Caladium ‘Xplosion’ is a cultivar of Caladium × hortulanum, grown for its vibrant and highly patterned foliage. The arrowhead-shaped leaves feature a mottled background of olive-green and pink, overlaid with splashes of bright white and dramatic red or rose-pink veins radiating from the centre. It maintains a compact, upright growth habit, reaching around 40–50 cm in height and spreading to about 25–35 cm, which makes it ideal for indoor containers or grouped displays.
Native to tropical regions of South and Central America, including Brazil, Caladium species are naturally found in warm, humid forest understories. ‘Xplosion’ inherits the leaf shape and variegation traits from its tropical ancestry, and its hybrid vigour helps it adapt to a range of indoor lighting and humidity conditions when grown in the UK.
Native to: Tropical South and Central America, especially Brazil.
Water: Keep the potting mix consistently moist during the growing season. Allow the top 1/4 of the pot to dry slightly between waterings. Reduce watering during dormancy once the foliage begins to die back.
Light: Bright filtered light is ideal. While it can tolerate some shade, colouration is most vibrant in indirect, well-lit conditions. Avoid strong direct sunlight, which may scorch the leaves.
Humidity: Prefers moderate to high humidity. When humidity exceeds 70%, this plant is also suitable for terrarium cultivation due to its compact size and leaf structure.
Temperature: Best kept between 20–26 °C. Avoid temperatures below 15 °C, which may trigger dormancy or damage the plant.