When To Plant Caladium Tubers
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.
When to plant caladium tubers. Select a location in shade or part sun with a good rich moist organic soil. These plants thrive in moist well drained soil and are generally happier in partial shade. Make sure that each new tuber section has at least one growing site. The list below outlines the proper time for planting caladiums based on usda hardiness zones.
Plant tubers smooth side down approximately 3 deep. You can also start the tubers indoors with bottom heat about 4 6 weeks before the. Hardiness zones 3 4 5 june 15. In areas where tubers need to be dug up for the winter digging up a pot simplifies removal but you ll need more storage room.
Caladium tubers can be planted in individual holes or you can dig out a larger area and plant a few at once. It is always advisable to select tubers that are disease free and store them in an area with temperatures above 50 degrees fahrenheit to avoid high humidity. Plant caladium bulbs outside after all danger of frost has passed and daytime temperatures remain above 70 degrees. Hardiness zones 9 10 march 15.
Caladiums are tropical plants and cannot tolerate any frost and only emerge when the soil is warm. One of the most important things to remember in the care of caladium plants is that the tubers do not like the cold. It is best to wait to plant until the soil is at least 70 degrees. Caladiums like well drained soil.
But when to plant caladium bulbs varies depending on where you live. Mound an area for. If you plant them too early the entire plant may rot. To keep them blooming fertilize your caladiums once per month during the growing season with a 5 10 10 fertilizer.
Their rest period isn t determined by temperature or light cycle but by how long the plant has been growing. Hardiness zone 8 april 15. Soil temperature is an important consideration as planting too early outdoors can cause tubers to rot. Next water the plants frequently so that the soil stays moist but not soggy.
Hardiness zone 6 june 1. If the area puddles after a good rain you might want to look elsewhere to plant your bulbs. The list above is a. To grow caladiums plant the tubers in a moist shady location at least 6 to 8 inches apart in well draining soil.
T hese hardy plants just need a little warm soil and some occasional watering and fertilizer to provide vibrant colors all season long. The common problem associated with the planting of caladium is the tuber rotting which is a fungal decay of tubers in storage or during the growing season. After the tubers have rooted and the plants are growing plant them in the garden when all danger of frost is over. Hardiness zone 7 may 1.
Either unpot the rooted tuber and plant it in the bed at the same soil level as it was in the pot or sink the whole pot up to its rim in the garden bed. Tubers of mature caladium can be divided.