Here (zone 7), caladiums are annuals, so can't advise you.

offer "free if you dig"..someone will do the work for you..

one of the definitions of a weed.. is ANYTHING YOU DONT WANT ... ergo.. they are weeds ... start digging or spraying with killer.. and get rid of them ...

and a pox on anyone who says otherwise ... its your garden .. do you really care what others think???

gardening was my aerobics and my therapy.. if i went to therapy on the premise that i would only do things that pleased others.. its would NOT really work out for me.. would it ... so who cares what others think about caladium ... pshaw ...

this is your little slice of heaven.. others opinions dont matter .. now go get to work .. get angry at them.. and start the slaughter ...

just start with a two ft square area.. eradicate them .. and plan on another section tomorrow night.. and keep at it until you are done.. even if it takes years ..

i suggest you start closest to your favorite garden chair.. so you can sit back and enjoy what you accomplish ... so you will be motivated to do 4 ft tomorrow ... being able to see a result usually gets you going ...

ken

ps: i dont invite strangers into my garden with shovels .. i fear they might come back and take good stuff when im not there ... but thats up to you ... maybe you have a little more faith in strangers than i do ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffnt&q=garden+thefts&ia=web

ken..it didn't occur to me that if a stranger came for free plants it's the perfect opportunity to "case the joint"..that's a good point..I've never offered plants to strangers but I've received plants from strangers and I dug them out!..it sounds good in theory..