Why Is My Heart of Jesus Plant Dying? Tips for Rescuing Your Dying Caladium

Big, beautiful leaves with pinks, greens, and whites, form the lovely heart of Jesus plant. You’ll fall in love with it as soon as you see it, which, of course, means you’ll be devastated if you’re watching it die.

Fortunately, there are plenty of steps you can take to revive this conversation starter and bring it back to full health. Let’s take a look.

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A Heart of Jesus Plant Is a Great Choice for Your Home or Office

The heart of Jesus plant, also known as a caladium, has been bred and cultivated for hundreds of years and, as a result, has come to hold a special place in the hearts of those who have made it their mission to care for this plant.

It’s not particularly difficult to grow and maintain, but it does take some special love and attention. The heart of Jesus is native to Brazil, so it’s a tropical plant, and because it is a low-lying plant, it is used to plenty of tree cover and humidity.

You’ll want a warm, moist environment for your plant, which means, in most regions in the U.S., that you’ll want to keep it indoors. It can make itself a comfy home in your bedroom, in a well-lit bathroom, in the kitchen, or even in your office. Wherever it thrives, it will give you the gift of cleaning the air and providing fresh oxygen.

It also offers positive feng shui energy, particularly wisdom, clarity, and focus. Perhaps this powerful energy, in addition to its appearance, is what gives it its other nickname, elephant ear plant.

Signs of a Dying Heart of Jesus Plant

The most obvious signs of a dying heart of Jesus plant are as follows:

Brown leaves
Crispy leaves
Mushy leaves
Mushy stems
Rotting soil

Common Causes of a Dying Heart of Jesus Plant

The most common causes of a dying heart of Jesus plant include:

Too much sun
Not enough sun
Too much water
Not enough water
Not enough humidity

Watering Needs of a Heart of Jesus Plant

As a tropical plant, the caladium is used to plenty of water but also plenty of sun. You’ll want to try to mimic this reality in your home or office by watering it thoroughly until the water runs through the holes in the bottom of the plant and then allowing it to dry out almost fully before watering it again.

It’s a good idea to test the top one-third of the soil for moisture. If you feel moisture, you can leave it. If the top one-third has dried out, you can water it thoroughly again.

To read more about watering your plant, take a look at this article on watering mistakes that might be killing your plant.

Am I Underwatering My Heart of Jesus Plant?

It’s unlikely you’re underwatering your heart of Jesus plant, but if you notice mushy stems or leaves, that might be the case.

Restoring Water to Your Underwatered Heart of Jesus Plant

If you have underwatered your caladium, you can water it thoroughly until water runs through the bottom holes. For extra moisture and humidity, also consider adding a drip tray with pebbles to the bottom of your pot and keep the plant in a warm place.

Am I Overwatering My Heart of Jesus Plant?

In terms of watering issues, you’re much more likely to be overwatering it. In this case, you’ll notice dry and cracking leaves and soggy soil.

Restoring Balance to Your Overwatered Heart of Jesus Plant

If your caladium is showing signs of being overwatered, you can first try moving it to a drier, brighter location. If that doesn’t work and your plant still seems to be suffering, you may need to remove the root ball entirely and start over.

To do this, remove the root ball and cut away any mushy roots. Lay the root ball out on a screen in the sunshine to dry out completely then repot the plant in fresh soil and water it thoroughly. At this point, you’ll need to get on a regular watering schedule and keep track of the soil moisture.

Soil Needs of a Heart of Jesus Plant

The heart of Jesus plant is not picky and will do just fine in a high-quality indoor houseplant soil.

Soil Drainage Needs for a Heart of Jesus Plant

Make sure you provide proper drainage for your heart of Jesus plant and that the plant is not sitting in water. Ensure your pot has holes in the bottom to allow for drainage.

Resolving Soil Drainage Issues for a Heart of Jesus Plant

If your plant is still sitting in water, remove the plant and the soil and place pebbles in the bottom of the pot, which will ensure no water remains in the bottom of the pot when you water.

Lighting Needs of a Heart of Jesus Plant

When it comes to lighting, remember the caladium is used to being either a plant under plenty of tree cover or in an environment that gets plenty of rain and cloud cover.

To mimic this, offer the plant plenty of bright, indirect sunlight and warmth. Direct sunlight will burn the plant’s leaves.

Resolving Lighting Issues for a Heart of Jesus Plant

With lighting, resolution can only really come from moving the plant around repeatedly until you notice it thriving. Move it closer to or farther away from windows and aim to provide the heart of Jesus plant with overhead light as much as possible, allowing the leaves to get plenty of light, which contributes to their vibrant colors.

Pests or Diseases that Can Cause Issues with a Heart of Jesus Plant

The only pests to worry about with the caladium are mealybugs and whiteflies, both of which can be eliminated with liberal neem oil.

Spray your plant several times a week, both the leaves and the soil, and wipe away any bugs you see. Once the bugs seem to be gone, you can stop spraying the plant.

Fake Heart of Jesus Plants May Be an Additional Consideration

Still, for a variety of reasons, you may find that caring for a caladium is just too much work. It may be allergies; it could be your time and energy. Either way, you don’t have to give up hope of having this plant.

A high-quality artificial heart of Jesus plant will look just like the real thing and provide many of the benefits you get from a real one. If you’re worried a fake heart of Jesus plant is not trendy, check out my article on whether artificial plants and flowers are tacky.

Do you have a heart of Jesus plant? Have you successfully brought one back to life? Let me know what worked for you in the comments. I love to hear from my readers.