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Overwintering Caladiums: Your Guide to Success

By stacy ling

Gardening Tips & Tricks

Learn how to successfully overwinter caladiums and enjoy their vibrant foliage year after year! This guide provides simple steps for storing your bulbs.

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When to Start Overwintering 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.  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.

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.

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Follow along to learn more about overwintering caladium plants.

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