Tips for Growing Caladiums in Zones 5-7

If you live in the northern half of the U.S., you may think caladiums are only suitable for southern gardens. Not so! The photo below was taken in a zone 6 garden in New Jersey, where caladiums put on a great show every summer.

Caladiums are actually even more versatile in the North than they are in the South. In areas where the sun is less intense, caladiums don’t need to be restricted to shady locations. Many varieties will tolerate almost any light conditions, from full shade to full sun.

Caladiums, like canna lilies, calla lilies, and elephant ears, grow from tubers. This means the plants start the growing season with a ready supply of stored food energy. As soon as the tubers begin growing, they grow with remarkable speed.

Here are a few tips and tricks to help you get the most from these easy summer-blooming bulbs:

Start with large, grade #1 caladium tubers rather than the smaller, #2 or #3 sizes. The bigger the tubers, the more stored food energy the plants will have available to fuel their growth. Longfield Gardens sells only #1 caladium tubers.

Don’t be too eager to plant your caladium tubers because they will not grow in cold soil. Plant the tubers only after the soil temperature has warmed up to 65-70°F. In the central U.S., this will be sometime around Memorial Day. In northern areas, you may need to wait until mid-June.

For a quicker display of color, caladium tubers can be pre-sprouted indoors. Start them about 4-6 weeks before you will be moving them outdoors. Plant the tubers in barely moist growing mix and keep them warm (70-75°) day and night.

Caladium tubers are usually planted approximately 6" apart. Another alternative for northern areas is to plant groups of 3 or more tubers, spaced just 3 to 4" apart. At the start of the season, these clumps will have a bigger presence than single plants that are evenly spaced.

Even in the north, it’s best to protect caladiums from the harsh midday sun. Dappled light beneath shade trees, or morning or afternoon sun, will bring out their richest colors. The most sun tolerant caladium varieties are Carolyn Whorton, White Queen, Red Flash, Aaron, Florida Cardinal, Florida Sweetheart and Rosebud.
Caladiums grow well in pots and planters. Soil temperatures are usually higher in a container and caladiums appreciate that extra heat. In northern areas where the soil temperature may not reach 70°F until June, planting caladiums in containers will give the tubers a big head start.

If you want to try overwintering your caladiums, dig up the tubers when the foliage starts to yellow and go limp (this means the tubers are entering dormancy). Leave the foliage attached and lay the plants out to dry in a protected location. When fully dry, gently clean the tubers to remove most soil, and put them into a mesh bag. Store in a warm, dry place (70°F) and replant in spring. Note: if the tubers that you dig up are smaller than the ones you planted last spring, it's probably not worth saving them. Tubers purchased fresh are grown in optimum conditions so they'll be as large as possible and give you the best results.

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