Caladium ‘White Wonder’ is a cultivar of Caladium bicolor (also known as Caladium × hortulanum), noted for its upright, arrowhead-shaped foliage that is predominantly white to pale grey-green. The leaves are accented with pale pink or white veins and edged with dark and light green borders, creating a striking variegated display. It forms a compact, mounding habit, typically reaching around 38–51 cm in height and about 20-25 cm in spread, making it an excellent choice for container growing indoors, its elegant patterning stands out in bright, warm interiors.
Native to: Tropical South and Central America, particularly Brazil, where the wild forms of Caladium bicolor grow in shaded, humid understories. ‘White Wonder’ inherits the lance-leaf form and sensitivity to environmental conditions from its tropical lineage.
Water: Keep the potting medium consistently moist, but never waterlogged—drainage is essential. For a 5-inch pot without direct sunlight, a guideline is approximately 0.5 cups every 9 days. Reduce watering when foliage begins to die back during dormancy.
Light: Prefers bright, filtered light or partial shade. It can tolerate sun in cooler climates, but indoors avoid harsh direct sunlight that could scorch the pale coloration. Placing the plant within three feet of a south-facing window often yields the best results.
Humidity: Thrives in warm, humid conditions. Indoors, aim for humidity levels of at least 50%. Employ frequent misting or a pebble tray to maintain adequate humidity—avoid placing near drying heat sources.
Temperature: Best maintained in warm conditions, ideally 24–26 °C (day) and no lower than 18 °C (night). Avoid exposing the plant to temperatures below about 10 °C, which can cause chilling injury, stunted growth, or even plant loss.