Caladium steudnerifolium

Natural range and habitat of Caladium steudnerifolium

Caladium steudnerifolium is native to Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It grows in humid lowland and foothill forests.

Natural populations occur in damp understory, forest-edge and creek-side habitats.

How to care for Caladium steudnerifolium indoors

• Light: Give it bright filtered light or gentle partial shade.
• Temperature: Keep temperatures around 21–29 °C. Avoid prolonged temperatures below 15 °C. Keep it away from cold draughts and cold window glass.
• Humidity: Keep humidity around 60–80% and allow gentle air movement around the foliage. Keep the plant away from hot, dry air from heating vents.
• Water: Keep the mix evenly moist. Water again when the surface begins to dry slightly, and let excess water drain.
• Potting mix: Use a loose mix that drains freely.
• Feeding: If you use fertiliser, feed while new leaves are growing, at a moderate dose.
• Repotting: Repot when the roots and underground growth fill the container or the mix becomes compacted.

Troubleshooting Caladium steudnerifolium at home

• Soft underground tissue with wilting: Excess moisture and poor drainage can encourage rot. Inspect the underground tissue and roots. Cut away the rot with a clean tool until you reach firm, healthy tissue. Discard everything you remove, then improve the drainage.
• Brown or collapsed leaf areas after a cold spell: Cold exposure is one possible cause for this wet-tropical species. Move it to a warm position and watch the next leaves.
• White patches on otherwise healthy leaves: Natural white areas are part of this species. Look for fresh feeding trails, frass, insects, webbing or continuing distortion before treating for pests. If treatment is needed, use a product labelled for indoor ornamental plants and follow the label. Repeat treatment only as directed on the label.
• Yellowing or weak growth: Check whether the potting mix is staying too wet or too dry, inspect the roots, and check whether the plant has been cold and whether it has been fed recently.

Caladium steudnerifolium 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.

About the name Caladium steudnerifolium

The genus name Caladium comes from Malay keladi, a word used for taro-like aroids. The species epithet steudnerifolium means Steudnera-leaved and refers to resemblance to the aroid genus Steudnera.

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

Heinrich Gustav Adolf Engler first described Caladium steudnerifolium in 1885 in Botanische Jahrbücher für Systematik, volume 6, page 284.