caladiums

[angmf2233]

I have 3 small pots of caladiums and they began growing I got 2 pink and 1 white one so far. Does anyone no do they like to be dry or moist? I think last year I over watered. They seemed to not do so well. Also I always thought they prefered some shade. But someone put a site up that sells them in FL. and they say they also like full sun? Hey ZUZU I think I had seen a picture of these you posted can ya help me out? I just bought a bag of basic asst caladiums at Lowes. Pink, white, red.

[zuzu's petals]

Hey Angie
Yes I do grow Caladiums each year just love 'em,
I save the tubers each year, and keep them down in my basement over the winter.

I know that some varieties have been bred to tolerate sun, but personally, I've always liked them for shady spots.
I water mine every day, but they are planted in a potting mix that drains well,
so that the soil is never soggy.

[angmf2233]

I really like these I think they are really pretty. I will keep them under my porch and enjoy. So when they stop growing, I can do like I do with my canna lilly bulbs, dig up and store in my basement for next year?

[zuzu's petals]

You are quite welcome.

Yes, I hold over my Caladium tubers just the way I hold over my sweet potato tubers.
At the end of the season, I dig them up and clean them off,
then I let them dry for a couple of days in the open air, out of the direct sun.
(Of course, if you are going to do this outdoors, it must be done before it gets too cold out.)
Then I nestle each of them into a box of shredded newspaper, being sure that they aren't touching each other.
My basement remains at about 55° or 60°F without being heated,
so the air never gets dreadfully dry down there.

Works well for me.
In the spring, by the time I'm ready to plant them,
I can usually see them just barely making eyes already.

[angmf2233]

Will try to save this year zuzu, sure beats buying them ever year, I just did not no you could do this with these. Yes my basement is about 50 in winter but that is with our heat on. I save my cannas in a box with sawdust, my grandpa taught me that. So far they made it each year, most of them. I think I saw someone said you can also do that with dahlias too? It gets to be alot of work though in the fall diggin all this up after all summer I guess I'm gettin old?

[zuzu's petals]

Yep, I do my Dahlias that way too - I almost forgot about those.
I sure hear you about all of the extra work - but what can we do .?. we are hopeless plant junkies
and no matter where we live, we seem to wanna grow stuff that grows in a warmer climate.