How to Grow and Care for Caladium Bulbs

Plant Caladiums for Dramatic Color in Summer Flower Beds

Mar 13, 2009

Caladiums are tropical foliage plants that provide a splash of color in summer flower beds. They grow well in shaded areas, containers, hanging baskets, and as borders.

You can add drama to any landscape with the addition of caladiums. Their brightly-colored leaves, in shades of red, pink, white and green, are perfect in a grouping or as an accent for other plants.

Make Sure the Soil is Warm Before Planting Caladiums

"The most important factor when planting caladiums is temperature," explains Noel Durrant, owner of Caladium World in Sebring, FL. "Ideally the night temperature should be 68 degrees or warmer on a consistent basis before planting caladiums." She says caladiums that are planted when nights are cool are very slow to germinate, even if you are having 80 degree day time temperatures.

Proper Watering is Important to Healthy Caladium Plants

Caladiums should be kept moist during germination, without allowing the soil to become soggy. Cool nights and excessive moisture can cause a bulb to rot. Durrant points out that once a caladium breaks ground it is easy to tell when to water as they will droop very easily if thirsty.

You will need to adjust your watering schedule based on your climate and the amount of sun the plant receives. If you are new to growing caladiums, planting them in containers allows you to move the plants around your yard to determine where they grow best. You can also move them in times of excessive heat. Bulbs can be bought in the spring from local nurseries and discount stores or ordered on-line. Often these are sold when it is still too cold to plant them outside in your area. Planting them outside too early will result in rot to the bulb.

Give Caladium Blubs an Early Start Inside

"You can start caladiums indoors to have immediate impact when planting out," according to Denise Smith, Brand Manager for Park Seed Plants of Greenwood, SC. She recommends a night temperature above 60 before planting outside.

Caladiums are Versatile Plants

Ms. Smith points out that any average garden soil is fine for caladiums and that they love being in containers. Although they are mostly grown in part shade, she says they will take full sun if they are not allowed to dry out.

You can dig the bulbs before the first frost and store them until spring. The caladium bulb, however, does not increase in size as well as some bulbs and some gardeners prefer to buy new bulbs each spring. Growing conditions and storage conditions will determine the success of next year's crop.

Caladiums can cause skin irritation in some individuals so gloves should be worn when handling them. They are dangerous if ingested so use caution when planting around children and household pets.

For shade or partial sun, beds or containers, caladium bulbs provide consistent beauty with minimal care in a variety of soils and climates. Their wide range of colors and heights helps these plants partner with other plants or stand alone to add drama and interest to any landscape.

The copyright of the article How to Grow and Care for Caladium Bulbs in Bulbs is owned by Rosalie Thompson. Permission to republish How to Grow and Care for Caladium Bulbs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.