Caladiums

Does anyone here know if anyone has caladium bulbs for sale or trade even?

Shipping them in the winter is not a good idea. If the temps anywhere along the way (in a truck, on an airline runway, anywhere) drop below freezing, the bulbs will be killed. They are shipped in the spring after the temps warm up enough, depending on where you live.

Happiness Farms in Florida is a wonderful place to purchase your bulbs. They ship when it's safe for them to be in transit for your area, but you can place your order in late winter.

Thanks, I just decided this morning that I would like to have caladiums in my garden this next spring. Didn't know about the shipping of them so that tells you I am fairly new with some of the plants. While your on here dp I want ask you a question and maybe you can help. I potted some phylodadrums( Not spelled right I know) and that was 2or 3 weeks ago and I have not saw any sign of them coming up ,so I dug around gently in the pot and found the seed and they hadn't even looked like they even wanted to germinate and some were squishy. What have I done wrong here? They were put in peat as most people say that is the best starter for seed.

Caladiums are great plants for color in the shade or part shade. In fact, very few of them like full sun. When you order your bulbs, be sure to notice in the descriptions how much sun each variety likes so they will do well for you. They're strictly warm-weather plants, so in Indiana you'd probably not plant them until mid-May or early June. They don't sprout until the soil temps warm up after the winter is over. In the fall, you can dig and store your bulbs for the next year, but that's a whole different story.

As for your philodendron seeds, you were right to plant them in a peaty planting mixture. I'm sure you're keeping them indoors so they don't freeze. These are not easy to grow from seed. The seed usually don't sprout for a least a month, and it can take up to three months. So it's not surprising that they hadn't sprouted in a couple of weeks. You mentioned that some were squishy. That makes me wonder if maybe they are getting too much water and rotting? I think I'd only water when the soil feels dry to the touch, and be patient (easy for ME to say!) Where did you get your seed, and did they give you any suggestions on how to get them to germinate?

I think it's great you're trying new plants, and if you have questions, there are people on Dave's who are always willing to give advice. The best of luck to you.

Well I bought the seed on ebay but no directions as to planting with them. I was talking to someone about them and they said if the seed was a hard shell they may need sacrifiying. I don't have any left so am trying to get more and try them that way. Would you think that if I tried the peroxide thing that they might germinate that way, or the scarifiying?

You would probably get competent advice at either the Tropical Plants or Seed Germination forum. I don't think many people grow tropicals from seed. As to scarification, somebody there should know. I'd always be afraid I'd damage the seed using a blade or sandpaper and it sure wouldn't germinate. I've read that some seeds will sprout better and faster if you soak them in water before planting them, but for any specific plant you'd need the advice of somebody who knows what they're talking about.

Thanks for your help. You Have a good one !!!!!!!!!!

flower, what type of philodendron are you trying to grow? If it's the common, houseplant variety, they're super easy to root from cuttings.

If this is the kind you want, I could chop off a few sprigs, root them, and send them to you.

You're so nice to offer to root some cuttings for the lady. However, I think your picture is of the plant called pothos ivy or devil's ivy or several other names. The botanical name is hard to spell, pronounce and remember so most people still call it pothos. If I'm wrong, I apoligize.

Speaking of philodendrons, flowerfantasy may just enjoy growing things from seed. If so, then that's the thing to do. But, as indy_v says, the "ivy" type are easy to find in stores and aren't expensive, and you can easily root cuttings in potting mix and eventually have all you want. One plant could be the "mother plant" that you take all your cuttings from.
flowerfantasy, have you gone to Plant Files and looked at all the different kinds of philodendrons? Some get huge and have leaves bigger than a dinner plate. In the jungle, they grow up into trees. As someone said on Dave's recently, the name in Latin means lover of trees. The small one is a lot like a pothos ivy, but the leaves are longer and more narrow. Most others are too big to grow in the house.

:o) I just came here to correct that! I was clicking around looking at houseplant stuff and yep, it's a pothos. ::blushing::

Plant Files shows a lot of interesting-looking philodendrons that I never realized were philodendrons. That's probably the type of stuff she's looking for anyway.

Pothos. I should stick a label on it cause I'll forget. Whatever it is, you sure can't kill it.

I've recently acquired the seed addiction as well, so I completely understand. I've got all kinds of seeds here and there. Most of them probably won't germinate, but what's the harm in trying? My grocery store tangerine experiment seems to be a flop, so it looks like I'm off to the store for more fruit! I could end up with a little bonsai, or more likely, just the RDA of vitamin C. Win-win, either way.

Hi indy,
No that isn't the one I am looking for but yes like you said those are easy to root. If it was that kind I wouldn't have had a problem. The seed I was trying to germinate was a split leaf. They get huge. I got more seed and am going to try again. I found a place that tells you exactly what to do to germinate them so maybe I won't have that problem this time LOL. I do appreciate the offer though. No this is the first year that I am trying to grow from seed. Usually I get starts of things so it has always been easy for me, until now. I figure if I am going to have beds and such I had better start learning to grow from seed ,so much cheaper that way.


dp,
Yeah I know about a lot of the more common ones, and I have found out about the tropical ones.LOL I have got a very larger one that I have got in my watch and when the time gets down a bit farther I am going to try and get it, and you talk about big!!!!!!!! I think it is called the Queen of the jungle. It is just gorgeous!! Dark green with white veins running thru it.

Wow, that does sound beautiful. Wish I had a place big enough to try one. Don't they need shade or mostly shade?

Yes from what I read on it which right now I would have to keep it in the house but no big deal But I am going to leave it in an pot and that way I can move it back an forth when I need to. I want some plants to put on our deck this summer and it is shaded so shouldn't have aproblem there. I wish I had a pic of it to show it to you but I don't, but if and when I get it I'll take some pics and post them so everone can see it.

Hey dp I got that philodendron that I was telling you about. I jau twish you could see it. I could copy and paste it over here but thats stealing someone elses pic I believe.It is a young plant so I have no idea if it will look like the adult plant or not. I don't know how early they develope to make them look like the older plant.

How in the world did you get it? I did a search and couldn't find one by that exact name. Would you send me a d-mail with the picture you have? That shouldn't make anyone upset. Congratulations and thanks.

Speaking of philodendrons, I saw a real beauty at Lowe's this summer- 'Xanadu'. It's small scale with the most beautifully shaped leaves! It's in Dave's Plant Files.

dp,
I couldn't get it . It has a copy protection on it. I bought it from funny farm herbs. They sell stuff on here too. Yeah I have seen the Xanadu, they are pretty too. I have seen some many that I would like to have but I have the slpit leaf, and this one coming and would not have the room for more. Probably you didn't find it because I didn't give you quite the right name.
Here is the exact name of it:
Anthurium waroqueanum "The Queen
I think I told you Queen of the jungle partly because I couldn't remember the exact name of it and too when I read about it it comes the wet forest of South America. Here is a description of it. I did get that part of it to copy and paste: Anthurium waroqueanum the Queen

The beauty of some rare plants simply defy description. Anthurium warocqueanum is near the top of the list of those that defy. From the wet forests of Columbia in northern South America is a spectacular epiphytic tree dweller known as the Queen anthurium. Noted for its elongated velvety and veining on the leaves.
I gotta run have an appointment to keep at 10. Gotta get shocks put on my van.
Carolyn