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Help, new caladium drying up

vasile.cristi.animefGKcDcpGvasile.cristi.animefGKcDcpG Posts: 19
in Problem solving
 Hello, about a week ago I bought my first caladium and right of the bat the leaves started drying up. During the first 3 days it was in a bright spot that received a bit of direct light to my surprise so I understand why it might have burned, but after that I placed it in a shaded area. I have a humidifier next to it that keeps the humidity at 60-70%. When I got it, it was the biggest in the store and as root bound as a plant can be so I put it in a bigger pot with suitable substrate. The new leaves don't seem to be getting burned but I want to know what might have caused this. Could it be going dormant? I know that around November they start going dormat. Or maybe temperature, because at night there are 18 degrees (65F) in that room

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Not enough humidity was my first thought, but you say you've addressed that.
    Does the pot have drainage holes in it? The surplus water needs to be able to drain away so that it doesn't get stagnant and the roots don't rot.
    Another thought - was it a cold day when you brought it home? Even a small exposure can have an effect on plants that are sensitive to it.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • vasile.cristi.animefGKcDcpGvasile.cristi.animefGKcDcpG Posts: 19
    The pot does have drainage holes and it's in a well aerated substrate. I thought about this as well and checked the roots - they are as healthy as when I got it.

    From what I remember it was quite cold and windy on the day I got it, even though the shop is a 5 min walk from home. If the cold night are the problem, then luckly my apartment will start getting heated soon.
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited October 2022
    To me it looks like "the shock of the new".  

    It was probably grown in a hot, humid greenhouse and not hardened off before sale.  It may start to grow well once it has got used to your conditions..
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I agree, probably the shock of being moved from perfect conditions in a nursery glasshouse, to a shop (round here they often have the houseplants near the entrance where they get frequent blasts of whatever the outside conditions are) then a chilly trip home.
    If conditions are right it should produce good new leaves once it's settled in. You might as well cut off the dried-up ones, they won't recover.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • vasile.cristi.animefGKcDcpGvasile.cristi.animefGKcDcpG Posts: 19
    Thank you very much! Yeah, ot was kept right at the entrance so it was getting hit with quite a lot of cold and temperature fluctuations. From what I see, the new leaves are doing just fine so I hope it will continue this way. I kept the dry leaves just to show them on this post but I will remove them. Thank you all againf ro the help!!
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Good luck! I hope it does well for you.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    edited October 2022
    You have probably already googled care info (RHS are good.  Be careful of US sites.) the plant may go dormant soon.

    PS.  I looked again at your photos.  It's not clear if your pot has a drainage hole, or if it is in a cache-pot.  Either way, be careful not to hve it sitting in water for more than a few minutes.
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • vasile.cristi.animefGKcDcpGvasile.cristi.animefGKcDcpG Posts: 19
    If it goes dormant then that's that; I'll keep the bulbs and wait for spring. The pot does have drainage holes, I made them myself :). It originally didn't have any, but it's not a catch-pot. Thanks for the concern :smiley:
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