Angel wings

Angel wings: how do you recognise it?

Habit

Loose clump of leaves on long stalks, growing from a tuber; 30–50 cm tall and as wide.

Leaves

Arrow- to heart-shaped, 15–30 cm long, paper-thin; patterned in white, pink, red or green, with coloured veins or spots.

Flower

An inconspicuous spadix with a greenish white spathe, typical of the arum family; rare indoors.

Tuber

Flat, brown tuber with knobbly buds (eyes) on top, from which the leaves grow.

Sap

Contains needle-shaped crystals of calcium oxalate, which irritate the mouth, skin and eyes.

Plants: March–April

Why grow it?

• Exceptionally colourful leaves in white, pink, red and green, from spring to autumn.
• Brings a tropical feel indoors in a bright spot out of fierce sun.
• Comes back every year: after its winter rest the tuber sprouts again.
• Many cultivars with different patterns, so you can make attractive combinations.
• Grows fast: a few weeks after potting, the first leaves have unfurled.

Angel wings: where does it grow best?

• Bright, without direct sun: strong light scorches the thin leaves, too little light makes the colours fade.
• Warm: 20–25 °C in the growing season, never below 15 °C. No draughts.
• High humidity; do not put it near a radiator.
• Choose a spot out of reach of children and pets.

Light

Bright, out of direct sun

Potting soil

Multi-purpose compost or airy, humus-rich compost

Acidity

Acid or neutral

Watering

Moderately

Size

0.5 m tall, 0.5 m wide

Temperature

Minimum 15 °C

Goes well with

• Foliage begonia: Also colourful, patterned leaves for the same warm, bright spot.
• Nerve plant: Low, finely veined leaves at the base.
• Calathea: Likes the same warmth and humid air.
• Boston fern: Calm green among the colourful leaves.

Angel wings: when and how to plant it?

Plant in March–April.

1. Pot up the tuber in March–April, after its winter rest, in fresh compost.
2. Choose a 12–15 cm pot per tuber, with a drainage hole; for a full pot, plant several together in a larger pot.
3. Use light, humus-rich compost with a little perlite for good drainage.
4. Set the tuber with the eyes facing up, 3–5 cm deep.
5. Water lightly and keep the pot warm, at 22–25 °C. Only water more once the first leaves appear.
6. Wear gloves: the sap of the tuber irritates the skin.

Care

Water

Keep the compost evenly moist while it is growing, but never soggy. Use water at room temperature.

Humidity

Stand the pot on a tray of pebbles and water or group it with other plants.

Feeding

From May to August, houseplant feed at half strength every 2 weeks.

Flower spikes

Cut them off as soon as they appear: the energy then goes to the leaves and the tuber.

Rest

From September, gradually water less and let the leaves die back. Then store the tuber dry at 15–18 °C.

Tip: Let the leaves die back in autumn, store the tuber dry at 15–18 °C and repot it in March in fresh compost. After potting, water sparingly until the first leaf appears: that way the tuber will not rot.

Angel wings: when to prune it?

When: Pruning is not needed. Just cut off damaged or yellowed leaves and the flower spikes.

How:

• Cut a yellowed or torn leaf off at the base of the stalk.
• Remove flower spikes as soon as you see them, so the plant stays fuller.
• Let the leaves die back naturally in autumn and only cut them off when completely dry.

Caution: Wear gloves for any work on the plant and wash your hands afterwards: the sap irritates skin and eyes.

Pruning calendar and basic rules

Propagation

Dividing the tuber

In March, when potting: cut a large tuber with a clean knife into pieces that each have at least one eye. Let the cut surfaces dry for a few days before potting them.

Offset tubers

When potting, carefully detach the small tubers next to the main tuber and pot them separately.

Angel wings: how does it get through the winter?

• In winter it rests as a tuber: the leaves die back in October–November.
• Store the tuber dry and dark at 15–18 °C, in its pot or in dry sand; colder storage damages the tuber.
• Do not water during the rest period, so the tuber does not rot.
• Repot it in March in fresh compost and keep it warm.

Diseases and pests

• Tuber rot: The tuber does not sprout or turns soft, from too much water or cold. Water sparingly until the leaves appear and keep it warm.
• Scorched leaves: Brown, papery patches from fierce sun. Move it out of direct sun.
• Brown leaf edges: Caused by dry air or draughts. Raise the humidity.
• Red spider mite: Fine webbing and pale speckles on the leaves in dry air. Rinse the leaves gently and raise the humidity.
• Aphids: On young, curling leaves. Rinse off with lukewarm water.

Through the year

• January: Rest. Store the tuber dry at 15–18 °C.
• February: Rest. Check the tuber for rot.
• March: Pot up tubers in fresh compost. Keep warm.
• April: Potting. Water sparingly until the leaves appear.
• May: Feed. Keep the compost moist.
• June: Feed. Cut off flower spikes.
• July: Feed. Keep out of fierce sun.
• August: Last feed of the year. Watch out for red spider mite.
• September: Water less.
• October: Let the leaves die back. Hardly any water now.
• November: Put the tuber away dry and warm.
• December: Rest at 15–18 °C.

Edible and useful

Not edible. All parts of caladium are poisonous, especially the tuber and the sap: they are full of needle-shaped crystals (calcium oxalate) which, when chewed, cause painful swelling of the mouth and throat and irritate the skin and eyes. In autumn the leaves die down and the tuber overwinters dry: store it out of reach of children and pets, and not with the potatoes or other kitchen tubers. The variegated leaves are often at a child’s height and attract cats. Wear gloves when potting up and dividing the tubers, and wash your hands afterwards. If any is swallowed, call a poison centre (in Belgium 070 245 245) or your doctor at once.

Did you know?

• The leaves are so thin that light shines through them; hence the name ‘angel wings’.
• It belongs to the arum family, like the Swiss cheese plant and the anthurium.
• The small town of Lake Placid in Florida calls itself the caladium capital of the world: it is surrounded by large fields where the tubers are grown.