How to Store Caladiums

Video by Jonathan Parrish

If you have caladiums in your landscape and want to be sure they come back next year, you’ll need to dig them up just before the first frost. Mississippi’s winters are too cold for the plants to survive in the ground.

After you dig them up, put them in a protected place, such as a garden shed or garage, and let the foliage wither. Once the foliage is brown and brittle, remove it. Store the tubers between 55- and 60-degrees F throughout the winter.

Caladiums are summer-blooming tubers, so you should wait until after the last spring frost to plant them. Pro tip: If you want one large stalk with leaves, remove all the eyes on the tuber except one.

Caladiums are part of the bulbous group of plants, which include corms, tubers, rhizomes, and true bulbs. Tulips, daffodils, lilies and cannas are all members of this broad group of bulbous plants. To get the best bang for your buck, plant these types of flowers in large groups. The larger the bulb the larger the flower will be.

To vary the bloom times and have a longer lasting spring or summer flower show, plant the bulbs at different depths. The deeper a bulb is planted the later it will bloom. Planting in sun versus shade can produce different bloom times, too.

Bulbous plants also need food, so you should fertilize. But don’t guess at what type or how much fertilizer you need. Do a soil test to ensure you will have a beautiful display.

Learn more about the different types of bulbous plants and how to make them thrive in your landscape in Extension publication 1736, “Planting and Care of Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes, and Roots.”

Watch an instructional video on how to take a soil sample in a previous Extension for Real Life blog post.

If you love gardening and want to use your hobby to serve your community and state, consider becoming a Master Gardener.