When can I plant caladium bulbs.

Hi, just need to know when I can plant my caladiums in the ground. Usually I just leave them, but of course they usually don't come up.
I dug them up this year, so now I need to know when they should go into the ground
Thanks

We bought some bulbs and the box said was okay to plant. Course I'm no novice. But we planted them last weekend anyhow. Unusually warm winter in Houston anyhow.

Well, since we are at least in the same state, I will plant mine too. I was raised in Houston so whenever anyone asks where I'm from I always say Houston even though I haveen't lived there in 20 years!

LOL. I was "born" in CO but when people ask me where from I say MI.

I think planting them now was premature. I realize that the stores have them all displayed and they're irresistible but I think it is better and safer to plant caladiums in our area end of April, even May. Cold is bad enough, but your real enemy is spring rains. They can rot in a heartbeat, I've learned the hard way. If not too difficult, I would lift them up and store in a dry place til late Spring. If too much of a hassle, let them be and cross your fingers, lol.

there is a caladium coop going on and a chat thread related to the coop. Ck it out and even feel free to post a ? about best time to plant caladiums in your area. Either the hostess or the vendor supplying the coop will be happy to help. Most important, ck the caladium varieties available.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/801667/

I wouldn't plant them now. It's way to early in the season!!
I'd wait until at least April 1st. It might be warm right now but if you get a bad cold front come through the bulbs would be in trouble!! Caladiums DO NOT like cold temperatures. They're not going to come up this early anyway. The night time temps are to low.
It's not worth risking them.

Bill

Thanks ya'll! Good tips.

For mine since there in, there in. Struggling here with other things and they were cheap enough I got more of them to.

Just checked the spare box I have. It says to plant Jan-April for almost all the state of Texas. So later certainly couldn't hurt then. :)

Thanks. I will wait a while. Not like I don't have anything to do, tilling new beds, getting compost spread around, mainly deciding what to plant where. Do any of you know the best place to order begonia bulbs that won't put me in the poor house (Do they still have those? Ha ha

Does each bulb come up one leaf or a stem of leaves?

It all depends on the size of the bulb. The bigger the bulb, the more eyes it'll have, meaning more leaves. If the bulbs are on the small side, plant a bunch of them close together. It'll create the same effect.

So, I shouldn't take the eyes off and make another one? Told you I was dumb.
Also, I brought them in in the fall, most of them are nice and hard like they were when I took them out of the dirt. I do have one that seems to be getting soft. Can I save it?

Some varieties can be de-eyed but not all of them. Here's a web site I found that'll answer some of your questions. http://www.suite101.com/reference/caladium
The bulb that's getting soft probably won't do anything. The ones that are nice and firm should produce nice plants for you.