Caladium picturatum leaves are peltate, 11–35 x 6–22 cm, thin, dark green and semiglossy above, matte and much paler, sea-green below...
Caladium picturatum, also called as Caladium adamantinum, Caladium aturense, Caladium belleymei, Caladium hastatum, Caladium lemaireanum, Caladium picturatum var. adamantinum, Caladium picturatum var. hastatum, Caladium picturatum var. porphyroneuron, Caladium picturatum var. sagittatum, Caladium porphyroneuron, Caladium sagittatum, Caladium troubetzkoyi, is a species in the genus Caladium. This species was described by Karl Koch and Carl David Bouché in 1854.
DESCRIPTION OF CALADIUM PICTURATUM
Caladium picturatum is native to Northern South America to Northern Peru. It is found growing in tropical moist and premontane wet forest life zones of Brazil North, Brazil Northeast, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, Venezuela at elevations of 35-600 meters above sea level.
It is a herbaceous terrestrial which reaching 40 cm in height that grows from tuberous rhizomes. The leaves are peltate, narrowly ovatetriangular to triangular-subhastate, 11–35 x 6–22 cm, thin, dark green and semiglossy above, matte and much paler, sea-green below; major veins sunken and margined with red above, all major veins narrowly raised below. The leaf stalk is 17–63 cm, terete, weakly glossy, spongy, medium yellowgreen, tinged purple.
The plant blooms in pring to autumn from the inflorescence that consists of a creamy white, 4.5 cm long spadix and greenish white and veined on outside, petal-like spathe that surrounds the spadix like a hood. The flowers are green to cream in bud, becoming pale yellowish, semiglossy, unisexual and resemble calla lily flowers. Fleshy fruits are whitish berries.
CALADIUM PICTURATUM CARE
Cultural information should only be used as a guide, and should be to be adapted to suit you. Your physical location; where you grow your plants, how much time you have to devote to their care, and many other factors, will need to be taken into account. Only then can you decide on the cultural methods that best suit you and your plants.
Light:
Caladium picturatum grows well and has best leaf color with between 2500 to 5000 foot-candles. For best results, plant them in a semi-shaded location. From 40 to 60 percent shade is considered ideal. Lower light intensities cause stretched petioles, large leaves, and weak plants. Light intensities that are too high cause bleached leaf color or necrotic leaf margins.
In tropical and subtropical areas they can be grown in a sheltered spot in the garden. In cooler areas they are suitable for indoors or a glasshouse.
Temperature:
Daytime temperatures should be kept in a range of 21-32 °C (24-26 °C is best) and a nighttime temperature of at least 18 °C. The average daily temperature should be in the mid-21 °C. Never expose the plant to lower temperatures. Temperatures below 15 °C can cause damage to plants and temperatures below 2 °C can kill the plants. Symptoms of low-temperature injury include slow emergence, stunted growth, small leaves, rot, and greening of the leaves on white cultivars. Many growers in northern climates use steam pipes or heated benches to give the plant bottom heat.
Humidity:
The plant need the humidity level of at least 50%. Keeping the humidity high in a heated home may be done with misting and by placing a saucer filled with pebbles and water under the container. The evaporation will moisten the ambient air and provide the humidity necessary for your Caladium. Keep your plant away from heating vents which will blow dry air and drafty windows or doors.
Substrate and growing media:
Caladium picturatum should be planted in a potting media that is high in peat or organic matter with a high waterholding capacity. Many growers use pure peat moss amended to correct pH and fertility. However, many commercial peat-lite media also work well. Other growers plant the tubers in Jiffy pots to be transplanted later.
Tubers should be planted 2 to 3 inches deep because roots will emerge from the upper side of the tuber. The media used should have a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 and an electrical conductivity level of 1.2 to 1.5 (2:1 extraction method). Water the tubers well soon after potting.
Watering:
Although the plant enjoy warm weather, they don’t tolerate dry conditions. In beds and borders, water plants weekly during dry weather. To help conserve soil moisture, apply a 5cm layer of mulch around the plants. The plant in containers should be checked regularly and watered when the potting soil begins to dry out.
Even indoors, the plant will enter dormancy after a few months in leaf. When their leaves start to die back, stop watering. Allow the plant to rest and resume watering once new growth starts.
Fertilizer:
Fertilize Caladium picturatum regularly with a soluble fertilizer to promote strong foliage growth. They prefer a 2-2-3 or 1-1-1 ratio of N-P-K. One of the biggest problems in caladium production is overfertilization. Caladiums should not be put on a constant liquid fertilizer program. They are nitrogen sensitive and a high nitrogen fertilizer is discouraged. Symptoms of overfertilization include stretching of petiols, poor leaf color, and greening and brown spots on white-leaf cultivars.
Pruning:
Prune dead or decaying leaves from the plants by snipping off the stems at the soil line. You can also remove the flower buds as they start to appear. You can also prune off dead foliage after the plant dies back and you’ve removed the corms from the ground or potting mix.
Winter period:
In the autumn when nights are cool, the plant will fade. If the tubers are to be kept over the winter in temperate areas, they must be brought in before the first frost (or before soil temperatures drop below 13 °C). Lift any tubers in the ground, remove most of the soil, and allow to dry for a week in a warm, shady spot before cutting off the leaves and storing in dry sphagnum moss or a mesh bag under mild conditions (13-15 °C) for up to 5 months. Tubers in containers can be brought inside and left undisturbed in the pots for the winter. Allow the growing medium to dry out as the leaves die back. The containers can be kept in bright or dark conditions, but the temperature should never be below 13 °C. Begin watering again when new growth appears in the spring.
Pests and diseases:
The plant are generally pest and disease free, but problems can occur. Aphids, thrips, mealy bugs, two-spotted spider mites, and white flies can be problems. Emulsifiable concentrates should be avoided on caladiums.
Propagation:
Caladium picturatum can be propagated by seed, tissue culture, or tubers. Seed production requires a long production time and results in seedling variability, therefore it is only used in breeding. Tissue culture is not often used because it is costly. Nearly all caladium production is done from tubers. Tuber propagation is usually conducted in the spring. Cut the tuber into pieces that contain at least one eye or knob; allow the cut pieces to dry for a few days to callous over before planting.
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