Growing Caladiums in Z5 outdoors

I love the look of caladiums. They would have to be annuals here. Just what are the best ways to plant them outdoors in Zone 5 in terms of soil and light.? What should be the minimum outdoor temperature they could be subjected to when planting out? Should I confine them to pots or containers?

snapple45

Caladiums should be planted outdoors when the night time temperature is 60 - 65 degrees or warmer, the warmer the better. The hotter it gets the more they're going to take off. It's still way to early where you're at to be planting them outside but you can start them indoors and transplant later as it warms up outside. Planting them in pots or straight in the ground is a personal preference.
Hopefully Spring is right around the corner!!!!

The soil should be light and well drained for best results. Peat moss and peat humus can be added for better results.

Depending on which varieties you're planting will dictate how much sun they'll need or not need. Some grow great in Full sun, some want shade or semi-shade. Dmail me the varieties you're planting and I'll tell you the best place for them.

Happy Gardening!
Bill

Bill, Thanks.

I havn't yet chosen any varieties. The light would be open shade - no direct sun. After I've done a little more homework I will send along the list via d-mail.

Mary

Bill's quite the expert, my yard is FULL of his caladiums! He's correct that there are now varieties that can handle both sun and shade. Warm soil will make them really perk up and throw out eye sprouts.

Thank you MerryMary - I have been browsing web sites and looking at catalogues, no choices made yet. Today it is sleeting here. Sixty degree night temps won't happen here until late June. Looks like I might be putting them in pots in the house and then moving the pots outdoors.

Snapple, what colors are you looking for? Maybe we can help recommend? My sister in Ohio pulls her bulbs up at the end of the season. Many she plants in pots, and just sinks the pots into the ground, then lifts the pot all together. It also helps keep chipmunks out.

This is why I LOVE the folks on DG! Pinks or varigated greens & white. Companion plants are golds, greens and screaming chartreuse. Whites would help calm it down a bit and pink would be good for contrast. I like the idea of the pots. Pots I can do.

You're great!

snapple,

If these are going to be planted in open shade I would recommend Pink Cloud or Fannie Munson for the Pink and maybe June Bride or Candidum for the white. There is also the Pink Symphony which is an absolutely gorgeous plant!!
You can email me directly at: caladiumbulbs4less@earthlink.net and I will send you some pictures of the plants I just mentioned.

Bill

I've bought cheapie bags of bulbs at WalMart (10 for $8.98) and I grow them indoors in pots starting around now. Not only do I get an early start this way, but I can also see what the leaves look like so I can choose where to put them when the weather is warm enough (by early June here). I use them in container plantings as well as in the garden.

My only problem is telling which way is up! with no sprouts, it's a lot harder to tell than, say, calla lilies or begonias. Sometimes I can see the scar of a previous stem, or there are some rootlets, but last year I definitely put some in upside down. This year, if I couldn't figure it out, I put the tuber in sideways.

I'm beginning to think I put all of mine in upside down! I have had them potted up indoors for the last three weeks, and nothing. I put them outside for daytime heat since we are in the upper 70s during the days now, and move them in at night to keep the temps warm. I've kept the soil sparingly moist.

lizren,

You need to give them some time. 3 weeks isn't enough, especially this early in the season! Once it starts getting alot hotter then you might see results in 3 weeks but not yet. Hang in there, they'll come up. Even if you did plant the bulb upside down, you'll get leaves. It'll take it a little longer but the leaves will still come up.

Bill

Looks like I had better get started! I am at this moment at the Bristol NASCAR race. As soon as I get home and unpacked I will be gathering some pots and making some choices for bulbs. What is the soil preference?

snapple,

Have fun at the race. I would love to go to the night race at Bristol. One of these days!!

I use a combination of regular potting soil and peat humus. If I have some, I'll add a little cow manure.


Bill

Thanks for the encouragement Bill. I will be patient. It is good to know that I haven't smothered them or something equally irresponsible. LOL

Snapple, VERY JEALOUS of your being at the Bristol race. I keep swearing I'm going to get tickets one of these days. We go to Talladega every once in a while, but I know there is nothing like the Bristol track...

Hi all, I bought caladiums for the first time. I usually wont dig anything up so I never tried caladiums. I finally gave in and bought White Christmas and Postman Joyner, they all look so cool that I couldnt resist any longer. Does anyone know whether or not these kinds like sun or not?
Thanks,
chris

Chris,

Both varieties will do best if planted in a semi shaded location. If they're going to be getting sun, morning sun woulf be prefered.

Bill

Thanks Bill, I have a great spot for them, just not the full sun spot by the pool where I was going to put them. Do you happen to know if there is a variety that can take full sun?
chris

Chris,

There's a bunch that'll do great in full sun!! Which flavor are you looking for? Red, White, Pink, Green?
You can email me directly at: CaladiumBulbs4Less@earthlink.net and I can send you a bunch of pics of some of the different varieties.

Bill

There is so much great information in this thread. One additional question for the gurus. I have had my Miss Muffet potted for about three weeks now. I know that it is too early to see growth from what I read. Do I need to keep these on the heat mat, and under the lights? Could I put it on the mat, not under the lights? Even better, could I take them off both? The room they are in is quite warm and humid because of the abundance of plants.

pennefeather,

When you say quite warm, how warm is that? You guys in the NE have a different definition of warm then we do. I had someone tell me it was really warming up where they were at, it was hitting 50, that's still cold in my book...lolol... Especially for Caladiums!!

You could take them out from under the lights but it wouldn't be a bad idea to keep them on the heat mat. It'll definitely help with germination!! Caladiums like two things, warmth and water. And not to much water until you start seeing leaves, Then start watering watering a little more.

Bill

Although I live in zone 7, my days and nights are cool here because I live in the mountains. Caladiums don't do that great here unless I plant them in a black pot and let them have some sun each day.

My room is probably about 70 degrees. I think that having two large heat mat, all the lights from my two seed starting rack and the door closed keeps it quite warm. I would be happy to pu them on the floor, still on the heat mat.

Bill,
I just ordered 8 dozen of the mixed caladiums from your Ebay store. I noted here that you recommend a night time temp consistent in the 60-65 degrees....we are having iffey varying night time temps...not consistently in the 60's range. How do I best store my caladium bulbs indoors until I can direct plant them outdoors?

Thanks Bill,
Nana3

I have some Red Flash Caladium bulbs that just arrived but without directions on planting. I read that plant outdoors 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep. I want to start them indoors though and was wondering if I use same depth. Are 4 inch pots large enough for a single bulb? Will Miracle Gro potting mix work o.k. or is seed starter mix a better choice? Should I mix some fertilizer in the mix? What kind of fertiilizer is best?
Is it best to fertilize while in the pots and if so when?

81302,

Yes, plant bulbs so they have about 2" of dirt covering them. Starting them in a 4" pot is OK. What size bulbs are they?

The MG potting soil works great!! It's light and it drains well. I use it too but I also mix in Peat humus. A combination of Peat Humus and MG potting soil will do the best!!
You can add "a little" fertilizer to each pot. I would put the bulb down 2", cover it with an inch of dirt and then sprinkle "a little" 6-6-6 and then cover with the remaining inch of dirt

Bill

Thanks ever so much for the information, Bill!!!! I want to get started right now.
The bulbs are #1 grade. Haven't measured them for exact cms but are big.
A few very small acorn size ones in box along with the correct number of large ones ordered. Not sure what best way to handle the little ones. Should I put
several in one pot or separate? Am guessing that will produce a stem or two.
Am I correct?

Haven't seen Peat humus in our area, at least not labeled as such.
Can get spaghnum peat moss and can get humus.

Congratulations on getting your own website up and running. Will definitely
be ordering from you next year!

81302,

You can put the small bulbs in with the others or plant them all together. The tiny bulbs are only going to produce a leaf or two anyway.

I'm really excited about the prospects for the web site. It's definitely been worth the wait!! I look forward to hearing from you next year. If you want, email me at: CaladiumBulbs4Less@earthlink.net and I'll put you in the folder for when I send out special announcements via email.

Take Care and Happy Gardening!
Bill

Sometimes the best things come in small packages. Last year one of my small caladium tubers turned out to be an especially nice-looking plant, so I cared for it and gave it lots of high-potassium fertilizer from August on and got a nice-sized tuber when I lifted it in the fall.

Thanks andycdn!!
II will definitely try that.

They're up! It took about four weeks, but they are starting to come up. I still have them on the heat mat. Once we return to normal temperatures, instead of the current cold freeze, I'll put away the mat.

pennefeather,

Congratulations!! Now that they're sprouting, you might want to put them back under the lights. Hopefully you'll be able to move them outdoors fairly soon. You'll need to start watering a little more frequently once they start producing leaves.

Bill

With regret, I was unable to start any caladiums in the house this year. A lot of you are probably aware of (and suffered from) the horrid weather this spring - a stretch in the 70's followed by a solid 10 ten day plunge into the 20's. I sort of lost my focus, along with some plants, on getting anything going. I havn't lost interest in caladiums though. I plan on buying caladiums from the greenhouse and planting them out as soon as the weather will allow. I have printed out this thread for reference. I learned a lot. Thanks

Snapple, I'm in Ohio too, and I just started mine today, along with my dahlias and glads. I think you still have time. Tamara

Ya know Tamara, you're right. I was just feeling sorry for myself after that horrendous cold blast that tried to wipe out most of the spring garden. I'm gonna get a couple of pots and get the show on the road. Thanks for the kick in the backside.

Mary

Good glad to enable...er, help. ;-) Happy gardening, Tamara

Snapple,

You absolutely have "plenty of time" to plant Caladiums where you're at.

bill

I need to watch this thread! I started mine abot 2 weeks ago and have been bringing them outside on the days that have been so warm. Nights have been getting chilly so I have been bringing them inside at night. I missed one night hough and another night (last night) I forgot some. Am I in trouble? Should I be watering them? I planted in 4" peat pots in Miracle Gro and have been misting them a little but am nervous now. I also de-eyed the Red Flash and White Queen ( I think those were the ones - they were ones you had said was OK to do Bill - I do know that). I am nervous, too about having done that. I hope I get something!!

Peg,

Unless it's getting rather cold at night, I wouldn't worry about it. You don't want to water everyday while the bulbs are germinating, every other day water them lightly, The red varieties tend to take a little longer to germinate, especially the Red Flash. It's going to be a little while before you see anything because of the temperatures. DON'T WORRY, they're going to come up, I promise!!!! You have no idea how many emails I get from customers saying there bulbs aren't sprouting. The only thing I say is "Hang in there" :-) Last year I only had one person say there bulbs didn't grow, out of almost 900 customers I'd say it was something she did and not the bulbs.

Bill

Thanks Bill - that was just what I needed to hear :)

What you also need to hear, if I may presume, is PATIENCE. A little-known fact of gardening. (But well understood and acknowledged by hosts of Dave's Gardeners).