Caladium

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Caladium (lat. Caladium) is a rare genus of succulent herbaceous plants that create dense undergrowth in the American tropics. In its native land, it is used for food purposes, producing starch from the roots of plants, although the juice that permeates all parts is considered toxic. Our plant is popular for its large bright leaves that can decorate any flower garden, or give a special charm to the interior of the room.

What's in your name

The origin of the Latin genus name is unknown. Most likely, similar to the name of the genus "Calla", also belonging to the Aroid family, it was taken from the works of Pliny the Elder without additional comments.

Due to the picturesque shape of the leaves, the plants of the genus have many popular names. Everyone sees in them his own appearance, close in spirit, giving birth to such names as "Angel Wings", "Jesus Heart", "Elephant Ears".

A very warlike representative of the Sedge family grows in the tropics, the name of which is very consonant with the handsome Kaladium, but who has lost the first letter "a", that is, the name of the plant sounds like "Cladium". Therefore, you should be careful when buying seeds, so that instead of the luxurious soft leaves of Caladium, you do not grow sharp-cut, piercing living tissues, Cladium leaves. Although Caladium is usually propagated by dividing the rhizome rather than sowing seeds.

Description

The Almighty did not skimp on paints and put maximum imagination when creating the leaves of Caladium. When it came to flowers, the colors and imagination dried up, and therefore the flowers turned out to be inconspicuous, gathering in yellow inflorescences-cobs. The inflorescence hides behind a greenish covering leaf so as not to disturb the beauty of the leaves.

After all, it is for the luxurious leaves that people liked the perennial tropical herb. Despite the toxic sap running through the vessels of the plant, Caladium has gained recognition and is widely used in decorating gardens and premises. The unusual shape of the arrow-heart-shaped leaves with a wavy edge is complemented by bright colors that combine on one sheet in the most incredible way. These can be bright red veins that stand out clearly against the white-green background of the leaf. Or the pink surface of the leaf is enclosed in a green frame flowing in a wavy border around the edge. The habitually green color of the leaves is enriched with white, pink, purple, red.

True, the rhizome plant likes to take a break in the activity of its aboveground parts, indulging in a state of dormancy for almost six months. But the holiday that Caladium creates during the second half of the year, more than pays for such a long absence of a plant in this world.

Varieties

* Caladium bicolor (lat. Caladium bicolor) - on the green or white surface of the leaves, respectively, white or red spots.

* Caladium Schomburg (lat. Caladium schomburgii) green veins on the pinkish-red surface of the leaves.

* Caladium Humboldt (Latin Caladium humboldtii) - silvery-white patterns on the dark green surface of the leaves.

Growing

Like many tropical plants of the lower tier, Caladium loves diffused lighting, moist (but not damp) air and soil, warm (but not hot), fertile acidic soil and no draft. Excess moisture, called "damp", provokes fungal diseases, so you should feel good about the difference between "wet" and "wet".

When the plant retires, the extracted roots are stored at plus 15 degrees in boxes filled with peat. With the beginning of a new life cycle, the roots are again moved into the ground, not completely filling them, but only by two-thirds of their thickness.

Caladium produces offspring, which are used for plant propagation. In addition, reproduction can be carried out through the division of the overgrown rhizome.

When working with a plant

caution required and the use of protective equipment to avoid becoming a victim of it