How To Propagate A Caladium

There are numerous varieties of caladiums found in either the fancy leaved or the strap leaved cultivar.

How to propagate a caladium. Slide a garden fork into the soil at the base of the plant and lift the tuber clump out of the garden bed. Next water the plants frequently so that the soil stays moist but not soggy. All of which can make a dramatic statement in the landscape. The leaves of the caladium are broad flat and look remarkably like an elephant s ear.

They grow well in areas that are semi shade and they can grow to a height of between 12 and 30 inches long depending on the available conditions. Shake off all dust and allow the bulbs to dry in shade. With roughly seven species these plants can grow to be anywhere from 15 to 35 inches tall and with leaves as broad as 18 inches. Divide caladium plants in spring.

Caladium tubers are very easy to propagate. How to plant caladiums. You need to use a sharp sterile knife and slice the tubers to make more plants. Finally dig up the tubers in the.

To grow caladiums plant the tubers in a moist shady location at least 6 to 8 inches apart in well draining soil. To keep them blooming fertilize your caladiums once per month during the growing season with a 5 10 10 fertilizer. The caladium is most commonly known for being the elephant ear plant found in most gardens. Though they re sometimes called bulbs they are really tubers plant tubers point side up about 1 to 1 1 2 inches deep.

Each section must have at least one eye or growing point. On the other hand lance or strap leafed caladiums are small in size long with ruffled leaf margins and usually they grow to a height of 12 inches long. The best thing to do is loosen up the soil from the sides and then dig for the bulbs with your hands. While you have your tubers out of the ground it s the ideal opportunity for propagation.

Also caladiums multiply as they grow so one bulb may have now formed ten hence richer the soil better the bulbs. Buy potted caladiums ready to plant or grow them from tubers. Caladiums can be grown in containers or clumped together within beds and borders. Space them 8 to 14 inches apart depending on the ultimate size of your plants as listed on the tag.

How to propagate caladiums. Caladiums can be purchased as potted plants or dormant tubers. One inch tubers will result in smaller plants. How to plant caladiums.