About Caladiums
Caladiums (Caladium spp.) are tropical plants grown for their heart-shaped leaves and colorful foliage. The caladium plant is a popular landscape plant in subtropical areas, and it is often grown indoors in temperate regions. Caladium stems grow from underground tubers, and the tubers are often called bulbs or corms.
The caladium is a tropical plant that is hardy only in USDA zones 10 through 12. Caladiums need warm soil to grow well, so they are usually started indoors in pots and planted outdoors after the last spring frost date. Some caladium varieties are more sun-tolerant than others, so gardeners should check the variety for specific growing requirements.
Most gardeners buy caladium tubers in spring when they’re planting them outdoors, but gardeners can also save their tubers to plant again the following year. The caladium plant produces leaves during the summer months and then goes dormant during the winter. Gardeners who live in warm climates can keep the tubers in the ground year-round, but gardeners who live in colder places must dig up the tubers when they go dormant and store them until spring.
The Benefits of Caladiums Plant
Caladium is a tropical plant that has long been used as a decorative plant in various parts of the world, especially in Asia. Although the leaves or stems are not edible, the caladium plant has many health benefits. Here are some benefits that you can get from caladium plants:
1. Anti-tumor
In a study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland, it was found that caladium leaves contain chemical compounds such as alkaloids and steroidal saponins which have anti-tumor properties. In addition to preventing cancer cell growth, this compound also helps your body fight cancer cells. Not only cancer, but these compounds also have anti-bacterial properties so they can protect you from various types of germs that are around you.
2. Preventing anemia
The red blood cells in your body play a role in supplying oxygen to all parts of your body, so if the number of red blood cells decreases then you will be prone to fatigue and shortness of breath easily. The content of vitamin C which is in caladium leaves can help increase the production of red blood cells and thus maintain your stamina when doing activities. Vitamin C is also needed by the body to absorb iron and calcium.
How to Grow and Care for Caladiums?
There are two types of caladiums: fancy-leaved varieties and strap-leaved varieties. The fancy-leaved types have larger leaves with more color patterns and blotches, while the strap-leaved types are narrower and more solid in color.
If you are looking to grow caladiums, you will need to decide whether to plant from bulbs or seeds. Planting from bulbs will give you more control over the size and shape of your plants, as well as speed up the growing process. However, planting from seed can be a fun learning experience for novice gardeners, and is often cheaper than purchasing bulbs.
If you are planning to plant from seed, start them indoors about 10 weeks before the last frost of the season (or earlier if you live in a warmer climate). If you are planning to plant from bulbs, place the bulbs in potting soil about 2 inches deep after all danger of frost has passed in your area.
Whichever planting method you choose, use soil that is rich in organic matter and make sure it drains well.