Caladium bicolor ‘Valentina’

Origin and botanical background of Caladium bicolor ‘Valentina’

Wild C. bicolor has an unusually broad native range, extending from Central America to north-western Argentina. It grows primarily in the wet tropical biome as a tuberous geophyte. Thin leaves form the seasonal above-ground plant, with the underground tuber remaining between periods of active foliage.

Care through leafy growth and seasonal change

Repotting and dormancy

Repot when roots fill the nursery pot, the corm becomes crowded or drainage deteriorates. When leaf renewal stops and the clump yellows together, taper water and keep the dormant corm dry, airy and away from chilling temperatures.

Light

Give Caladium ‘Valentina’ strong filtered light close to an east-facing window or behind a sheer curtain at a brighter exposure. Deep shade stretches the clump and produces smaller, less strongly coloured new growth.

Watering

For a baby plant, water when the upper layer of the substrate is dry and the lower mix still feels slightly moist. A waterlogged corm can lose its fine roots.

Temperature

Maintain steady warmth during active growth and keep nights away from chilling temperatures. Cold can damage the corm.

Humidity and airflow

Ordinary room humidity is workable with steady watering. Moderate humidity helps the thin leaves expand cleanly during dry indoor periods.

Fertilising

Once a young Caladium ‘Valentina’ is well rooted and carrying several active leaves, use a complete liquid fertiliser at the low end of the label rate. A larger leafy clump can receive more within the labelled range, but feeding must stop as dormancy begins.

Caladium bicolor ‘Valentina’ troubleshooting

Young leaves open greener than expected

Fresh ‘Valentina’ leaves can begin greenish and develop their deeper red surface as they harden, while the veins and margins remain dark green. A firm expanding leaf is therefore not deficient merely because it is not yet red. Investigate only if it stays yellow, stops expanding or begins to die back.

Red leaf tissue develops pale or brown patches

Bleached dry areas facing the window point to sun or heat scorch; crisp edges may also follow an abruptly dry root ball. Move the plant to filtered light and stabilise moisture. Soft wet-looking patches that enlarge or cross into the petiole need isolation and removal with clean tools.

Large leaves droop while the pot is damp

Do not water again until the roots and tuber are checked. A cool saturated root zone can cause wilt even when moisture is abundant. Provide warmth, drain the outer pot and unpot promptly if the crown softens, smells sour or sheds petioles from the base.

Red leaves yellow and the plant stops growing

If decline is gradual and the tuber remains firm, ‘Valentina’ is probably entering rest. Reduce water as foliage fades and keep the tuber warm. Sudden yellowing with a soft or wet base is consistent with active rot rather than dormancy.

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.