Saving caladium bulbs

20 years ago

Our caladiums have pretty much died down with the onset of cooler nights in Florida. We are building a new home and will be moving in the spring. We want to take our caladium bulbs with us, but do not know when it would be the best time to remove them from the ground and how would we save them until we could plant them next spring. Normally we just leave them in the ground and they re-appear in the spring. Would appreciate some suggestions and input. Thank You.

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Comments (6)

Nell Jean
20 years ago
I dig mine, cut off the old leaves, let them dry for a few days and then store in an old styrofoam cooler in layers of newspaper. Dust with a bit of sulphur unless you have a fancier fungicide.

Nell
Carol love_the_yard (Zone 9A Jacksonville, FL)
20 years ago
Nell, where did you buy sulphur? I have tried all over and can't find it.
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sconti_95
Original Author
20 years ago
Nell,
Thanks for the tip on proper storage of our caladium bulbs. Weather is great today in Tampa, so looks like a good day to get out in the yard. Do not have an old styrofoam cooler, but will take a small cardboard box, line it with plastic and then layer the bulbs after drying. Any problems with them coming up again after drying and being stored for a few months? Also, as "Love the Yard" asked, I would also be interested in locating the sulphur dust. Thanks for the post.
cynthianovak
20 years ago
Hi All

Thought I'd post this in case a newbie is reading.

Don't do as I did!

One year I was really clever. I dug, dried and placed mine in a plastic bucket from kitty litter. I even put sawdust in with them and layered them.

Sounds pretty good so far right? It was until a few weeks later I decided they were plenty dry so I could press the lid onto the bucket.

Moisture that I had never guessed was still in the bulbs. It came up to the inside top of the bucket. The sawdust held it on them all and you guessed ....the whole mess rotted in a couple of months.
sconti_95
Original Author
20 years ago
cynthianovak: Good post, which bring up my question. Should I dry them in the sun? When storing, can I leave them in a dark container that breathes, in the event some moisture has been retained? Any way of knowing if they are completely dry? Three questions, but this has become quite interesting. Thanks to all !!
kattwild_msn_com
18 years ago
I have found flowers of sulfur in a drug store. It was recommended as a chigger deterent. We were advised to dust our socks and pantleg bottoms to keep them from crawling up to bite. Don't know if it is still available as this was a decade or more ago. I have some great garden t-shirts, mugs, ties, magnets, bags and books especially on gardening with kids so I will post my URL in the box that was offered. I also have a link to a power point presentation on Weeds Water and Wool - how to use a Dye and Fiber garden to teach across the curriculum. This was presented at the AHS youth Gardening Symposium last summer.

Here is a link that might be useful: Weeds Water and Wool - Dye and Fiber Garden