🌿 Caladium

Use a rich, organic, aerated mix that retains moisture while draining freely. A good container substrate is a quality potting soil amended with perlite (or pumice) and peat moss or coco-coir (and/or fine pine bark) to improve aeration while retaining even moisture; adding a little compost or leaf mould is also suitable. Keep the medium constantly moist during active growth, but never soggy - use pots with drainage and avoid heavy, compact garden soils. Slightly acidic to neutral mixes are generally suitable for caladiums; refresh or replace the mix when replanting tubers.

Caladium 'Florida Moonlight' is planted from tubers (it is not generally grown from seed). Caladiums germinate and grow best in warm soils, at around 18-21°C / 65-70°F or more). Choose a shady or sunny spot, with moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Outdoor planting: - Place tubers with gnarled side up. - Plant about 4-5 cm deep; in lighter soils, you can plant a little deeper, in heavier soils, a little shallower. - Space about 20-30 cm (8-12 in) apart (closer for a fuller pot/bed, wider for larger individual plants). - Water abundantly and maintain regular, but never soggy, humidity during the establishment period. Indoor starting (cool spring regions): - Pot tubers 4-8 weeks before the last expected frost to get a head start. - Use a warm location (bottom heating is useful); maintain constant warm temperatures and moderate humidity until growth begins. - Harden off tubers and place outdoors only when nights are regularly warm. Overwintering: - In autumn, growth slows and foliage yellows/wilts as tubers enter dormancy. - In frost-prone regions, lift tubers before frost, brush off the soil and leave to dry in a warm, airy place for around 1-2 weeks. - Store dry (but not airtight) in dry peat, wood shavings or vermiculite at 16-21°C (60-70°F) until you are ready to replant in spring. - Containerized plants can be kept dry and warm during the dormant period; resume watering and bring them into the light and warmth of spring, when new growth begins.

Feed only during the active growth period (spring, summer and early autumn). At the time of planting, incorporate a small quantity of a complete, balanced fertilizer (e.g. a slow-release 10-10-10/14-14-14 fertilizer with micronutrients) into the soil, or apply it as a light surface broadcast once the shoots emerge. During the growing season, reapply a light dose approximately every 4 to 6 weeks, or for containers, use a balanced water-soluble fertilizer at 1/4-1/2 of the dose every 2 to 4 weeks. Avoid over-fertilization and very high nitrogen programs (which can promote poor growth and leaf edge burn); do not apply fertilizer to foliage, and water after application. Stop fertilizing when growth slows and the plant goes dormant; do not fertilize dormant tubers.

Apply a light organic mulch to conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature and reduce weeds. Use 5 to 8 cm of shredded leaves, compost or fine pine bark, keeping the mulch a few centimetres away from crowns and emerging shoots to prevent rotting. In cooler climates, wait until the soil has warmed up and plants are actively growing before mulching (cool, damp mulch can slow warming and promote tuber rot). In warmer climates, where tubers can overwinter in the soil, renew a layer of insulating organic mulch in late autumn to help protect tubers and stabilize soil moisture.