Caladium Purple Light - Elephant ear

Caladium 'Purple Light' is a popular houseplant prized for its highly colourful foliage. It grows from a bulb that enters dormancy in winter before resuming growth the following spring. 'Purple Light' offers broad, elongated heart-shaped leaves in various shades of green, speckled and mottled with pink, red, white, or a combination of these colours, with green veins. The Caladium, cherished in the 19th century for its exotic appearance, is enjoying renewed popularity today. It requires high ambient humidity and warmth, at least 20°C, as well as good light without direct sunlight.

Caladium 'Purple Light' originates from Caladium bicolor, also known as Arum bicolor, Caladium x hortulanum. The Caladium genus belongs to the Araceae family and comprises around 15 species native to Brazil and adjacent regions of Central and South America. Commonly, they are called elephant ears, heart of Jesus, or angel wings due to the shape of their large leaves. In the wild, these tuberous plants grow in clearings and along riverbanks. They are active during the rainy season but enter dormancy to survive the dry season. Note that all parts of the plant are toxic to humans. There are over 1000 varieties of Caladium.
The hybrid Caladium 'Purple Light' forms a clump of leaves from spring onwards, measuring approximately 60 to 75 cm in all directions. The heart-shaped leaves, coloured in green, red, pink, and white, measuring roughly 25 cm in length and 12 cm in width, have a characteristic elongated and notched heart shape with a pointed tip. Flowering is unlikely indoors and rather insignificant; it is advisable to remove it to avoid exhausting the plant. The inflorescence takes the form of a yellowish spathe surrounding a column called a spadix, typical of plants in the arum family. In early autumn, reduce watering. The foliage dries up, signalling that the plant is entering dormancy. This is the time to dig up the tubercles, which will spend the winter in barely moist turf or in a jute bag, in the shade, in a cool room maintained between 16 or 18°C. You can also leave the bulbs in the pot, stop watering, and place the pot in a cool, dark room. In spring, bring the pot back into the light or replant the bulbs and place them at a minimum of 20°C or higher, resume watering, or position the pot in a small indoor greenhouse.

Caladium 'Purple Light' will thrive in the living room, bedroom, or office if sufficiently bright. Avoid placing them too close to a bay window unless it has a sheer curtain. Mist them regularly with non-calcareous water or place a humidifier nearby. With good growing conditions, Caladiums reward plant enthusiasts with exceptional foliage from spring to autumn. The light pink foliage of Caladium 'Purple Light' pairs well with that of the variety 'Fantasy', veined in pink, or the large, brilliantly white leaves, finely veined with dark green, of Caladium 'Candidum'.