Heart of Jesus - Ask Extension
How to care for this plant through the seasons?
Knowledgebase
Heart of Jesus #847454
Asked August 27, 2023, 7:23 AM EDT
How to care for this plant through the seasons?
Cuyahoga County Ohio
Expert Response
Hi Romina,
You taught me something today. I never heard the plant name Heart of Jesus before, but a Google search told me it's the common name for caladiums. I love those plants and am glad to know a new name for them!
Caladiums are tropical plants, so as you probably already know, they can't survive our winters outdoors. You'll want to bring them indoors before the first frost, or before the soil temperature drops below 55 degrees.
The Wisconsin Extension offers this guidance for overwintering caladiums:
If your plants are in the ground, dig up the tubers, remove most of the soil from them and allow them to dry for a week in a warm, shady spot. Then cut off the leaves and store the tubers in dry sphagnum moss or a mesh bag under mild conditions (55-60ºF).
In spring, start the tubers indoors in pots 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date. Place the knobby side with the eyes up and barely cover with soil. Keep the container in a warm room (70ºF or warmer) with bright light. Move the growing plants outdoors after the last frost. You can either keep the plants in the containers above ground or sunk into the ground, or transplant them into the ground so the tuber is 1½”- 2″ deep.
If your plants are in pots, you might opt to just bring the pots inside for winter instead of digging up the tubers. If you do, let the growing medium dry out as the leaves die back. The containers can be kept in bright or dark conditions, but the temperature should never be below 55ºF. Begin watering again when new growth appears in the spring.
Caladiums do best in partial shade. They prefer a moist, rich, light, well-drained soil, so it is best to amend most soils with plenty of compost or other organic material. In areas with heavy soils it is often better to keep them in containers than to plant them in the ground.
Fertilize the plants regularly during the growing season, using a low-nitrogen or balanced formulation. Too much nitrogen can affect leaf color.
Good luck to you! I hope your plants bring you joy for many seasons to come.
You taught me something today. I never heard the plant name Heart of Jesus before, but a Google search told me it's the common name for caladiums. I love those plants and am glad to know a new name for them!
Caladiums are tropical plants, so as you probably already know, they can't survive our winters outdoors. You'll want to bring them indoors before the first frost, or before the soil temperature drops below 55 degrees.
The Wisconsin Extension offers this guidance for overwintering caladiums:
If your plants are in the ground, dig up the tubers, remove most of the soil from them and allow them to dry for a week in a warm, shady spot. Then cut off the leaves and store the tubers in dry sphagnum moss or a mesh bag under mild conditions (55-60ºF).
In spring, start the tubers indoors in pots 4-6 weeks before the average last frost date. Place the knobby side with the eyes up and barely cover with soil. Keep the container in a warm room (70ºF or warmer) with bright light. Move the growing plants outdoors after the last frost. You can either keep the plants in the containers above ground or sunk into the ground, or transplant them into the ground so the tuber is 1½”- 2″ deep.
If your plants are in pots, you might opt to just bring the pots inside for winter instead of digging up the tubers. If you do, let the growing medium dry out as the leaves die back. The containers can be kept in bright or dark conditions, but the temperature should never be below 55ºF. Begin watering again when new growth appears in the spring.
Caladiums do best in partial shade. They prefer a moist, rich, light, well-drained soil, so it is best to amend most soils with plenty of compost or other organic material. In areas with heavy soils it is often better to keep them in containers than to plant them in the ground.
Fertilize the plants regularly during the growing season, using a low-nitrogen or balanced formulation. Too much nitrogen can affect leaf color.
Good luck to you! I hope your plants bring you joy for many seasons to come.
