Caladium 'Va Va Violet'

The Florida breeding origin of Caladium ‘Va Va Violet’

Robert Dale Hartman bred Caladium ‘Va Va Violet’ in Florida from ‘Carolyn Whorton’ as the seed parent and ‘Gingerland’ as the pollen parent. The seedling was selected in 2011.

Both parents belong to the cultivated caladium group, whose wild botanical background lies with tropical American species.

Care through leafy growth and seasonal change

Repotting, root care and watering

Repot if the corm or roots crowd the pot or the substrate has compacted. When the clump stops producing leaves and several older ones decline, taper watering.

Light

Caladium ‘Va Va Violet’ is classed for part shade to shade. Weak light elongates the strap-leaved clump.

Watering

Water when the upper layer of the substrate is dry and the lower mix remains lightly moist. The many narrow leaves can lose firmness and yellow if the plant stays dry.

Temperature

Active growth is strongest at steady warmth. Protect it from chilling temperatures and protect the corm from cold conditions.

Fertilising

Apply a balanced liquid feed at a low dose during active leaf production. Stop during dormancy and run plain water through the pot occasionally to remove dissolved salts.

Light and watering

Rotate the upright clump if its petioles lean strongly towards the window. The narrow blades can overlap and hold water, so rinse only when needed and let the clump dry promptly.

Caladium ‘Va Va Violet’ troubleshooting

Narrow violet leaves curl inward

Check the root ball and leaf undersides. A dry, light pot can make strap leaves roll and lose firmness; water thoroughly and drain. Curling accompanied by fine stippling, webbing or moving mites points instead to spider mites. Isolate the plant and treat both leaf surfaces when those signs are present.

Brown tips or holes mark the strap leaves

Strap-leaf Caladiums show scorch after strong direct sun, a missed watering or fertiliser residue on the blade. Move the plant to filtered light, stabilise root moisture and keep feed off the foliage. Existing damage will remain; clean new leaves are the sign that the correction worked.

Violet colour looks paler on a new leaf

The intensity can differ between leaves and may settle as a blade hardens. A firm leaf with stable colour is not failing simply because it is less violet. Investigate when paling continues into yellowing, the petiole loses strength or growth becomes progressively smaller.

The short mound becomes stretched

‘Va Va Violet’ should remain compact. Long weak petioles and widely spaced narrow leaves point to insufficient filtered light during active growth. Move the plant gradually to a brighter position; a complete growth stop is more likely a temperature, root or dormancy issue than a shape problem.

Leaves collapse and no replacement growth appears

Check the tuber before deciding if the plant is resting. A firm tuber beneath gradual decline can be kept warm and dry until it restarts. A soft, wet or foul-smelling tuber is rotting and must be cut back to firm healthy tissue promptly.

Caladium ‘Va Va Violet’ 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.

Caladium: where the name comes from

The genus name Caladium comes from Malay keladi, a word used for taro-like aroids.

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