Caladium 'Pink Beauty'

🌿 Caladium 'Pink Beauty' (Caladium bicolor) is a cultivar from the Araceae family, originally native to the tropical regions of Central and South America where it thrives in warm, humid forest understories. This stunning foliage plant is cherished for its vibrant pink and green leaves that bring a burst of colour to any indoor space. Suitable for intermediate-level plant enthusiasts, it requires attention to humidity and seasonal dormancy but rewards you with breathtaking displays. Here's a fun fact: Caladiums grow from tubers and often go dormant in cooler months, allowing the plant to rest before producing fresh growth in spring.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
The 'Pink Beauty' displays an upright to slightly arching growth habit with heart-shaped leaves that can reach 15 to 30 centimetres in length. Each leaf showcases bold pink centres with deep green edges and delicate veining that creates an artistic, almost hand-painted effect. The texture is thin and papery, giving the foliage a delicate, translucent quality when backlit. New leaves emerge tightly furled and unfurl gradually to reveal their stunning colour palette.
FLOWER DETAILS
Caladiums occasionally produce small, inconspicuous flowers in the form of a spathe and spadix typical of aroids. The flowers are usually pale green or white and lack fragrance. While the blooms themselves aren't particularly showy, they signal a healthy, mature plant. Most growers remove flower spikes as they appear to redirect the plant's energy into producing more of those gorgeous leaves. Flowering isn't the main attraction here—the foliage steals the show year-round during the active growing season.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS
🌞 Light: Bright, indirect light for 6 to 8 hours daily. Avoid direct sun which can scorch the delicate leaves. East or north-facing windows work well.
💧 Water: Keep soil consistently moist during the growing season (spring through early fall). Water when the top 2 centimetres of soil feel dry. Reduce watering significantly when the plant enters dormancy in late fall and winter. Bottom watering works nicely to avoid wetting the tuber crown.
🌡️ Humidity: Prefers 60 to 80 percent humidity. Use a humidifier, pebble tray, or group with other plants to maintain moisture in the air.
🪴 Soil: Well-draining, light, and airy potting mix. A blend with peat moss, perlite, and a bit of compost works beautifully.
🏺 Potting: Choose a pot with drainage holes, about 15 to 20 centimetres in diameter for a single tuber. Terra cotta or plastic both work. Repot every 1 to 2 years or when tubers outgrow the container.
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate to fast during active growth. Expect several new leaves per month in peak season. Plants can reach 30 to 45 centimetres tall and wide within one growing season.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed every 2 to 4 weeks during spring and summer with a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength. Stop fertilizing during dormancy.
🐾 Pet friendly: No. All parts of the plant contain calcium oxalate crystals which are toxic to cats, dogs, and humans if ingested. Can cause oral irritation, drooling, and digestive upset.
WHERE TO PUT IT
This Caladium thrives in warm, humid spaces like bathrooms with natural light, sunrooms, or near a humidifier in living rooms and bedrooms. It pairs beautifully with other tropical plants in a grouped display. Avoid placing it near cold drafts, air conditioning vents, heating registers, or in rooms that drop below 15 degrees Celsius. Keep it out of reach of curious pets and children due to its toxicity.