Do caladiums die back in winter?

Yes. Caladiums grow from tubers and naturally go dormant in autumn as days shorten and temperatures fall. Leaves yellow and collapse over a few weeks. That's normal. Stop watering, then either keep the tuber dry in its pot or lift and store it at around 13 to 18 °C until spring.

How much light does a caladium need indoors?

Bright indirect light is ideal. Morning sun is fine, but strong afternoon sun through glass scorches the thin leaves. White and pale varieties prefer more shade; strap-leaved and red types often tolerate more sun.

How often should I water a caladium?

Water when the top 2 cm of soil feels dry, keeping the soil evenly moist while the plant is in leaf. In warm summer rooms that's often every three to five days. Never let the tuber sit in soggy soil, and stop watering when it goes dormant.

Why are my caladium leaves drooping?

Drooping usually means thirst, heat or very dry air. Leaves that droop and yellow while the soil is wet suggest tuber rot. In autumn, drooping and yellowing across the whole plant is the start of normal dormancy.

Is caladium toxic to cats and dogs?

Yes. Caladium contains insoluble calcium oxalate crystals and is toxic to cats, dogs and people. Chewing it causes intense mouth pain, drooling, swelling and vomiting. Keep it out of reach.

When should I plant caladium tubers?

Start tubers indoors in spring, from about March to May, when you can keep them warm, around 21 to 27 °C. Plant knobby side up, about 3 to 5 cm deep in moist, free-draining compost. Shoots appear in two to six weeks.

Caladium Care Indoors: Light, Water, Humidity and Winter Tubers

Caladium care indoors is seasonal. Caladium bicolor and its hybrids, sometimes called angel wings or elephant ears, grow from tubers native to tropical South and Central America. Their papery, heart-shaped leaves are painted in pinks, reds, whites and greens, and they last through spring and summer. Then, in autumn, the plant dies back to the tuber and rests. Grown with that cycle in mind, caladiums return year after year.

During the growing season they want warmth, bright indirect light, evenly moist soil and humid air.

Caladium care at a glance

Need	What works	Avoid
Light	Bright indirect; gentle morning sun	Hot afternoon sun; dark rooms
Water	Evenly moist while in leaf	Soggy soil; drying out completely
Soil	Peat-free, rich, free-draining mix	Heavy, waterlogged compost
Temperature	21–29 °C (70–85 °F) while growing	Below 15 °C; cold draughts
Humidity	50% or more	Dry, heated air
Feeding	Every two to four weeks while in leaf	Feeding during dormancy
Pets	Toxic	Pets and small children

Light

Caladiums do best in bright, indirect light: close to an east window, or a metre or two back from a south or west one. A little morning sun brings out colour. Strong midday or afternoon sun through glass scorches the thin leaves, causing brown, papery patches.

Variety matters:

Type	Light preference
White-leaved varieties (e.g. 'Candidum', 'White Christmas')	More shade; bright indirect
Fancy-leaved, broad heart shapes	Bright indirect
Strap or lance-leaved, red and pink types	Tolerate more light, some sun

In too little light, stems stretch and flop, and colour fades. Use the plant light meter converter to compare spots.

Watering

While a caladium is in leaf, the soil should stay evenly moist.

Water when the top 2 cm feels dry.
Water thoroughly and let it drain.
Empty the saucer.
As leaves start to yellow in autumn, cut back watering steadily.

In a warm room in summer, that may be every three to five days. Drying out causes drooping, crispy leaves and can trigger early dormancy. Waterlogged soil rots the tuber. See how to water houseplants and set reminders with the plant watering schedule.

Humidity and temperature

Caladiums like humidity of 50 percent or more. Dry air gives crisp edges and curled leaves. A humidifier, a bright bathroom or grouping with other plants helps. See bathroom plants and check your room with the plant humidity checker.

They need warmth. Keep them above about 18 °C and ideally between 21 and 29 °C. Cold, especially below 15 °C, makes leaves droop and pushes the plant into early dormancy. Avoid draughts and air conditioning vents.

Soil and pots

Use a rich, peat-free houseplant compost with about a quarter perlite or fine bark. Caladiums need moisture but hate waterlogging. A pot with a drainage hole is essential. A 15 cm pot suits one large tuber or three small ones. The soil mix calculator helps with blending.

Feeding

Feed every two to four weeks while the plant is actively growing, using a balanced liquid fertiliser at half strength. Stop when leaves start to die back in late summer or autumn. Too much nitrogen can reduce the intensity of leaf colour. Use the fertilizer dilution calculator.

Choosing caladium varieties

Tubers are graded by size, from "mammoth" down to "No. 2". Bigger tubers produce more and larger leaves in their first season, which matters for a single showpiece pot. Smaller grades are cheaper and fine if you plant several together.

Variety	Leaf type	Colour	Light tolerance
'Candidum'	Fancy	White with green veins	Shade to bright indirect
'Florida Sweetheart'	Lance	Rose-pink, green edges	Bright, some sun
'Red Flash'	Fancy	Red centre, pink spots, green edges	Bright indirect to part sun
'Miss Muffet'	Dwarf fancy	Chartreuse with red speckles	Bright indirect
'Gingerland'	Lance	White with red speckles, green edges	Bright, some sun

Dwarf types suit windowsills and small pots; fancy-leaved types make the boldest display. Newer sun-tolerant series have been bred to handle more light, so check the label.

Starting caladium tubers in spring

In spring, choose firm tubers. Larger tubers give more leaves.
Find the knobby side with growing points (the "eyes"); that faces up.
Plant 3 to 5 cm deep in moist, free-draining compost.
Keep warm, ideally 21 to 27 °C. A warm windowsill above a radiator or a heat mat helps.
Water lightly until shoots appear, usually in two to six weeks, then keep evenly moist.

Some growers carefully scoop out the large central bud with a knife tip before planting. This encourages more side shoots and a bushier plant with smaller leaves.

Autumn dieback and winter storage

From late summer, as days shorten, leaves start to yellow and droop. This is dormancy, not death.

Gradually reduce watering as leaves decline.
When all foliage has died, stop watering.
Option A, keep in the pot: store the pot somewhere dry and warm, ideally 13 to 18 °C. Don't water until spring.
Option B, lift the tubers: dig them out, let them dry for a few days, brush off soil, and store in dry peat-free compost, vermiculite or paper bags at 13 to 18 °C.
In spring, replant and restart watering.

Below about 10 °C, stored tubers can be damaged, so avoid unheated garages and sheds. Check stored tubers once a month and discard any that are soft.

Can you keep a caladium in leaf all year?

Sometimes, with warmth, high humidity and a grow light, you can stretch the season, but most caladiums still want a rest. Forcing them year-round tends to weaken the tuber. It's better to let them rest for three to five months.

Common caladium problems

Symptom	Likely cause	Fix
Whole plant yellowing in autumn	Natural dormancy	Reduce water; rest the tuber
Drooping leaves, dry soil	Thirst	Water thoroughly
Drooping and yellowing, wet soil	Tuber rot	Check tuber; repot in fresh mix
Brown papery patches	Sun scorch	Move out of direct afternoon sun
Crisp, curled edges	Dry air	Raise humidity
Leggy, faded leaves	Low light	Brighter, indirect light
Early collapse in spring	Cold	Keep above 18 °C
Fine webbing	Spider mites	See spider mites on plants
Tiny flies around soil	Fungus gnats	See fungus gnats in houseplants

For broader leaf help, see plant leaf problems and curling leaves on houseplants.

Caladiums and safety

Caladiums contain insoluble calcium oxalate crystals, like their relatives alocasia, dieffenbachia and philodendrons. Chewing causes immediate mouth pain, drooling, swelling and sometimes vomiting in cats, dogs and people. Keep plants and tubers out of reach and wear gloves if your skin is sensitive. For colourful pet-safe alternatives, consider calathea or polka dot plant. Check other plants in the plant toxicity checker.

Quick checklist

Bright indirect light; no hot afternoon sun
Soil evenly moist while in leaf
Warm, above 18 °C, and humid
Half-strength feed every two to four weeks in leaf
Let it go dormant in autumn; store tubers warm and dry
Keep away from pets and children

Sources and further reading

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox: Caladium bicolor, for tubers, light and dormancy.
ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Caladium, for pet toxicity.