Caladiums in pots blooming?

My caladiums are blooming this year. It's the first time in many years of growing caladiums that it's happened.

I would like to know what causes them to bloom. Maybe more heat this year than most years? Maybe more rain during June?

I have 6 different varieties, and 4 of them are blooming. They came from two different sources, Bill and Ednies.

Here's a pic showing the spathy blooms.

And info on why the caladiums bloom sometimes and sometimes don't would be appreciated. I will pick off most of the blooms, anyway to conserve the bulbs energy.

Thanks

A picture of their growing conditions. I love the darn things.

It is the heat that makes them grow.

Cutting off the flowers is the right thing to do, per Bill:
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=6854352

Last night I spoke to friends who live just a few miles from Hannibal, NY, and they also have flowers on their caladiums.

Since caladiums aren't easy to hold over winter why not let them flower? Saving the bulb's energy would be more important if it impacted leaves and blooms for next year but in many areas of the country they are treated as an annual and discarded by the end of September when cool weather arrives.

I got an answer from The Man Himself over on that other site.

"Hi Polly,

The blooms appear randomly. They hold the reproductive parts to the plant. I cut them off but it's really a matter of personal preference.
How are your caladiums doing?

biLL"

Since I am sending mine to someone down south at the end of the season, I will opt to cut the blooms off. Glad to know it was not from me stressing them.

Mine are stressed just because I stare at them so much.Its hard to be a caladium in the north,normaly a shy plant they dont like starring tee!hee! lol.

You're a nut, Jo, LOL. Enjoy that vacation, you!

Its cold and foggy here today.
Weathermen are predicting an early fall.
Dont tip over all you zone 6-7 gardeners,this is Maine I'm talkin about.

Many of us would love the cold and foggy compared to what we have today, Jo Ann!

Love Maine and those wide open roads!

Yup.
Its the Lavander Farm today. I have looked at gardens since I have been here. Might have caught a glimps of the ocean once in Thomaston.

It's only 29 miles from Thomaston to Wicasset and some heavenly lobster rolls!

Those do look great.
Did have a LR yesterday and found the Edy's 1 for 2 sale on ice cream,I am done in,cousin is an enabler of the worst sort.
I have seen some really nice gardens and will post carefully selected albums when I get home on Tuesday.