Caladium bicolor

Caladium Bicolor, also known as Caladium or taro, is an evergreen herb with heart-shaped leaves. Caladium has swollen tuber, which is poisonous and will cause mouthpiece paralysis after ingestion. 
Caladium has beautiful leaf in multiple color, decorated with transparent or opaque spots. It has green to white spathe in a shell-like shape. This flourish plant can give you a feeling of joy and cheerfulness. 
Caladium prefers high temperature, high humidity and half shade environment. It is not resistant to low temperature and frost. It grows well in loose, fertile soil with good drainage environment. The plant is wide in variety and suitable for indoor cultivation. Summer is the main ornamental period of taro, which exhibits colorful leaves in green and pink. It will enter dormant period in winter. 
This plant can be propagated by corm. It is better to separate corms before germination. Cut off the small corms around the mother bulb with a blade. Then dry them in the shade for 1 day before planting. The mother bulb can also be cut into pieces each with a bud. The cutting surface needs to be smooth, which will help the wound healing better.
Two kinds of methods can be used for germination after dividing the corm. One is putting the corm upward, which can promote rapid growth of buds. However, the growth of buds may not be balanced. The other method is to place the corm upside down, which will make the buds germinate more slowly, but can produce more seedlings. 
Caladium can also be multiplied by leaf cutting, which is easy to produce seedlings and have little variation. The basin soil can be prepared with the combination of peat soil and sandy loam.
In autumn, you can support the yellow leaves and do not throw them away. Give enough sunlight and fertilizer to make the bulb plump until all the leaves turn yellow. In winter, stop watering and fertilizing. 
You need to keep the soil moist in the growing season, and avoid dry or poorly drained. Shading rate of 50%-60% is recommended, as the plant will be withered in strong direct sunlight. From April to August, you may use organic fertilizer once a month to help the growth of leaves. 

3-6 hours of sun per day, with protection from intense mid-day sun

Water generously when surface of mix is dry.

Caladium Bicolor

Caladium bicolor

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