Caladium Bulbs Growing Conditions

Peat moss compost ground bark or decomposed manure all work well and.

Caladium bulbs growing conditions. Space them 8 to 14 inches apart depending on the ultimate size of your plants as listed on the tag. Outdoor beds find a location where the soil drains well. Additionally caladium plants produce leaves only from spring to fall and then require a rest period of around five months to recharge and sprout anew in spring. Though they re sometimes called bulbs they are really tubers plant tubers point side up about 1 to 1 1 2 inches deep.

If you re growing caladiums indoors keep them in a warm room with plenty of light until outside temperatures are warm enough to transplant. Caladiums caladium bicolor add color to your garden from spring through fall. Cover with 1 inch of soil. If there are still water puddles 5 6 hours after a hard rain scout out another site.

Caladium bulbs may be started inside 6 8 weeks before all danger of frost has passed. Buy potted caladiums ready to plant or grow them from tubers. Next water the plants frequently so that the soil stays moist but not soggy. This is okay they re supposed to do that.

How to plant caladiums. Even under the best conditions caladium foliage lasts only a few months before the leaves start to die back and the plant goes dormant again. The knobby side should be up as these are the growing points. Caladium bulbs have a rather smooth bottom side and knobby these are actually the eyes or growing points top side.

Their green pink red white and silver variegated leaves complement plants such as begonias hostas and elephant ears. Caladiums grown in full sun will require more water and will have a bit shorter life span due to the harsher growing conditions. Many gardeners use masses of these striking plants as summer accents and conversation pieces. Though they will grow no matter which way you orient them planting with the top side up will provide you with the shortest sprouting time and the happiest plant.

Caladiums will grow in most all soil types. Or amend the soil with the addition of organic material to raise the level 2 3 to improve the drainage. Growing caladium as indoor plants has its challenges though as the plant requires high humidity and heated home interiors are generally quite arid. They require a warm soil in order to emerge so consider using a heat mat.

When you plant caladiums you should plant them about 4 to 6 inches 10 to 15 cm deep and 4 to 6 inches 10 to 15 cm apart. To keep them blooming fertilize your caladiums once per month during the growing season with a 5 10 10 fertilizer.