What is the correct way to cultivate Caladium?
Main content introduction: This article discusses the correct way to cultivate Caladium, as well as related topics about easy-to-grow flowers that bloom throughout the year. Let's take a look with the editor!
The optimal growth temperature is between 22°C and 28°C. It is best to maintain the temperature above 15°C during the winter, and it should not drop below 12°C. When the temperature falls to 12°C, the tubers are prone to rot and the leaves turn yellow. When the temperature exceeds 30°C, new leaves sprout quickly, the leaves are thin, and the leaf-viewing period is shortened. Avoid direct sunlight exposure, and they can grow well under sparse shade. In spring and autumn, they can be placed in a bright indoor area, while in summer, they should be cared for in a cool and ventilated place. Too much sunlight will cause the leaves to lose their bright color, the veins to turn yellow and burn, affecting the ornamental value. In winter, the pot can be moved near the south window for care, and the growing environment should not be too shady. Caladium has high light requirements, which must be strictly controlled.
Neither overly wet nor dry soil is conducive to its growth. Insufficient watering can cause the potting soil to dry out and lead to leaf wilting. Excessive humidity and poor drainage can cause the tubers to rot. Watering should be adjusted according to the different seasons, with more water needed in spring and summer to keep the soil moist. Especially in summer, with high temperatures and rapid water evaporation, it is the peak growing season for Caladium. In addition to sufficient watering, water should be sprinkled on the ground near the pot 2-3 times a day to help cool and moisturize, promoting robust growth of the plant. Do not spray water directly on the leaves, as this will cause them to rot quickly. In autumn, as the leaves gradually wilt and enter a dormant period, watering should be controlled to keep the soil dry. During the growing season, the plant should be given adequate fertilizer, applying a thin fertilizer solution every 20 days, such as fermented sesame paste or soybean cake soak, or a small amount of compound or all-element chemical fertilizer. The balance of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium should be appropriate. Excessive nitrogen fertilizer will cause the color spots on the leaves to fade, affecting the ornamental effect. Autumn is a key stage for tuber growth, so more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers should be applied to promote tuber development. In late autumn, when the temperature drops below 15°C, the leaves start to turn yellow and gradually enter a dormant period. At this time, watering and fertilizing should be reduced. Caladium prefers loose, fertile, and well-draining leaf mold or peat soil and is not tolerant to saline-alkaline or poor soil. A mixture of 5 parts leaf mold or peat soil, 2 parts garden soil, and 2 parts river sand can be used, with a small amount of bone meal or decomposed cake fertilizer as a base fertilizer. For soilless cultivation, an equal mixture of vermiculite and perlite is used, with a nutrient solution concentration of 0.2%, and a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium ratio of 3:2:1. As Caladium is mainly cultivated for its leaves, flowering should be suppressed during the growing period to prevent nutrient consumption. Flower buds should be removed in time, and yellowing, drooping old leaves should be cut off to promote new leaf growth.
Propagation Methods
(1) Bulb Propagation: In autumn, as the leaves gradually wilt, watering should be reduced. When the leaves fall off, watering should be stopped, and the plant enters dormancy. Cut off the withered leaves, remove the soil from the tubers, apply carbendazim, and store them in dry vermiculite or sand at a temperature of 15°C to 16°C. Plant them the following spring. For potted Caladium, a pot of 10 to 15 centimeters in diameter is usually used, with 3 to 5 tubers per pot. After planting, keep the potting soil moist, and new leaves will quickly sprout under conditions of 22°C to 25°C.
(2) Tuber Division: For larger tubers with many bud points, division can be used for propagation. Cut the tubers with buds, let the cut surface dry and heal before planting. The room temperature should be kept above 22°C, otherwise, it is difficult for the tubers to germinate and prone to rot and death.
Diseases and Control
During storage, Caladium tubers can develop dry rot, which can be treated with a 50% carbendazim wettable powder solution at a concentration of 500 times for soaking or spraying. During the growing period, leaf spot diseases may occur, which can be treated with a 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder solution at a concentration of 800 to 1000 times or an 80% mancozeb solution at a concentration of 500 times.
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