Caladium( kelada) bicolour

Family aroid. The genus Caladium.

Natural climatic conditions: the humid tropics of South America - the coasts of large rivers.

Herbaceous plant with tuberiformly thickened roots;leaves on long petioles, large, arrow-like, thin, can have a variety of colors( especially in hybrid forms): multicolored patches( white, silver, pink, etc.) form unique patterns;Some forms have a bright green border, while the main background consists exclusively of spots. Flowers are plain.

The rest period at the end of summer is clearly expressed( only the rhizomes remain), because of which some fans consider caladium an annual. The main difficulty of growing kaladium is maintaining the necessary humidity during the growing season and constantly high temperature, including after the death of the aboveground part of the plant.

Requirement for moisture: immediately after the tubers are planted in the spring - moderate watering, in the period of active vegetative growth - abundant watering, which decreases to 1 time a week after the cessation of the formation of new leaves. During the rest period, watering is almost non-existent, they are spent approximately every two weeks to prevent the drying of the soil in the pot where the tubers are stored. With the exception of the rest period, it is necessary to maintain a high atmospheric humidity, but not by spraying: the plant is placed in pails with wet peat or moss, a series of containers with water, etc. Ideally placement of caladium in floraria.

Temperature regime: constant optimum temperature during all periods of caladium life - 20-22 ° С, at storage of tubers - not below 13 ° С, and that for short term. Temperature above 25 ° C is also undesirable, except for a short period of growth beginning from spring transplanted tubers( about two weeks), when it is even recommended. Skvoznyakov can not stand.

Light mode: strong, but diffuse lighting. With lack of light, the leaves fade, but direct sunlight causes burns. The eastern and western expositions are optimal in rooms with large windows. Possible artificial lighting.

Requirement for soil: the optimum soil mixture from coarse-grained deciduous land, peat( turf peat), crumbs and pekey in equal parts, additives of chopped sphagnum are desirable. In the period of growth - ten-day alternating fertilizing with mineral and organic fertilizers( solutions).

Propagation: by dividing the overwintered tubers at the beginning of their growth. It is necessary to sprinkle slices with coal and air drying( they easily rot).Rarely - seeds.

Features: wipe the leaves can not, so as not to damage their surface. The tubers are stored in the old land until spring, they are transplanted into a new land-mix in spring;The containers should not be too large( optimum: 2-3 tubers per pot 12 cm in diameter).During the growing season, transplantation is contraindicated, but transshipment will not be superfluous.