Caladium - Winter storage

Hi...I know that Caladiums are not technically bulbs, but since I don't where to post my question I guess you guys are the lucky ones. :-)

This is my first year growing caladiums. I live in Zone 4b, so naturally they're not going to survive outside. I know that I can bring the potted plants indoors for the winter...and I'll probably be doing that with several of mine. But I'd also like to know how to treat others in my collection so I can pot them up again for next season.

How do they go "dormant"? Should they be left outside to allow the first frost to kill the foliage (shudder!!) Do I just stop watering? (I told you I'm a rank amateur with these plants. ;-))

And once I have them in a dormant state, how do I care for them through the winter...and how do I wake them up again next spring?

Sure would appreciate any advise...other than "forget about it." :-)

~julie~

I need to know that too. Think the Tropicals folks would know? except they don't have to bring them in! hmmmm...

You're cute, Kooger. :-D
I found quite a bit of info on this site
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8517.html
I think it's what we both needed to know. I probably should have posted it sooner, along with a "nevermind" (shades of Roseanne Rosannadanna ;-))

~julie~

Well, I've been secretly "lurking" on this thread.......thanks for the link, Julie!!! :-D

Hi Brenda! Happy to help my "buddies" out. :-) Hope you got some good info there, AND I hope it works for all of us.

~julie~

Okay, Julie. Your caladium bulbs are boxed up and going out tomorrow. The Aarons (white with green) is on the bottom of the box and there are a lot more of them than the pink. I don't remember the name of the pink ones. Remember, Aaron can take quite a bit of morning sun, just not hot afternoon sun. Here are the pictures again. I'll send an email tomorrow after I know the postage. Enjoy!
Terrie

Here is the other one.

The "other one" is Pink Beauty

Thanks, Bleek!!

Terrie...Waiting for that email tomorrow. Will shoot a check out immediately.
You made my day! This is my first year with my caladium collection probably 60 tubers. They were such a success that I'm afraid I'm sunk! :-D It's almost as bad as my addiction to Coleus (...again, thanks in part to *you* LOL) I'll give your babies a GOOD home.

Thanks, I owe you one!

And Bleek, I really appreciate you stepping in with the name for the pink one. I'll make note in my cardfile.

~julie~
P.S. I'm glad you used this thread...I'd forgotten about THAT site! :-D :-D (Oh DUH!!!)

Julie,
You have mail!

Thanks Terrie! You have mail, too.
~julie~

Terrie...the package arrived a little while ago. WOW E WOW!! Great job on the packing...the tubers are beautiful!

Thanks a million

~julie~

Hope you enjoy them as much as I did this year. It's kind of nice knowing that those beauties I enjoyed this year will be pleasing someone else next year!

Terrie, I'm going to try to keep this thread noted in my cardfile so when I can keep you informed when I get ready to plant them and show pictures of when they begin to grace my garden.

Thanks again,
~julie~

Julie,

Do you need anymore information are have you found everything you need?

Hi Smiln...Thanks, I think I've found what I needed (and probably a lot MORE! :-))

~julie~

I live in Chicago Zone 5. Although we have not had a frost as of this date
Oct 22 they have died down and I have lifter them. What is the best method of storing them? Ihave several cool frost free places.

Would appreciate any information

RTilley

RTilley, up on my post of Aug 22, there's a great link that tells us just what we need to do. (~grin~) I haven't gotten mine out of their temp storage in mesh bags yet. I just popped off the rest of the stems this morning. So I'll be looking at the link myself. :-)

~julie~