Caladiums usually grow their leaves on individual, long stems. They DO break easily, so a circular support would help. Newly purchased caladiums usually have an abundance of very large leaves due to the perfect conditions they have been grown in and the constant feeding they get from the growers. Often these large leaves will die off (no harm!)and the subsequent leaves will be more hardy, having grown in YOUR conditions.

In the garden, they prefer partial shade and look nice mixed in the background of some other, shorter flowering plants. Hope this helps! Gitagal

If you grow the plants from tubers yourself, you can break off the first shots. I know it sounds crazy but if you do this, the dormant buds around the main eye will sprout and create a bushier, lower growing plant with more leaves which do not grow as tall.

I did grow the plants from tubers...but I have to admit, I'm so scared to break off those shoots!!! It took so much coddling just to get them to sprout. I had them on heating pads for weeks. Assuming I work up the courage, should I cut them with scissors or break? Do I leave any of the shoot or cut it off at soil level? Do I break off ALL the shoots or just some? When is it too late for this treatment? Thanks...(biting my nails waiting for your reply.)

The sprouts are like fangs. Just grab them and break them off. I break off all that comes up initially. You can also de-eye tubers by scooping out the eyes using a potato peeler. Try google search caladium+de-eye+potato+peeler

Well I broke off the first shoots, but now they are just growing back in exactly the same spots! No new growth from other spots, is that what I should expect? They are all doing this. Thanks again.