When do caladiums

The sites that say caladiums are annuals are incorrect. Some gardeners may use them as annuals. That is, they plant them only expecting to get one season of color, and then they are removed and discarded at the end of the season. But, that does not take away the fact that they are perennials that grow from a tuber. The tubers you plant this summer can be used to grow caladiums again next year, either left in the ground or stored and replanted.

If the beds where the caladiums are planted will stay undisturbed and if drainage is good and they will not stay too wet during winter, you may simply leave the caladium tubers in the ground. If the winter is wet, however, the tubers may rot in the cold, damp soil. Digging and storing the tubers in late September or October is the most reliable way of making sure they grow another year. Dig caladiums when most of leaves turn yellow and fall over.

Once growing caladiums are planted, mulch the bed with 2 inches of your favorite mulch and water in. Careful bed preparation will ensure healthy, robust plants.

Turn the soil and then incorporate a 4-inch layer of organic matter, such as compost, rotted manure or composted soil conditioner. Next, lightly sprinkle the area with an all-purpose fertilizer such as following package directions, and rake it into the upper few inches of the soil. As an alternative, a little slow-release fertilizer can be placed around each tuber as it is planted into the bed. Caladiums' colorful, tropical foliage combines beautifully with impatiens, begonias, torenias, liriope, ferns, hydrangeas, achimenes, gingers and other shade-loving plants.

They are generally more effective when a single color or cultivar is used in a bed or landscape. If several colors are used, they are most effective when masses or groups of each color are combined in the planting. In late September or early October, longer nights and cooler temperatures encourage caladiums to go dormant.

If the beds where the caladiums are planted will stay undisturbed, and if drainage is good and they will not stay too wet during winter, you can try leaving the tubers in the ground.

If all goes well, they will sprout in April the next year. Or you may opt to dig up the tubers and store them.

This is the most reliable way of making sure they grow another year. Dig caladiums when a number of leaves turn yellow and most of the foliage begins to look "tired" and falls over. Use a shovel or a garden fork to lift the tubers, being careful not to damage them. Leaving the foliage attached, shake and brush off most of the soil from the tubers and lay them out in a single layer in a dry location sheltered from rain in a garage, under a carport.

After the foliage becomes tan and papery, pull it from the tubers and store the tubers in paper bags indoors where temperatures stay around 70 degrees through the winter.

I can't think of any summer bedding plants that are easier to grow and provide such reliable summer color in beds and containers. With the proper care, the tubers you plant this year can provide a beautiful display again next year and for years to come. All varieties die back naturally and become dormant in the winter. Several caladium cultivars, planted together in a landscape bed.

Most caladiums thrive in partial shade and only need two to four hours of direct sunlight per day. Although some new cultivars have been bred to grow in direct sunlight, morning sun and then partial shade for the remainder of the day is ideal for most. When grown in the shade the leaf colors tend to be more vibrant than if grown in full sun.

This makes caladium an excellent option for shade gardens. The University of Florida has developed a number of cultivars that thrive in our warm climate. For white, seek out 'Cosmic Delight' and 'Icicle'. Dozens more cultivars are available and you can preview some of them in our article, Caladium Cultivars Developed at UF. Caladiums can be added to your landscape as tubers without foliage or as full-leafed plants.

In USDA Hardiness Zones caladiums with foliage can be planted at any time of the year, though bare tubers are usually planted in the spring. Cooler soil will result in tuber rot and slow growth. In South Florida tubers can be planted between March and September. When planting tubers place them "eye side" up the puckered, knobby side.

Plant them 2 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart from each other. Caladiums prefer soils with high moisture and adequate drainage. The tubers should never sit in dry soil or saturated water, but in soil moist to the touch. Keeping it moist but not soaked may require frequent watering. To retain soil moisture, mulch around the plant after the leaves have emerged. Caladium foliage does not usually suffer from significant pest pressure but tubers are vulnerable to fungal diseases.

Appropriate watering helps to avoid fungal issues.