Whether you are new to Caladiums or already have a large collection, Caladium Marie Moir is a must-have on your plant wish list. These uniquely colored plants have leaves that are mostly white with beautiful green veins and edges, and bright pink polka dots. These pink spots are what earned this plant the nickname the “Polka Dot” Caladium.
Caladium Marie Moir is relatively easy to care for, especially if you have owned other Caladiums in the past. Follow along with our care guide and you are sure to have one happy, healthy Polka Dot Caladium.
Contents
Caladium Marie Moir Care Guide
Let’s jump straight into the top care tips you need to know to let your plant thrive!
Temperature
Caladiums come from the tropical rainforests of Central and South America. Here they live in the understory of the forest, shaded by trees and other plants. They prefer to be kept on the cooler side. Ideally, around 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit. This makes them ideal indoor plants.
Humidity
Less ideal for the average household is the Caladium Marie Moir’s humidity requirements. These plants thrive in a humid environment. Preferably around 70%. To achieve this with your Caladium you can add a humidifier, a pebble tray, or mist regularly.
Humidifiers
These are the ideal solution for adding humidity around your Caladium, and one humidifier can usually be used on several plants. If you have a few humidity-loving plants grouped together, a humidifier can be a great investment in your plant’s happiness.
Pebble tray
Pebble trays are usually my go-to for raising humidity, but this isn’t always enough for Caladiums. If you want to make one for your Marie Moir and see how it does, all you need is a try, some pebbles, and water.
Fill the tray up with pebbles to just below the edge, then fill with water to just below the top of the pebbles. Place your plant pot on top of the pebbles and as the water evaporates the humidity will rise.
Misting
Misting is my least favorite method of raising the humidity. It can work, but it’s hard to remember and it only gives your plant bursts of humidity instead of a steady amount. This method can be effective in a pinch, or in conjunction with another method, but I wouldn’t tie yourself down to being your plant’s only source of humidity.
Light
Lighting is one of the most important aspects of care for any plant, and Caladium Marie Moir is no exception. These plants need a lot of bright indirect light to thrive.
If your plant isn’t getting enough light it will likely develop leggy growth that seems to be reaching toward the light source. It could also have yellowing leaves, drooping leaves, or poor water absorption.
At the other end of the spectrum, too much direct light can cause your plant’s delicate leaves to burn. Keep an eye out for brown or burnt looking spots on your plant’s leaves. These can indicate it is getting too much direct light.
Water
Caladium Marie Moir is a water-loving plant. You don’t want to let the soil of your Caladium dry out completely. Instead, water when about 1-2 inches of the soil is dry. You will want to check the soil roughly every 3-5 days to see if it is ready for water.
If it seems like your plant isn’t absorbing as much water as you think it should, there could be a problem. Make sure your pot isn’t too large and that your plant is getting enough light.
Soil
The ideal soil for Caladium Marie Moir is one that is rich and moist. I recommend using a mixture of 1 part peat moss, 1 part perlite, and 1 part potting soil. My potting soil preference is FoxFarms, but you can use whatever potting soil you prefer.
Fertilizer
You will want to provide your Caladium with a balanced liquid fertilizer every 4 weeks from the spring through the fall. If you aren’t a fan of liquid fertilizer or don’t think you will be able to keep up with the schedule, another great option is time-released pellets. You can apply these in the spring and they last 6-9 months.
Repotting
To keep your Caladium Marie Moir happy, you will want to repot your plant every 2-3 years. Choose a pot that is slightly larger than the current one and be sure that it has a drainage hole.
A drainage hole will allow any excess water to drain out of the pot instead of sitting at the bottom and becoming stagnant. Excessive water in the soil can lead to fungus, mold, and root rot, so a drainage hole is a must.
Another reason you want to repot your plant is to refresh the soil. When you water your plant, a small amount of the soil will be lost out of the drainage hole and as the plant grows it will pull nutrients out of the soil. This means that after about 2 years there will be less soil in your pot, and what is there will be less nutritious.
Common Issues
There are a few issues that commonly affect Caladium plants. We will highlight those issues and solutions here.
Burnt leaf tips
When not given enough humidity, the tips of your Caladium leaves will dry out and turn brown. This is because the tip of the leaf is the last part of the plant to receive water from the roots. Try raising your humidity levels and this should prevent any other leaf tips from drying out.
Root rot
If your plant has yellowing leaves, soggy soil, mushy stems, or is drooping, these are all signs that your plant could have root rot. To check, you will want to remove your Caladium from its soil and rinse the roots.
Rotten roots will be mushy and dark brown or black, while healthy roots will be firm and white. Remove all rotten roots with sanitized shears and then replace the soil and repot your plant. If there are some healthy roots left, your plant should recover in a few months.
Pests
Aphids and mealybugs are the most common insects you might find feeding on your Caladium Marie Moir. The best defense against pests in this case is a good offense. Always quarantine new plants before placing them in an area around your current plants and treat the new plant with neem oil weekly.
Another good routine you can put in place to keep insects in check is a weekly plant wellness check. I like to spend time amongst my plants every week so I can see if they have any signs of stress or any pests. Not only does this allow me to catch issues early, but it is also very relaxing to hang out with my plants.
