Flashy, fast, and anything but background.
Caladium ‘Wayang Bicolor’ is a hybridized cultivar of Caladium bicolor, a tuberous aroid native to tropical South America. Like other members of the Araceae family, it grows from an underground storage organ—a tuber, which serves as a starch reservoir and hormonal trigger for seasonal dormancy and regrowth.
What sets ‘Wayang Bicolor’ apart is its enhanced foliar variegation, made possible by unstable chlorophyll distribution across the mesophyll tissue. This cultivar displays irregular marbling in lime green, cream, deep magenta, and bright white, often on the same leaf. The variegation is both patterned and pigment-derived, meaning it's not purely structural or environmental but built into the plant’s genetic expression.
Developed as part of a modern breeding effort to create Caladiums with improved indoor viability, ‘Wayang Bicolor’ holds leaves longer than older cultivars and can even resist dormancy under stable light and humidity. That said, because it's a true tuberous species, seasonal dieback is still normal under lower light or cooler temps. The tuber will remain viable underground and push new growth with the return of proper conditions.
Unlike climbing or vining aroids, Caladiums remain compact and display-focused—ideal for brightening up structured shelves or softening the edges of a plant wall.
All plants are shipped fully rooted in soil, stabilized and actively growing.
Caladium ‘Wayang Bicolor’ Care Overview
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Light | Bright, indirect light. Avoid direct sun, which can bleach or scorch thin foliage. |
| Humidity | 60–80% preferred. Low humidity may cause leaf tip browning. |
| Watering | Water when top 1" of soil dries out. Do not allow to fully dry when in active growth. |
| Substrate | Rich, airy soil with good drainage: peat, perlite, bark, compost. |
| Temperature | 65–85°F. Cold temps may trigger dormancy; tuber survives if kept dry. |
| Feeding | Feed every 3–4 weeks during active growth with a balanced fertilizer. |
| Growth Habit | Upright, compact, basal-leafed. Grows from tubers, not nodes or stolons. |
| Pests to Watch | Aphids and spider mites. Watch tender new growth zones and undersides. |
Shipping Note:
All Caladium ‘Wayang Bicolor’ plants ship rooted in soil and packed carefully. Caladium leaves are thin and high in water content, which makes them vulnerable to cosmetic damage during transit. Some yellowing, tearing, or edge crisping may occur. These do not affect the health or viability of the plant or its tuber and are not considered damage. Soil may shift slightly in transit.