Considering Caladiums are 'bulbs' can they grow next year?

Was told they were annuals and will not return next year.
that did not make sense since i planted bulbs.

can anyone explain??

They are not annuals. You dig them up in the fall and store them in a dry cool spot until spring. Where you are they MAY winter over in the ground if it doesn't freeze.

If the site is well drained and deeply mulched, I think you'd have a good chance of overwintering them in the ground. I have some I've grown in pots for years, and just leave them in the pot of soil, dry, during winter.

The chances of the bulbs surviving in NC if left in the ground is slim to none. It's just to cold.......

The soil in NC is cold and damp in winter, that alone is enough to rot them. Then there is the frost.....

Dig and store in a brown paper bag that is well marked. Keep them somewhere you will see them from time to time over the winter.

Plant them after the tulips (or other spring bulbs) have dried up and gone dormant for the summer.

Someone just gave me a large box of caladium bulbs. Should I plant them now or leave them in a cool dark place until spring? I don't know when they were dug, last fall or this spring?

F4F,

Are they solid or soft when you squeeze them (gently)?

They are solid but some look like they started to sprout and the sprout is brown. Most look ok.

Solid means dry. They are very old. Plant them.

Sounds like they were dug last fall. Caladiums don't last in dry storage more than about 7-8 months before they start to lose 'energy'. Brown buds means they used up some energy already this season.

It is unlikely that you will get much out of them, this late in the year. It is still plenty warm in Central Texas and you still have weeks of warmth - you never know.

Ok, I'll plant them. I was worried they were dug in the fall, lol. Just didn't seem like they would live a year out of the ground so what have I got to lose besides a sore back for a day or so, lol. Its definitely plenty warm here, lol.

humm Ive got some doing the same thing . .

I better get those out, in the ground in pots to pop-up before winter . . .

ok Im a Bad Caladium Mommy . . .

This message was edited Aug 26, 2009 6:26 PM

Lol, no sprouts yet but I have high hopes. We got rain twice this week which is small miracle so maybe that will help. Nothing like real rain water.

A bunch of them popped up this morning! So glad I went ahead and planted them.

They'll look nicer everyday too!!!

Thanks for the advice and I'll get some from you next year too, lol. They are really pretty.

I have mine in pots do you think they will survive if I just leave them in the pots and bring them inside?

Yes

Thanks much ^_^

Double thanks! Now I might try them!

Mine have gotten big fast. Should I wait til they die back to re dig them? This pic is a few weeks old. They are really big now, lol.

I would wait until they start dying back naturally. Enjoy them for as long as you can!!

Thanks I will do that. Plan to get some more from you next spring and put some in the front too. They add a nice splash of color while I wait on the flowers of other plants..