Do Caladiums Have to Go Dormant?

Dormant Period

• Even growing in the wild, caladiums undergo dormancy. It is part of their makeup. In their tropical homeland, caladiums live where there are marked wet and dry seasons. They grow while it is hot and wet and enter dormancy when it is dry but still fairly warm. When fall temperatures reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit, it triggers caladiums to go dormant. The foliage yellows and dries and growth stops. The tubers won't grow again until evening temperatures reach 70 F or above.

Dormant Tuber Care

• Caladiums grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 through 12. Even where freezing temperatures don't occur, it's usually best to lift caladium tubers so wet soil and low temperatures don't rot the tubers. Caladiums don't tolerate temperatures below 55 F, either while growing or when in dormancy. Dig up caladium plants when the leaves begin to die back and before the first frost. Allow any living leaves to remain on the plant because they are still giving food to the tuber for next year's growth. Let the tubers dry out in a warm, dry place for several days. Clean the soil and dried foliage from the tubers, put them in trays or in porous containers, like onion sacks, and store them at 70 F in a dark, well-ventilated place.

Replanting Tubers

• Plant tubers back in the garden when the soil temperatures consistently reach 70 F or higher. Alabama nurseryman Stewart Myers told "Southern Living" magazine he doesn't plant caladiums until after Mother's Day, when the soil is warm enough. Put the tuber in a shallow hole about 1 1/2 inch to 2 inches deep with the side containing the little raised bumps, which are the growing points for the new leaves, facing upward. Cover them with about 1 1/2 inch of soil. Space large tubers 12 inches apart in each direction for mass plantings.

Caladium Care

• Caladiums prefer shade or partial shade and rich, slightly acid soil rich in organic matter. They need to be kept moist but not soggy. If they encounter drought while they are growing, they will go dormant. If caladiums start to flower, pinch off the flower stalks because it is the foliage that provides the color. Fertilize the soil for caladiums before you plant them by incorporating 5 tablespoons of 8-8-8 fertilizer into every 10 square feet of soil. Don't over-fertilize caladiums because it interferes with leaf color development.