Don’t buy new caladiums every year! Learn how to overwinter caladium plants with these simple tips for stunning summer color.
Caladiums, with their vibrant, heart-shaped leaves, bring a touch of the tropics to any garden. These beautiful plants thrive in the warmth of summer, but did you know you can enjoy their stunning foliage year after year?
Overwintering caladiums is a simple process that allows you to save money, grow bigger plants, and preserve your favorite varieties. Learn how with these simple tips.
(Posts on stacyling.com may contain affiliate links. Click HERE for full disclosure.)
About Caladium Plants
Native to Central and South America, caladiums are prized for their colorful foliage. Their leaves come in a dazzling array of colors, including shades of pink, red, white, and green, often with striking patterns and variegation. While they do produce flowers, these are insignificant compared to the showstopping leaves. Caladiums prefer shade or partial shade and thrive in warm, humid conditions.
Why Overwinter Caladiums?
- Save Money: Caladium bulbs can be an investment, especially for unique cultivars. Overwintering lets you reuse them, saving you money each spring.
- Bigger Plants: When you overwinter caladiums, they often reward you with larger, more robust plants the following season.
- Preserve Favorites: Have a caladium with a one-of-a-kind color pattern? Overwintering ensures you don’t lose that special plant.
When to Start Overwintering
Knowing when to start the overwintering process is key. Keep an eye on your caladiums as temperatures begin to cool in the fall. You’ll notice the foliage starts to yellow and die back. This is your cue! You can also wait until after the first frost, but don’t delay too long, as you want to protect the bulbs from freezing temperatures.
How to Overwinter Caladium Plants
Supplies Needed
There are a few ways to overwinter caladiums. Choose your method and gather the necessary supplies. Here’s what you’ll potentially need.
- Shovel or hand trowel
- Potting Mix
- Peat Moss, Vermiculite, or Sawdust
Directions
- Dig them up: As temperatures cool in the fall and foliage begins to yellow (or after the first frost kisses your garden), carefully dig up your caladiums.
- Cure the bulbs: Let the plants sit in a cool, dry location for 1-2 weeks. This crucial step helps prevent rot during storage.
- Trim the foliage: Once cured, trim away the dried leaves.
- Store for the winter:
- Option 1: In a box: Create a cozy bed for your caladium bulbs in a cardboard box. Start with a layer of peat moss, vermiculite, or sawdust. Place the tubers on top, ensuring they don’t touch, and cover them with more of the storage medium. Store the box in a cool (60-65°F), dry place like a basement.
- Option 2: In their pots: If your caladiums are already potted, you can often leave them there! Simply stop watering and move the pots to a cool (around 50-60°F), dry location like a garage.
- Wake them up in spring: When the threat of frost has passed and warm weather returns, replant your caladium bulbs in fresh soil and resume watering. You can also get them started indoors by feeding with a water soluble or slow-release fertilizer.
Since I grow my caladiums in pots that I leave outdoors all winter, I dig my caladiums out and repot them in old nursery pots that have been cleaned and sanitized with potting mix and move them to a cool dry location. I do not water them at all. In late February, I wake them up from dormancy, feed them with a fertilizer and get them started in front of a window.
Tips for Success Overwintering Caladium Plants
- Handle with care: Caladium bulbs can be delicate, so handle them gently during the digging and storage process.
- Don’t overwater: Overwatering is a common culprit for rot during storage. Ensure the storage medium is slightly moist but not soggy.
- Check for rot: Periodically check your stored bulbs for any signs of rot or disease. Discard any that are soft or discolored.
Bringing the Tropics Inside: Growing Caladiums as Houseplants
Want to enjoy the vibrant colors of caladiums year-round? You can grow these tropical plants indoors with a little extra care. Here’s what you need to know.
- Well-Draining Soil: Use a well-draining potting mix to ensure proper drainage and prevent soggy soil.
- Bright, Indirect Light: Just like their outdoor counterparts, indoor caladiums thrive in bright, indirect light. Avoid placing them in direct sunlight, which can burn their leaves.
- Warm Temperatures: Caladiums prefer warm temperatures between 70-80°F.
- Humidity is Key: As tropical plants, caladiums need higher humidity levels. Consider using a humidifier or placing the pot on a pebble tray filled with water to increase moisture in the air.
- Proper Watering: Water thoroughly when the soil surface feels dry to the touch. Be careful not to overwater, which can lead to root rot.
While I could grow mine as houseplants, I just don’t have the space to do so with all of the other indoor plants that I grow! Therefore, I opt to overwinter them in pots in the cottage (an outbuilding here on the property).
Final Thoughts About How to Overwinter Caladium Plants
Because I was thrilled with the beautiful additions of ‘Bottle Rocket’ and ‘Clowning Around’ caladiums from Proven Winners to my garden, I want to save them. Their unique colors and patterns truly stole the show! Now that the cooler weather is approaching, it’s time to dig them up and tuck them in for their winter slumber. I’m excited to see them return even bigger and bolder next spring.
Have you overwintered caladiums before? Tell me about how you keep them stored overwinter in the comment section below.
Want to learn more? Dive deeper with this article from the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach.
To drill down on more beginner gardening techniques and tips, please read these posts:
Thank you for visiting the blog today!
Enjoy your day! xo
