A caladium plant consists of leaf petioles (stalks) which emerge directly from a bulb like tuber. The leaves which unfold are very colorful in shades of red, pink, green, white, and typically a mix of two or more. Their great appeal is their ability to provide color in shade, and look good especially as it gets hotter. Unlike most shade foliage plants, such as hostas for example, the hotter and more humid it gets, the better caladium looks provided water is available.
What is up and down ?
At first sight, the tubers will look horribly knobby and will no doubt confuse many first time growers as much as they initially did me. The individual "knobs" are the eyes from which the leaves will emerge. Several knobs are usually combined into a "composite" tuber which means that a tuber with several knobs will produce several leaves. You can actually cut the tuber into smaller sections each containing minimum one knob (eye) to propagate the stock. The roots grow from the top surface of the tuber which intuitively will cause many gardeners to plant them upside down. The tubers should be planted with the knobby side up. If this is the side with roots, you are on the right track. If still in doubt, press the tubers into the surface of a bed of moist growing media at room temperature or warmer for 2-3 weeks, but do not cover them. Soon the eyes will swell and turn pink or red. Check the tuber every few days, and when you notice these eyes, you can turn the tuber, if necessary, and plant it with the eyes upwards.
Buying the tubers
Tubers usually sell in size rated as #2, #1, Jumbo and Mammoth. #1 size tubers are standard but Jumbo tubers, and above, produce more leaves. #2 sized tubers are really too small in my own opinion and should be combined 2-3 tubers together of the same color. Fresh tubers, such as those air-mailed by Florida growers directly, will sprout faster and usually will have a more round appearance and look less knobby. Tubers purchased at garden centers which have been out of storage for a while will often be hard and dehydrated but they, too, will eventually sprout provided they have been protected from cold temperatures. Personally, I favor caladium tubers shipped directly from the growers.
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