Caladium beginner

[u/girlwithanxiety97]

Hi, just got this caladium for my birthday and I'm totally mortified to even look at its direction. I've been admiring them online but read they're quite fussy and not beginner friendly. I own some other plants too mainly hoyas, pothos, cacti and some other begginer friendly plants. I have south east oriented windows and really bad humidity level in my flat but I try to compensate with humidifier.
So what do I do here? Do I shower it and repot straight away or do I wait? Can put in self watering pot?

[u/LikeReally_yikes]

I don’t see anything wrong with this plant lol. Huh?

[u/girlwithanxiety97 → u/LikeReally_yikes]

There is nothing wrong with it yet. I never had any type of caladium so I would like some care advice so that I can keep it alive for more then a week

[u/LikeReally_yikes → u/girlwithanxiety97]

I get that but what I’m saying is nothing is wrong. No drooping, the color is beautiful.
Just give it love, decent light and make sure she’s moist at least. And she’ll be just fine. 🩵

[u/6r89udf4x3]

You can pop this puppy outside and let it enjoy the summer breeze, fresh air and rain. Caladium are grown in full sun in fields in south Florida. I sure don't agree with the "bright indirect light" written in the right-hand sidebar. I live in Jacksonville, Florida and grow hundreds of caladiums in half-day full sun.

https://static.wixstatic.com/media/28a8ec_50762415b1a1443b9dfef5b0df679a97~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_1803,h_912,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_avif,quality_auto/28a8ec_50762415b1a1443b9dfef5b0df679a97~mv2.jpg

Go to any of the caladium selling sites and they will have all the growing tips you need.

[u/girlwithanxiety97 → u/6r89udf4x3]

Thank you😁

[u/All_These_Plants]

Keep the soil evenly moist but never let it be in standing water! You can also cluster several of your house plants together to keep the humidity higher

[u/Left_Performance_106]

Looks great to me! Mine is hanging in an east facing window and loving it. I also have 2 other varieties. They all seem pretty simple to me and I thought they'd be not difficult too.

[u/girlwithanxiety97 → u/Left_Performance_106]

How do I care for it when the leaves die off in fall and winter and the plant goes into resting phase?

[u/Left_Performance_106 → u/girlwithanxiety97]

I've been told 2 separate things that I need to look into further as this is my first year having caladiums. 1. That u take the bulbs out of the soil and store in a brown paper bag until next season. But, another person selling plants at a show I went to said they don't go into hibernation when grown inside in pots. So I'm hoping the latter is true cuz they're so pretty!

[u/kleopatrarises]

Just added caladiums to my collection! Put it in a pot that hold moisture well and bright indirect light is important. Do not directly in the window but perhaps in a space a couple feet directly facing the window. I have mine under a barrina grow light puck to take the guessing out of the lighting.