and generally considered to have little ornamental value for the average gardener.
Why Growers Remove the Flowers
The nearly universal advice to remove the caladium bloom is based on the plant’s energy budget. All plants use energy created during photosynthesis to fuel growth, but they must distribute this energy between vegetative growth and reproductive processes. Flowering and seed production are extremely energy-intensive processes.
When a caladium produces a flower, it diverts a significant portion of its stored carbohydrates away from its tuber and its foliage to support the bloom. Since the primary goal is to achieve the largest, most vibrant leaf display, this energy diversion is counterproductive. Removing the flower as soon as the small spathe emerges redirects that energy back to the underground tuber, helping it to strengthen and produce more colorful leaves throughout the growing season.
How to Encourage Optimal Foliage Display
Providing the right environmental conditions is paramount to achieving a spectacular foliage display. Caladiums thrive in warm, humid conditions, reflecting their native tropical habitat. They require consistently moist, but not soggy, soil; allowing the soil to dry out can cause leaf edges to yellow or brown.
The ideal light for most caladium varieties is bright, indirect, or filtered light, such as morning sun followed by afternoon shade. Direct, intense sunlight can easily scorch or fade the vibrant colors of the leaves. To promote strong leaf development and maintain color, a regular fertilization regimen is beneficial during the active growing season.
Using a liquid soluble fertilizer every few weeks or a slow-release formula at planting time supports rapid leaf growth. While some growers use a low-nitrogen formula, a balanced feed is generally effective. Ensuring the soil is rich, well-draining, and slightly acidic also contributes to a healthy root system that supports the massive, colorful leaves.