How To Propagate Caladium From Leaves

Caladiums should be planted in soil that is rich and has very good drainage to prevent the tubers from rotting.

How to propagate caladium from leaves. 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. Caladiums that are grown in containers should be checked daily and watered as needed. Fancy leafed caladiums have large and heart shaped leaves. Cut the tubers into 1 to 3 1 2 inch sections using a knife.

Space them 8 to 14 inches apart depending on the ultimate size of your plants as listed on the tag. To grow caladiums plant the tubers in a moist shady location at least 6 to 8 inches apart in well draining soil. Fancy leaf and lance or strap leaf. There are two main types of caladium plants.

Lance or strap leafed types. Plant caladium bulbs outside after all danger of frost has passed and daytime temperatures remain above 70 degrees. Propagating and replanting. Next water the plants frequently so that the soil stays moist but not soggy.

Caladiums are tropical plants and cannot tolerate any frost and only emerge when the soil is warm. Each section must have at least one eye or growing point. One inch tubers will result in smaller plants. The fancy leaf types have a little dip where the petiole meets the leaf and leaves that look like hearts.

Create lush border areas with the large tropical looking heart shaped leaves of caladium or use it as a tall ground cover under trees and in shrub beds. Tubers of mature caladium can be divided. To keep them blooming fertilize your caladiums once per month during the growing season with a 5 10 10 fertilizer. Caladiums need to be watered on a regular basis especially during dry conditions.

How to plant caladiums. Divide caladium plants in spring. In fact watering them on a weekly basis is recommended. Select a location in shade or part sun with a good rich moist organic soil.

The leaves grow directly from the corm via leaf stems called petioles. Dig the hole large enough so that the top of the tuber is about two inches below the surface of the soil and place tubers. Indoors or out caladiums are a seasonal plant with foliage in the summer and a rest period in the autumn or winter. Though they re sometimes called bulbs they are really tubers plant tubers point side up about 1 to 1 1 2 inches deep.

How to propagate caladiums. Slide a garden fork into the soil at the base of the plant and lift the tuber clump out of the garden bed. There are two types of caladium plants in cultivation. Buy potted caladiums ready to plant or grow them from tubers.