Florida Sweetheart Caladium - 2 Bulbs

Florida Sweetheart Caladium (2 bulbs) - Easy to Grow Indoor or Outdoor Perennial Plant

Florida Sweetheart caladiums display red leaves with green edging and the pointed tip of the lance leaf. Florida Sweetheart caladium bulbs produce a smaller plant with short stems and small leaves. Florida Sweetheart is a shade-loving caladium. Lance leaf caladium bulbs come in two sizes, #2 (medium) and #1 (large). Larger bulbs produce more stems and leaves. Pointed reddish pink leaves with frilly green edges.

A brilliant, rose-pink caladium with contrasting green edges. Florida Sweetheart's compact habit and slightly ruffled leaves make it a perfect companion for full-size caladiums. A vigorous, dependable performer that will light up any shady area around your home.

Caladiums are tropical Perennials, native to the Amazon jungles of South America. Caladiums are grown for their showy colorful long-lasting leaves and have proven to be excellent bedding plants. Also great for pots, indoors or outdoors. Strap Leaved Caladiums are short with long, narrow, cascading leaves and are more sun tolerant than Fancy Leaved Caladium varieties.

Caladiums are extremely easy to grow in moist, well-drained soil. These shade-loving but sun-tolerant plants thrive in heat and humidity. Soil temperature needs to be 70F or higher when planting. For a bushier plant (shorter and with more leaves) remove the main bud, this is called de-eying.

After planting, it could take 3-6 weeks for the leaves to emerge. In the fall before the first frost, dig up the tubers including the leaves. Place them in the sun for several days. Store in mesh or paper bags between 65F – 70F.

Because caladiums are natives of the tropics, they crave heat and will only flourish in warm air and soil temperatures. Wait until daytime temperatures are 70° to 85° F and nighttime temperatures stay above 60° F. Depending on your growing zone, this can be as early as mid-March (zones 9-11) or as late as mid-June (zones 3-4). In northern areas of the country, caladiums often do best in containers because the soil warms up faster.

In warmer climates (Zone 9 or higher), tubers will go dormant and the foliage will die back. Simply cut the leaves to the ground and leave the tubers in the ground. In colder climates (Zone 8 or below), you must dig them up in the fall before frost if you want to replant them the following spring. When the leaves die down naturally in the fall, allow the soil to dry out, then dig up the tubers and store them in a dry location no cooler than 65° F.

USDA Zone: 3-10
Season of Interest: Spring, Summer
Type: Bulbs
Climate: Tropical Wet
Life Cycle: Perennial
Watering: Medium
Genus: Caladium
Common Name: Elephant Ear
Color: Green, Pink
Sunlight: Partial Shade
Cultivating Difficulty: Very Easy

Quantity: Florida Sweetheart Caladium (2 bulbs)