Why Is My Caladium Drooping?

Do you water your caladium regularly?

Is your caladium placed somewhere cold?

Did you fertilize your caladium excessively?

Was your caladium placed in direct sunlight?

Soil moisture is critical for caladiums. If they are not receiving a steady supply of water, their leaves will wilt. Try to provide consistently moist, well-drained soil. If you are growing your caladium outside apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the plant to ensure water retention.

Caladiums do not like low temperatures. When air temperatures around them drop below 60 degrees Fahrenheit the leaves will begin to droop and eventually collapse. If the plants are in pots, bring them indoors and set them back outside during the daytime. If they are in the ground, try covering them with an old sheet to retain heat at night.

If there are used too excessively, fertilizers can accumulate near the root zone as salts. As the concentration of salts builds up in the soil it inhibits the plant's ability to take up water. A buildup of salts can be prevented through long, deep waterings, rather than short frequent ones. Deep waterings wash salts further into the soil and away from the root zone.

If placed in direct sunlight, caladium leaves will get scorched. Scorched leaves on caladiums develop light tan or brownish edges and become thin, see-through, and limp. Keep your caladium in an area with filtered afternoon sun or partial shade.

At the end of every growing season, caladium leaves lose vigor. You can extend their life considerably by growing them in containers and bringing them indoors as soon as nighttime temperatures drop. They may bloom for another month or more if placed under a skylight or near a south-facing window. Gradually though, the leaves will turn yellow, and soft and will wilt.