When to dig bulbs to store over winter?

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Elephant_Ear Graham, TX Nov 10, 2008

I live in an area of TX where we don't have to dig our canna bulbs or irises. They over winter just fine, but Elephant Ears & caladiums have to be dug up or they freeze. When should I dig them? Do I wait for them to die or dig them now while they still look great? We have not had a hard freeze yet. Thanks

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edgeoftheworld Conneaut, OH(Zone 5a) Nov 15, 2008

Either way.If you don't like working outside in cold weather,harvest now.If it doesn't bother you wait.Mine are all in,but it is snowing here.

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dp72 Woodway, TX(Zone 8a) Nov 15, 2008

Caladiums should be taken up WITH THE LEAVES STILL ON THEM and allowed to dry thorougly until the tops are bone dry. That can take a couple of weeks. When the tops are completely dead, then separate them from the bulbs. Store the bulbs somewhere where the temps are not too cold- usually in your garage is fine. Wrap each in newspaper so they don't touch.

Some elephant ears can stay in the ground in Texas. In fact, most can. Where is Graham?

The reason for leaving the leaves on the caladiums until they shrivel up and die is that the plant sugars from the leaves and stem move down into the bulbs and give the bulbs food to live on all winter and to get them going next spring.

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flowerfantasy Washington, IN(Zone 6a) Nov 16, 2008

Well I don't live where it is warm thru the winter and I just got some elephant ears and I know they have to be stored for the winter but they still have leaves on them so what do I do ? Take them out of the dirt and wait until they go dormant?

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dp72 Woodway, TX(Zone 8a) Nov 16, 2008

That's exactly right. Be sure they are in a place where they won't freeze while the tops are dying. If you take the top growth off too soon, they will try to sprout from the moisture left in the stems. Just store them where there is no chance of their freezing. If you have to, put them in a closet in the house. Wrap each in paper so they don't touch, but leave the paper loose so they can breathe.

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flowerfantasy Washington, IN(Zone 6a) Nov 16, 2008

Thank you so much I was pretty sure that what I was to do but not sure enough to do it without some advice.

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