🌿 Caladium

Cultivation takes place in an airy, well-draining aroid-type mix, which remains slightly moist but never soggy. A suitable substrate is a quality mix (peat or coco-based) amended with perlite, pumice and chopped orchid bark; a small amount of sphagnum moss can help retain moisture without compacting it. Avoid dense garden soil. Use a pot with a drainage system and repot into a fresh, open mix when it starts to break down or compact.

Florida Sweetheart' is grown from tubers (not from seed). Plant tubers in the open ground in spring, only when the risk of frost has passed and the soil is warm (around 18-21°C / 65-70°F or warmer). Plant tubers at a depth of 2.5-5 cm (1-2 in) with the growing points ("eyes") facing upwards, spacing them about 20-30 cm (8-12 in) apart, in a humus-rich, well-drained medium. Water well and maintain regular, but not soggy, humidity; growth is slow in cool soil. For a quicker start, repot tubers indoors 4-6 weeks before the last frost in a warm, bright spot, then harden them off and transplant outdoors when the nights are warm enough. Wintering: in cool climates, plants go dormant when temperatures drop; allow foliage to yellow and dry, then lift tubers, dry/clean them and store them dry (e.g. in peat/wood shavings) in a ventilated container at a temperature of around 13-16°C (55-60°F). Replant in spring when conditions are warm again.

During the active growth period (spring to early autumn), give a light dose of a balanced, water-soluble houseplant fertilizer, diluted 1/4-1/2, approximately every 4 to 6 weeks, or use a low-dose, slow-release fertilizer as indicated on the label. Do not fertilize on dry substrates (water first), and reduce or stop fertilization in winter or when growth slows. Avoid over-fertilization, which can cause leaf-tip burns; rinse potting soil periodically with ordinary water to avoid fertilizer and salt build-up.

Apply a 5-8 cm layer of organic mulch (pine bark, pine straw, shredded leaves) after planting and once the soil has warmed up. Keep the mulch a few centimetres away from emerging shoots and the crown to prevent rotting. Mulch helps conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature; maintain regular humidity, but avoid soggy conditions. Refresh mulch as it decomposes, and avoid piling it deep over the tuber area (in general, don't exceed ~8 cm/3 in).