Caladium 'Clowning Around' - 14cm / 1L / Small Plant
$30.00Caladium bicolor, is a tropical showstopper admired for its vibrant, heart-shaped leaves. These plants bring a touch of the exotic indoors or enhance shaded outdoor gardens with their electrifying hues and intricate patterns. Available in an array of stunning varieties, Caladium bicolor offers an artistic touch to any green space.
Clowning Around – A Vibrant Carnival of Colors
The Clowning Around variety is a true spectacle with splashes of pink, white, and green dancing across its leaves. Each leaf is a unique canvas, combining vivid colors in unpredictable patterns that evoke a playful, cheerful vibe. Perfect for brightening shaded corners of your home or garden.
Comprehensive Care Instructions for Caladium bicolor
Lighting Requirements
- Indoors: Place your Caladium bicolor in bright, indirect sunlight. Too much direct sunlight can scorch its delicate leaves, while too little light may cause the colors to fade. A north or east-facing window is ideal.
- Outdoors: Caladiums thrive in partial to full shade. They’re perfect for shaded garden beds, patios, or under trees where direct sun is limited.
Watering Regimen
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During the Growing Season (Spring to Early Autumn):
- Water regularly to keep the soil evenly moist but never soggy. Check the top inch of soil; if it feels dry, it’s time to water.
- Use well-draining soil to prevent water from pooling around the roots.
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Dormancy (Late Autumn to Winter):
- Once the leaves begin to yellow and die back naturally, reduce watering significantly. The plant is entering dormancy, not dying.
- Once the leaves begin to yellow and die back naturally, reduce watering significantly. The plant is entering dormancy, not dying.
Temperature & Humidity
- These tropical plants thrive in warm, humid conditions between 65°F–85°F (18°C–29°C).
- Indoors, consider a humidity tray or misting to mimic their native environment.
Fertilizing
- Feed every 4-6 weeks during the growing season with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer. Avoid over-fertilizing, as it may burn the roots.
Overwintering Caladium Bulbs
To ensure your Caladium bicolor returns next season, follow these steps to overwinter the bulbs properly:
1. Recognizing Dormancy
- In late summer or early autumn, the vibrant foliage will begin to fade and die back. This is a natural dormancy phase for Caladiums, triggered by cooler temperatures and shorter days.
2. Preparing the Bulbs
- Cut Back Foliage: Allow the leaves to yellow and wither completely before cutting them back to about 1-2 inches above the bulb. This ensures the bulb absorbs all remaining nutrients.
- Digging Up Bulbs (If Growing Outdoors): Carefully lift the bulbs from the soil using a trowel. Shake off excess dirt but do not wash them, as moisture can cause rot.
3. Drying the Bulbs
- Lay the bulbs in a warm, dry, and well-ventilated area for 7-10 days. This allows the outer layer to harden, protecting the bulb during storage.
4. Storing for Winter
- Place the dry bulbs in a paper bag or breathable container filled with peat moss, sawdust, or dry sand.
- Store the bulbs in a dark, cool space, ideally between 50°F–60°F (10°C–15°C). Avoid freezing temperatures.
Replanting Caladium Bulbs in Spring
When the weather warms up in spring, it’s time to bring your Caladiums back to life:
1. Inspect Stored Bulbs
- Check the bulbs for signs of rot or damage. Discard any that are soft or moldy.
2. Wake Up the Bulbs
- To jumpstart growth, soak the bulbs in warm water for 2-4 hours before planting.
3. Planting Instructions
- Indoors: Plant bulbs in a pot with well-draining soil about 2 inches deep, with the pointed side up. Keep the soil moist and place the pot in a warm, bright spot with indirect sunlight.
- Outdoors: Wait until the soil temperature is consistently above 18°C. Plant bulbs in a shaded or partially shaded garden bed, following the same depth guidelines.
4. Care During Early Growth
- Be patient! Caladium bulbs may take 2-4 weeks to sprout. During this time, maintain consistent warmth and moisture. Avoid overwatering.
Important Note: Dormancy Is Normal!
Customers often mistake dormancy for plant death. Reassure them that Caladium bicolor is simply resting during the colder months. Proper storage and care will ensure their plant returns more beautiful than ever next spring.
Plant Size Guide
The plant in the photos is an example and an approximate guide only however we try to show an average sized example. Sizes, flowering state and colours change throughout the seasons and variation will occur. In summer & autumn, plants are often larger or the same size as than the example picture but around winter and spring, they can be a little smaller but still at a size similar to the example. We aim to update the pictures to reflect significant differences.
Plant Heights - because the plant's foliage must fit inside our Plant Cartons, the actual height of a plant's central trunk (meristem) will be shorter than the box it fits in.
Small Plants - 14cm wide nursery pot - 1 Litre volume - Plants fit in a 50cm tall box.
Medium Plants - 17cm wide pots either 2L hanging pot or 2.5L nursery pot - Plants fit in a 75cm tall box.
Large Plants - 25cm wide pot, 10L volume. Plants fit in a 100cm tall box.
XL Plants - Plants over 100cm tall in pot sizes specified, 25cm/10L or greater and are hand delivered within Auckland/Northland only.
Dispatch Times
Plant courier orders are processed Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday.
North Island orders are targeted overnight delivery, South Island orders are sent on a 2-day target but these are not a guaranteed delivery timeframe.
Add 1 extra day after a public holiday as well as for rural addresses or remote towns.
Monday - We send orders placed on previous Wednesday, Thursday & Friday.
Tuesday - We send Weekend orders from previous Saturday & Sunday.
Wednesday - We send orders placed from Monday & Tuesday.
XL Plants are delivered only within urban Auckland & Whangarei and this service is for non-urgent orders. This excludes satellite destinations such as Beachlands, Pukekohe, Piha, Helensville etc and Whangarei Heads. We may deliver at any time Sunday, Monday, Wednesday or Thursday in Auckland and you need to have a sheltered accessible position for us to deliver to.
Plants in Transit
Each Small, Medium & Large plant is individually contained within its own protective cardboard Plant Carton which may be joined to other cartons in your order.
Plants typically take just a day or two to arrive, however they are usually fine in their cartons for 1-2 weeks, and many can go longer, so a few extra days are not usually cause for concern.
Whether it takes 1 or 7 days, let your plant recover from its journey by placing in gentle light and adding a little water and it will be back to its best within a couple of days. Let us know if there are any major issues via the contact page.
