Plant Caladium Bulbs Indoors
Some caladium varieties can tolerate sun but moonlight loves the shade.
Plant caladium bulbs indoors. For outdoor planting don t put caladium in a spot that puddles after rain. If planting as an indoor houseplant plant roots directly into the container they will grow in. Midday sun will scorch your caladiums so whether indoors or out look for a northern or eastern exposure and partial to full shade. Set the caladium tuber on top the soil with the bumpy side facing up.
Press it lightly into the soil. Growing caladium as indoor plants has its challenges though as the plant requires high humidity and heated home interiors are generally quite arid. To promote more leaves remove the largest bud in the center of the root. Caladiums need rich well drained soil.
Caladiums caladium bicolor add color to your garden from spring through fall. The plants are susceptible to drafts and sudden drops in temperature. Growing indoors the perfect place for your caladiums would be in an east or west facing window. How do i plant my bulbs.
If you re growing caladiums indoors keep them in a warm room with plenty of light until outside temperatures are warm enough to transplant. Their green pink red white and silver variegated leaves complement plants such as begonias hostas and elephant. You can plant them under a tree and they will do well. If you are planting caladiums in northern climes you can start the bulbs earlier in a warm moist not soggy place inside and give them a head start see the interesting tip from ed groff at the bottom of this page.
They are normally available during caladium s resting period from late fall to early spring. Law price easy to ship and a plant true to the type. Generally plant your bulbs with the soil temperatures warm to 65 f 70 f. Being native to the tropics caladium does not like cold weather.
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. Till the soil to a depth of at least 6 inches 15 2 cm and work in compost or chopped leaves to enrich it. Make sure the soil drains well by digging a hole and filling it with water. Add more soil to the pot until the top of the tuber sits about 2 inches beneath the soil.
If you re planting caladiums in pots a standard rich potting soil will do. Indoors or out caladiums are a seasonal plant with foliage in the summer and a rest period in the autumn or winter. Prepare the soil for planting. A few hours sun light in morning or evening is all they need to reveal all its glory.