how are caladiums stored at home in the winter? Thank you.
Answer
Caladims are not hardy in our region, so they need to be dug and stored indoors over the winter. Before frost, dig them up, leave any soil that adheres to the bulbs. Dry outside in a place away from direct sun for about a week. Once dried, remove foliage and excess soil from the bulb. Place them in a container with dry vermiculite and lightly cover them. Dampen the vermiculite and check monthly. If dry, lightly dampen the material. The container should be stored in a cool dry dark place until March when the container can be moved into more light.
To get a jump on the warm weather in mid-April, the bulbs, etc. can be planted in a pot just big enough to hold them and covered lightly. Use a peat mix. Put them in a light place that is warm during the day. If they get leggy, some, like begonias, can be pinched back. When the warm weather arrives, gradually introduce them to the outdoors and after a week or so, the plants can be put into the soil.
For more about Caladiums, see uploaded article.