So I tried yet again this year. I dragged the pots of overwintered caladium bulbs out in early spring and let them sit in the shade, making sure to keep the soil evenly moist...and there they sat for a few months. As usual, nothing happened. I finally gave up on them and dumped the contents of the pots into the compost bin. That's it, I'm done. From now on, caladiums are going to be annuals around here....
...but wait, what's this growing out of my compost bin?!?...
What the...? Ok, apparently the key to successfully overwintering caladium bulbs is to leave them in a pot until June and then throw them in the compost bin and bury them with kitchen waste and dirt? I am confused!I don't know what to do now, should I just leave them growing in the compost bin all summer? Should I dig them up and put them in a pot? Ugh, now I'm gonna have to overwinter them again this year (I can't give up now!).
Are there any pros out there that have successfully overwintered caladium bulbs (not accidentally like me)? Got any tips for me?
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Amy, you are hilarious!
ReplyDeleteI successfully overwintered my first caladium. I dug up the tuber before the first freeze, cut off all the foliage and stems, shook off as much soil as possible, then put the tuber in a metal holiday cookie box with a tightly-fitting lid and a bunch of what seems to be wood shavings (had come with some bulbs I bought and I saved it). I made sure to put wood shavings all over the roots to dry up any excess moisture. Then i kept the covered metal box in a room with temp set at 55 degrees all winter (to save on my electric bill, not to baby the caladium!). Come warm weather in spring, I replanted it. It took quite a while, but eventually leaves appeared, and the thing was much bigger than the previous year. This fall when i dug up the tuber I discovered it was now four tubers-- apparently it pupped over the summer! I'm just hoping I didn't leave it too late this time around.
ReplyDelete@Anonymous - Wow, that is awesome!! Good for you! Thanks for sharing this information. How exciting that you have four bulbs now too. Good luck overwintering it again this winter, hope it works for you again!!
ReplyDeleteAmy
Last fall, I dug up the tubers, dusted them off, allowed the to dry for a week or so, the put them in an old onion bag. I hung them in a cool, dry, dark place all winter. In May, when night temps were above 50, I planted them about 2" deep in my pots. Watered and waited. It took a few weeks...maybe a little over a month before I saw any activity. Then all the sudden they started growing and ended up looking great. I plan on trying again this fall.
ReplyDeleteWow, good for you!! Thanks for sharing your tips for overwintering them. Good luck, I hope they will survive for you this year too.
DeleteAmy