Caladium 'wightii' - 14cm / 1L / Small Plant
$30.00Caladium wightii is a classic, eye-catching variety known for its heart-shaped green leaves speckled with soft pink and crisp white markings. Each leaf is slightly translucent and appears hand-painted, with symmetrical patterns that vary from plant to plant. Compact and elegant, it brings a bright, uplifting feel to shaded garden beds or indoor displays. This variety is particularly popular for its balanced colour, manageable size, and reliable dormancy cycle.
Wightii
Wightii: Green, heart-shaped leaves dusted with confetti-like pink and white flecks. A cheerful and easygoing favourite!
Comprehensive Care Instructions for Caladium wightii
Lighting Requirements
Indoors: Place your Caladium wightii in bright, indirect light. Too much direct sunlight can fade or scorch the delicate leaf surface. An east- or north-facing window is ideal.
Outdoors: Thrives in partial to full shade. Ideal for underplanting trees, edging shaded paths, or container displays in covered patios.
Watering Regimen
During the Growing Season (Spring to Early Autumn):
Water when the top 2–3cm of soil feels dry. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Avoid waterlogging by using free-draining potting mix.
Dormancy (Late Autumn to Winter):
As the leaves yellow and die back, reduce watering sharply. Stop watering once foliage has fully withered.
Temperature & Humidity
Caladium wightii grows best in warm, humid conditions between 18°C–29°C.
In dry indoor spaces, mist regularly or use a humidity tray to replicate its tropical origin.
Fertilizing
Feed every 4–6 weeks during active growth with a balanced, diluted liquid fertiliser. Avoid fertilising in dormancy.
Overwintering Caladium Bulbs
To ensure your Caladium wightii thrives next season, follow these steps to store the bulbs correctly:
1. Recognizing Dormancy
Leaves naturally fade and collapse in late autumn as temperatures cool and days shorten. This is a normal part of the plant’s life cycle.
2. Preparing the Bulbs
Cut Back Foliage: Allow leaves to die back fully, then cut down to 1–2cm above the soil.
Digging Up Bulbs (If Outdoors): Carefully lift bulbs, remove excess soil, and avoid washing them.
3. Drying the Bulbs
Lay bulbs out in a dry, well-ventilated spot for 7–10 days to cure and harden the outer layer.
4. Storing for Winter
Place dry bulbs in a breathable container with dry sand, peat moss or sawdust.
Store in a dark space between 10°C–15°C, avoiding frost or dampness.
Replanting Caladium Bulbs in Spring
1. Inspect Stored Bulbs
Discard any bulbs that are soft, shrivelled or mouldy.
2. Wake Up the Bulbs
Soak in warm water for 2–4 hours before planting to stimulate sprouting.
3. Planting Instructions
Indoors: Plant 5cm deep in moist, free-draining soil. Place in a bright spot with indirect light.
Outdoors: Wait until soil temperature stays above 18°C. Choose a shaded or semi-shaded position.
4. Care During Early Growth
Keep soil warm and moist. Shoots may take 2–4 weeks to emerge. Do not overwater during this period.
Important Note: Dormancy Is Normal!
Caladium wightii naturally dies back in cooler months. This is not a sign of poor health—just a rest period before vibrant new growth in spring. Proper storage ensures your plant returns even stronger next season.
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.
