Caladium ‘Valentina’

Cultivated name of Caladium ‘Valentina’

This Caladium is grown under the name ‘Valentina’.

Caring for Caladium ‘Valentina’ as a houseplant

• Light: Give it bright filtered light. Gentle morning or evening sun can be introduced gradually.
• Temperature: Keep it warm. Protect the leaves and tuber from cold draughts, cold window glass and other cold conditions.
• Water: When the plant is growing, water once the top of the mix begins to dry and the pot feels lighter. Water thoroughly and let the excess drain.
• Humidity: Keep it away from hot, dry air such as heating vents, and keep some airflow around the leaves.
• Potting mix: Use a loose, airy mix that drains freely and still holds some moisture.
• Feeding: Feed with a balanced houseplant fertiliser while new leaves are growing, following the label.
• Rest: If the leaves yellow and die back, water less. Return to normal watering when new shoots appear.
• Repotting and propagation: Repot when the tubers crowd the pot or the mix becomes compacted. To propagate, divide a mature tuber so each piece has a healthy bud.
• Safety: Caladium tissue contains calcium oxalates that can irritate the mouth, skin and eyes. Keep it out of reach of children and pets, and wash your hands after handling damaged tissue.

How to solve problems with Caladium ‘Valentina’

• Drooping while the potting mix stays wet: Root or tuber rot is a likely cause. Inspect the roots and tuber. Cut away the rot with a clean tool until you reach firm, healthy tissue. Discard everything you remove, then replant in fresh, well-drained mix.
• Soft or foul-smelling tuber tissue: Bacterial soft rot can spread quickly. Separate the plant. If the damaged area is small, cut away the rot with a clean tool until you reach firm, healthy tissue. Discard everything you remove. Discard a tuber that is extensively soft or foul-smelling.
• Yellowing or weak new leaves: Check whether the potting mix is staying too wet or too dry, inspect the roots, and check recent feeding.
• Fine scars, stippling or webbing: Inspect for thrips and mites. Separate the affected plant. If treatment is needed, use a product labelled for indoor ornamental plants and follow the label. Repeat treatment only as directed on the label.

Caladium bicolor ‘Valentina’ is toxic to people and pets

• Keep this plant away from children, cats and dogs.
• Its leaves and stems contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, which can irritate the mouth, throat, skin and eyes.
• Chewing may cause burning pain, drooling, swelling, vomiting or difficulty swallowing. Contact a veterinarian or medical professional after exposure, especially if swelling or breathing problems occur.

Why is it called Caladium bicolor?

The genus name Caladium comes from Malay keladi, a word used for taro-like aroids. The Latin epithet bicolor means two-coloured, while the genus name ultimately derives from the Malay word keladi.

Étienne Pierre Ventenat established the genus Caladium in 1800 in Magasin Encyclopédique, volume 4, page 463.

William Aiton first described it as Arum bicolor in 1789 in Hortus Kewensis, volume 3, page 316. Étienne Pierre Ventenat later placed it in Caladium as Caladium bicolor in 1800 in Magasin Encyclopédique, volume 4, page 464.