How To Take Care Of The Jesus Heart Plant?

Caladium plants, also known as the Heart of Jesus or angel wings houseplant, are tropical plants native to tropical regions of South and Central America. They grow best in a shaded location with a light, rich, well-draining potting mix that is evenly moist. The plant requires regular watering to maintain its foliage and prevent wilting during growth. Choose a location that is easy to access and where you can water the plants regularly.

The Caladium plant is also known as the Elephant’s Ear, Angel Wings, Lance-leaf Caladium, Heart of Jesus, and Mother in Law Plant. Its life cycle is half hardy perennial, commonly grown as a half hardy annual by gardeners. To keep the plant alive and healthy, water it regularly, approximately once a week.

When the tubers show signs of growth (small shoots), water frequently and keep the soil moist. A nutrient-rich and well-draining potting mix is ideal for this plant. The plant requires high humidity and warm temperatures, thriving in indirect light to maintain its vibrant foliage.

In addition to growing caladiums indoors, give them bright, indirect light near a sunny window but ensure they are not getting direct sunlight. For better heart of Jesus plant care, use a potting mix of compost, perlite, and peat. By following these guidelines, you can easily grow and multiply these colorful houseplants without any fuss.

How to look after a Heart of Jesus plant?

The Heart of Jesus, typically cultivated in an indoor setting, necessitates ambient humidity for optimal growth and vibrant foliage. To promote optimal growth, it is recommended to use a fertilizer with a high nitrogen content every four to six weeks during the spring and summer months, and to refrain from doing so during the autumn and winter.

How do you take care of a Jesus plant?

Caladiums are a popular plant that require bright indirect light, avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun, especially in spring and summer. To maintain their growth, keep the soil evenly moist, allowing the top third to dry out between waters. Create a pebble tray throughout the year to provide good humidity. Fertilize using a ‘Houseplant’ labelled feed every three waters in the spring and summer, reducing this to every fourth in the colder months. Repot every three years with a ‘Houseplant’ labelled potting mix and water the plant 24 hours beforehand to reduce the risk of damaging the root hairs (Transplant Shock).

Caladiums will go through a state of dormancy from late autumn until early spring, where its growth will halve and a slight reduction of foliage. Keep the soil on the drier side to avert winter root rot until mid-spring, when irrigations and fertilisation can be increased back to normal. If all foliage dies back, don’t panic.

To grow Caladiums, choose an area with bright, indirect light and morning sunlight throughout the autumn and winter months. A north, north-west, or north-east facing windowsill or under a growlight are the best places to grow this plant.

Watering is crucial for Caladiums, as excessive or unnecessary irrigation can cause root rot and lower yellowing leaves. Water the specimen once the top third of the soil dries out, reducing further in autumn and winter. Over-watering symptoms include yellowing older leaves, wilting or curled foliage, mouldy soil, and a rotten base. Under-watering symptoms include wilting, little to no growth, greying leaves, browning leaf edges, which are often due to too much light/heat or forgetfulness.

How much to water a Heart of Jesus plant?

It is crucial to implement a regular watering regimen to ensure the optimal health and longevity of plants, particularly during their active growth phase. Plants exhibit a high degree of resilience with respect to their watering schedule, making it a relatively straightforward aspect of plant care.

Why are the leaves on my Heart of Jesus plant turning brown?

Caladium leaves turn brown due to imbalance in care, which can be caused by dry soil, excessive sunlight, insufficient humidity, or over-fertilization. To maintain healthy growth, plant caladiums in well-drained soil in east or north-facing gardens, shaded patios, or under large shade trees. If in heavy clay soil, plant them in pots, raised beds, or hanging baskets. Indoor plants grow longer but still enter dormancy.

Place them in a warm spot with at least four hours of filtered sunlight daily, water weekly, and provide humidity in a bathroom or laundry room. Cut off leaves for winter and store in a cool, dark place.

Why are my caladium leaves turning yellow and drooping?

Caladium leaves turning yellow can indicate overwatering or poor drainage, potentially indicating plant death. To prevent this, ensure proper soil type and wait for 2-3 centimeters of soil to dry between waterings. Caladiums prefer overly wet conditions, so use pots with drainage holes to avoid waterlogging. Root rot is a common issue in caladiums, often caused by overwatering and poor drainage, presenting as wilting or yellowing leaves or a foul smell.

How much sun does Heart of Jesus need?

The Heart of Jesus plant needs bright, indirect light for its growth, but it can handle some direct sunlight in the morning. However, too much direct afternoon sunlight is not suitable for the plant. If the plant is less than 3 feet from a sunlit window, it should receive the right amount of rays for its lush leaves to thrive. Window direction and hemisphere play a crucial role in determining the amount of direct sunlight the plant receives. South-facing windows can be too intense for some plants, so monitor for signs of sun stress. East-facing windows offer gentle morning light, providing moderate sunlight without harsh afternoon rays.

Why is my heart plant dying?

The common bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis) typically dies back in mid-summer in Iowa, but may die in late spring or early summer if growing conditions are not favorable. It thrives in partial shade and moist, well-drained soils. Watering is recommended during dry weather. If the growing site is poor, it may be necessary to relocate to a more favorable location. Transplanting can occur in early spring as new growth emerges.

Why is my Heart of Jesus wilting?

A Heart of Jesus plant may be in distress due to wilting and discoloration, over/under-watering, pests, diseases, and environmental factors. These symptoms can be identified by drooping leaves, stunted growth, yellowing leaves, browning edges, and untimely leaf drop. Overwatering can cause yellow leaves and stunted growth, while pests, diseases, and the environment can affect health. To address these issues, use remedies like baking soda and proper drainage. If the plant stops reaching for the heavens, it’s time to investigate.

How do you care for a heart to heart plant indoors?

Caladiums are a great windowsill or sunroom plant suitable for most climates, including the United States and Canada. They require warmth and humidity, so keep temperatures above 65 F for optimal growth and leaf size. A pebble tray or frequent misting can help maintain humidity. If you live in a northern climate, avoid planting too early in spring as temperatures below 50F can stunt plants. Plant tubers pointed end facing upwards, about 2″ below the soil level, with roots on top.

Plant them deep enough to allow roots to grow but not too deep, as this can delay new leaves and weaken the plant. If plants are already growing in pots, plant them ½” deeper when transplanting. Caladiums do not require much fertilizer, only about ¼ of what most people feed their flowering annuals. To avoid burning leaves, fertilize with the same strength as your flowers and apply weekly or every other week.

How often should you water Heart of Jesus?

It is recommended that the Watering Heart of Jesus be conducted on a weekly basis. However, it is crucial to assess the moisture content of the soil at the top 2-3 centimeters, as excessive irrigation can result in root rot, while inadequate irrigation may lead to leaf wilting.