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Caladium bicolor

Caladium bicolor is the widespread tropical American tuberous aroid behind most garden caladiums, with heart-shaped leaves marked in red, pink, white and green. In the wild it grows at forest edges and in clearings, and often dies back to its tuber in a dry or cool spell. Grow it warm, bright-shaded and moist in leaf, then let it rest dry.

At home, aim for

Day Warm-growingTargets in Plantistry

Night Close to the dayTargets in Plantistry

Humidity Ordinary room humidityBand in Plantistry

Light Bright, filtered lightDLI and PPFD in Plantistry

Expects a seasonal restGrows in the ground

Where it grows wild

A tuberous geophyte of forest margins, clearings, riverbanks and disturbed ground in lowland tropical America.

Mostly lowland; records span 7-1519 m, median 521 m (only 11 records with elevations).

ArgentinaBoliviaBrazilColombiaCosta RicaEcuadorFrench GuianaGuyanaHondurasNicaraguaPanamaPeruSurinameVenezuela

🔒 Growing it like that

The wild conditions above, turned into targets for a shelf, a tent or a greenhouse. The full profile has:

✓ Day and night temperature targets, and the limits it tolerates

✓ Humidity band, and how to hold it

✓ Light as DLI and PPFD for a grow light

✓ Wet and dry seasons, and whether to rest it

✓ Substrate and airflow

✓ A step-by-step setup to grow it like the wild

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Profiles are drafts built from measured range and climate and from published sources; each section carries its own confidence in the app.