“A Big One”, a copyrighted post, was written for my WordPress blog called Always Growing by Jan in Covington, Louisiana
It is amazing what rain will do for plants. This past summer was a very dry one for us, but the weather gods have been making up lately for the earlier lack of rain. In the last two weeks we have received 6.28 inches of rain, and the plants have started responding with renewed vigor. With work and the rains, I have not been able to get out in the garden lately, but this weekend brought overnight showers which allowed some daytime garden viewing.
I was shocked at a White Christmas caladium. This plant has grown in the same place for at least six years, never been moved, and always performed like all the other caladiums in the garden. But, not this year and not after all the rain. I have grown caladuims for over twenty years and have never had one get this big.
I have elephant ears that aren’t this big. This caladium has never gotten this big before. It is eleven inches across and seventeen inches long. There are other leaves on the plant that are also big, but not as big as this one. Since this is the first time it has grown this large, I can only surmise that it is the rain that has caused this growth.
While most of my other caladiums have started to fade, I just wish the rains would have come sooner so that all of these plants would have had a chance to get bigger. Maybe next year.
Always Growing 
Jennifer AKA Keewee said,
September 20, 2009 at 8:10 pm
That is a huge leaf. I have not had much luck with caladiums, but will try one more time, next year.
Janet said,
September 20, 2009 at 9:05 pm
That is an amazingly big caladium! I am envious that you can leave it in the ground over winter.
flowergardengirl said,
September 20, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Oh my word! I’ve never seen one that big. And it’s perfect too. We’ve had a cool summer and the plants aren’t blooming as much. NC’s zone 7 is funny. It can act like a 10–like last year and then a 5-6 this year. No telling what winter will hold. I’m hoping it’s cold and snowy just cause it hasn’t been in years. I want a winter like I had as a little kid growing up here.
fairegarden said,
September 21, 2009 at 5:43 am
Hi Jan, what a fabulous leaf! There is no comparison to water from the sky and water from the hose, is there? I’ll bet your garden is magnificent! 🙂
Frances
nancybond said,
September 21, 2009 at 7:42 am
That’s a beauty, for sure! It is strange how the same plant can be somewhat of a dud one year, and a star performer the next. Though as you said, I’m sure the rain didn’t hurt. 🙂 It’s a lovely plant.
Mary Delle said,
September 21, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Wonderful caladium leaf! Must be spectacular in person. Her in Southern California without any rain since March, my caladiums stay small, but I am glad to have them. They are a beautiful addition to the grden.