Caladium Red Flash: The Plant With the Most Colorful Foliage

Caladium red flash plants of the Araceae family will transform your entire living space with its bright and cheerful flash of colors, making it a must-have decorative plant for all enthusiasts. Not only does it look beautiful, but it’s easy to care for as well.

We have gathered knowledge from experts who have been growing this plant for decades to bring you this care guide, so what are you waiting for? Start reading and make your Caladium genus plant happy and healthy!

What Is Caladium Red Flash?

Caladium red flash is a tuberous perennial plant from South America that is wildly popular due to its vibrant, large-sized leaves that come in several popping colors such as red and green. It is highly toxic so care should be exercised when kept indoors, but otherwise, they are very easy to take care of.

Caladium Red Flash Care

Grow Caladium reds in partially shaded conditions and water them every other day during summer to keep their soil moist all the time. These plants grow best in well-draining soil under warm temperatures.

Find out about these requirements in detail below.

Water Requirements

During summer, water this plant regularly such that its soil is kept moist at all times. You will need to water it once every two days under normal circumstances.

This plant is notorious for its stringent watering needs, which is why many people find it a very difficult plant to care for. Don’t worry as we are about to tell you that it really is simpler than it appears to be.

– Watering Tips

The leaves of this plant will appear during the vegetative period in the summers, which is when you should water this plant regularly.  The key to watering this plant is to listen to its soil. The soil of the red Caladium plant should be kept moist at all times when its leaves are in bloom. 

Use the pencil stick method to gauge the level of moisture in the soil. Always stick a pencil in the soil and water as soon as it starts to appear even mildly dry. Water thoroughly and slowly, and always remember that the soil should appear moist and not muddy or runny after watering. You can also keep a layer of mulch over the soil to keep it moist.

During the cold winter months, this plant will go through a period of dormancy during which its leaves will fall off completely. You should stop watering it altogether until new leaves grow next spring.

Light Requirements

The red flash Caladium is a shade-loving plant. In fact, the colors that this plant is known for appear more vibrant and bright when grown under shaded or partially shaded conditions.

The only type of direct light this plant can tolerate is the early morning sunlight. You can also acclimatize this plant to tolerate light of slightly higher intensities by exposing it to such light gradually. Read on to find out more about this.

– Growing Caladiums Indoors

Since these plants grow best when kept indoors, we suggest keeping them in a room with proper windows so they can get actual sunlight indirectly. It would be ideal to keep them near an eastern-facing window because this window receives only direct early morning sunlight.

Even then, make sure that your plant doesn’t receive more than two to three hours of direct sunlight each day.

When keeping them close to windows other than the eastern one, make sure that the plants are well away from the line of direct sunlight. Alternatively, you can hang curtains or some other coverings on the windows to keep direct light from falling on your precious plant.

– Growing Caladiums Outdoors

When growing Caladiums outdoors, keep them somewhere where they are under some kind of shade from direct sunlight. Again, if some direct light is inevitable, it should only be the early morning light.

Light during any other time of the day would be harsh enough for your plant to get a pretty bad sunburn.

Soil Requirements

The red flash Caladiums grow best in well-draining soil with a pH of around 5.5 to 6.2. You can make your own soil by using a mixture of potting mix with peat.

Temperature Requirements 

The red caladium plant belongs to warmer climates and it requires consistently higher temperatures for proper growth.

– Temperatures During Summer

Temperatures should be 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit during both day and night times in the warm summer months. If the temperatures start to go above 90 degrees Fahrenheit in your area, then you need to move this plant indoors where temperature management is more controlled.

When kept indoors, make sure that your plant is not kept near an open window or any other place from where a cold draft of wind might come in during the night.

– Temperatures During Winter

During winters, the red Caladium plant can tolerate slightly lower temperatures. However, don’t let the temperature drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

If your area experiences very cold winters, then you should always keep this plant in a pot so that it can easily be moved indoors when temperatures begin to fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

Humidity Requirements

The red Caladium flash plant needs more than 50 percent humidity at all times to grow to its full size and potential. You need to keep a hygrometer in your house to gauge the levels of humidity around your plants.

– Some Ways You Can Improve Humidity

You can increase humidity around Caladiums that are kept indoors by using a pebble tray or a humidifier or by huddling similar plants together.

– Keep Them in a Humid Room

Try to keep this plant in the most humid rooms of the house. These rooms would be the kitchen and the bathroom in most houses.

– Make a Pebble Tray

The second most economical option is to make a DIY pebble tray and place it under the pot. Simply take a medium-deep tray and fill it with water and pebbles. Place the pot on top of the pebbles such that it doesn’t actually come in contact with the water. This tray will increase humidity around the pot by the process of evaporation.

– Keep Plants Close Together

By keeping similar plants close together, you can also increase the surrounding humidity by creating a sort of greenhouse environment.

– Buy a Humidifier

A humidifier can be pretty expensive but it is one of the best options out there. You can give your plant the best levels of humidity it needs by monitoring the air using this device.

Fertilizing Requirements

Make sure that you provide your Caladium Red Flash plant with a fertilizer containing magnesium, nitrogen and iron. Follow the instructions on the label and do not over-fertilize, as this can lead to your plant’s leaves browning. 

Pruning

If you see dead or yellow leaves on your Caladium Red Flash plant, then it is best to remove these leaves to ensure your plant’s healthy growth. Pruning helps keep the plant thriving and looking neat.

 

Propagation

The best way to propagate the red Caladium plant is through its tubers. You can collect these tubers in the fall when the leaves fall out and the plant begins to go into hibernation. Store these tubers all winter and plant them in the spring.

– How To Propagate Through Tubers

Here is a step-by-step guide to propagating the red Caladium plant using tubers.

1. Wait for the leaves of the caladium red beret plant to die at the beginning of fall. When the soil around the plant becomes dry, then you can dig the tubers out by gently pulling them from the top.
2. You should wait until the frost is over before you planting these red flash caladium bulbs in the ground. Store them in a box and keep them someplace cool, dark and dry. The ideal temperature for storing these tubers is below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
3. During early spring or late winter when the cold is over and temperatures rise above 70 degrees Fahrenheit, then it’s finally time to start propagating. Cut your tubers into little pieces using a clean, sterile knife.
4. Make sure that each cut piece of the tuber has at least one growth site. This could be an eye or a knob on the surface. After cutting, allow the callus to form on the site of the cut. This might take about one week.
5. Pour fresh soil in a new pot or dig up the soil in your garden before planting the pieces of the Caladium tubers into it. Make sure that the growth site is facing upwards.
6. Keep watering moderately, not allowing the soil to become dry at any point, until new shoots emerge.

Problems

Some common problems this plant will face are either leaves drooping due to underwatering or turning yellow due to lack of nutrients, etc. This plant is also highly toxic and shouldn’t be eaten or touched without gloves.

– Underwatering

Caladium red flash plants will undergo great stress when not watered adequately. Remember that you need to keep their soil most at all times, especially during summers.

Signs of underwatering include the leaves turning dry and wrinkly. The leaves will begin to droop and might even begin to drop alarmingly. What you need to do is to improve your watering routine as soon as possible if you want to save this plant.

– Leaves Turning Yellow

Caladium red flash leaves can turn yellow for a number of reasons.

Check to see whether your plant is undergoing any of the following conditions.

• Your plant is being overwatered. Make sure that your pot and soil both have good drainage.
• Lack of adequate nutrition may also be responsible. Make sure that you provide your plant with a fertilizer containing magnesium, nitrogen and iron.
• Lastly, check to make sure that your plant is not undergoing any sort of cultural stress.

– Leaves Turning Brown

Have you been noticing the pretty leaves of your plant turning brown? Below is a list of reasons why this might be happening.

You might be underwatering your plant. Check your soil, if it is dry then this is definitely what’s been causing this browning. Caladium red plants, when under direct sunlight, will get sunburnt and their leaves will turn brown.

If your plant isn’t getting the humidity that it needs, then the dry air might also cause its leaves to turn brown. Over-fertilizing can also cause your plant leaves to turn brown. 

– Toxicity

This plant is very toxic for both pets and human beings. All parts of this plant, when ingested, can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pain behind the eyes. It can also cause a pretty bad rash when it comes in contact with your bare skin.

Be careful when handling this plant. Always wear gloves and full-sleeved shirts when handling it. If you have pets or little children, be extra vigilant to keep it out of their reach.

Distinctive Characteristics

Find out what the leaves and flowers of this plant look like here.

– Leaves

The leaves of this fascinating plant come in a wide range of pink, white, red and green colors that will make any corner of your house where they are kept seem like an explosion of color.

The colored part of each leaf appears in the middle whereas they are green around the edges. The leaves can be mottled, veined or striped in appearance. Their shape varies from being heart-shaped to arrow-shaped and is paper-thin on texture. Plant novices might mistake this foliage for being flowers instead.

– Flowers

A Red caladium flower starts off as a spike or a spathe. As compared to the foliage, these flowers are quite unremarkable and short-lived.

FAQ

Does Caladium Red Flash come back every year?

Yes, Caladium Red Flash is a perennial plant and will return every year.

What kills Caladium Red Flash?

Overwatering, extreme temperatures, and pests/diseases can kill Caladium Red Flash.

What happens if I plant Caladium Red Flash upside down?

Planting Caladium Red Flash upside down can cause delayed growth or no growth at all, as the bulb needs to be facing upward for proper growth.

Conclusion

Read this brief summary of all that we have discussed about the Caladium Red Flash so far:

• When growing the Caladium red flash, provide them with bright indirect light. You can gradually expose them to light of higher intensity too but their leaves will appear more vibrant when grown under shaded conditions.
• Water your Caladiums every second day so that its soil stays moist all the time. Make sure that both the soil and the pot have proper drainage and don’t contribute to waterlogging.
• Pot these plants in well-draining soil with a pH around 5.5 to 6.2. The temperature should be high during both summer and winter. It is not frost-hardy and will undergo shock when temperatures fall below 55 degrees Fahrenheit.
• This plant grows through tubers, which can also be used to propagate it.
• All parts of this plant are toxic whether they are ingested or touched with bare skin. Wear gloves when looking after them and keep away from the reach of children and pets.

Caladium red flash plants will gift you with the most heavenly foliage possible when taken care of with love and attention. Why don’t you grab some of their tubers and start propagating today?