Cool, wet conditions can cause tuber rot. Drooping and leaf loss can follow cooling temperatures, while leaf burn or scorch can result from excess sun, insufficient water, or fertilizer left on leaves.
How to care for caladium
During active growth, keep an indoor caladium in bright indirect light with an evenly damp, drained mix. Stop watering as the plant enters dormancy.
Plant coveredCaladium bicolorCaladium · Indoor container
Find a bright, steady position
Light and temperature
For indoor plants, provide bright but indirect light. Older caladium cultivars generally prefer partial shade, while newer sun-tolerant cultivars vary.
Provide warmth and humidity. Wisconsin recommends around 70°F or warmer for indoor starts, and dormant containers should remain above 55°F. Cultivar timing and cold response vary.
Check the mix, drainage and pot
Watering, drainage and repotting
Keep the medium evenly damp but not wet during active growth, using a well-drained container. When leaves die back indoors, stop watering during dormancy and resume with new growth.
Use a rich, light, fertile, well-drained medium. Container guidance emphasizes drainage and tuber handling rather than a universal ingredient recipe or indoor repot interval.
Feed only during active growth
Fertilizer and active growth
Caladiums are heavy feeders during the growing season. Use a low-nitrogen or balanced formulation because excess nitrogen can affect leaf color. No dose or interval is set.
Check the visible signs before changing care
Common problems
Use the verdict for this exact plant
Pet safety
Sources
- University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension: Wisconsin HorticultureGeneral Care of Caladiums; houseplant; overwintering; pests and disease
- University of Florida IFAS ExtensionCaladium cultivation, soil, light, irrigation, and tuber storage
- University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine: Veterinary Poisonous Plant GardenPlot 2: Caladium (Caladium bicolor); toxic compound and symptoms
- ASPCA Animal Poison ControlScientific name; toxicity; insoluble calcium oxalates; clinical signs
Pet-safety information for catalog plants uses ASPCA reference data where available. It is reference information, not veterinary advice.