Why I Wait to Plant Caladium Bulbs

'Puppy Love'

It is so very tempting to jump the gun and plant Caladium bulbs in springtime when the soil and air first begin to warm. New shoots of Caladiums from the year(s) before respond to the seasonal transition and lingering sunshine. Out they come, slowly unfurling into glorious shocks of brilliant color. Fingers itch to put more of them in the ground right away.

'Burning Heart' is the larger, background Caladium with 'Tiki Torch' bordering.

It's perfectly acceptable to plant Caladium bulbs anytime after your last frost date and when the temperatures warm to above 65F (or so) consistently. But, I like to wait. Caladiums respond best to warm, moist soil, and humid air. These are the conditions that make them best suited for summer foliage plants. As my Florida gardening friends are well aware, our spring season is typically very dry.

'Classic Pink' in the front garden.

I don't know about you, but I tire of dragging hoses around to my newly installed plants in the spring. Caladiums do not tolerate drought conditions for any enduring length of time. As a matter of course, they prefer our summer rainy season. Happy they are to receive a good daily downpour as long as the soil they're planted in drains well. You don't want to put them where water collects.

'Puppy Love' in the front garden.

As difficult as it may be to wait past spring to plant, I do. My bulbs are ordered early from Classic Caladiums for the best selection. I don't actually have them delivered to my doorstep until June and often don't get the last of them planted until July (or later). At that point the soil is warm (day and night) and our summer rainy season has kicked in full force. New sprouts from bulbs rocket out of the ground in a matter of days and colorful foliage unfolds in what seems like time-lapsed speed.

'Celebration' under the blue bottle tree and 'Radiance' on the right in the back garden.

Happy heart-shaped faces of reds, greens, pinks, white, and even salmon colors shine for the entirety of summer, and often into fall, when planted later. The general life-span of Caladium plants each year when they sprout or re-sprout is about 150 days.

'Tiki Torch' mixed with 'Desert Sunset' in pots.

I prefer my annually planted bulbs, with their dazzling foliage show, to peak mid-August into September when many of the spring blooming flowers have faded.

'Lemon Blush' and 'Desert Sunset'

Summer is Caladium season. They thrive with very little attention once the rainy season begins and provides them with plenty of nutritious water from heaven.

'Classic Pink' to the left and 'Lemon Blush' to the right.

My garden is chocked full of Florida-Friendly and Florida native plants, but Caladiums are the stars of my summer garden. Waiting to plant them until after the spring dry season is well worth the patience required.  Especially when August rolls around and there is still ample color gleaming in my garden from their easy-care foliage.

*** All Caladiums shown are varieties from and sold by Classic Caladiums.

*** Other articles I've written on Caladiums.

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All material © 2007-2015 by Meems for Hoe and Shovel Gardening Blog. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Modern Art and Cheerful Container Caladiums

If you've spent any time with me here or in my garden you already know that I'm a mega-fan of Caladiums. I plant them in the landscape as edging, borders, clumps, and sweeps. Almost every one of my containers has a few of them peeking out between the flowers and plants.

A row of container pots with various Caladiums, begonias, Coleus and ferns along the walkway in my back garden. 

I prefer planting Caladium bulbs over purchasing the potted plants in garden centers. You get more *life* out of your Caladium varieties if you start with bulbs. Plus you get to pick from a vast array of sizes, colors and patterns rather than the few options available in the stores.

A wider view of the walkway and containers pictured above. Photo taken: July 18, 2014

There's nothing wrong with buying Caladium plants for sale in nurseries. But here's something to consider. The beautiful foliage that Caladiums sprout has an annual life span of about 150 days on average, then they return to their dormant state until the following spring. Some quick math will prove the bulbs that were forced in pots and for sale at stores will have less number of days (by a little) to be dancing in your garden. No biggie though. Whether you plant Caladium bulbs or purchase potted plants the important thing to remember is you don't want to be without their glorious cheery faces dancing in your summer garden.

Brand new sprout from Caladium bulbs planted July 12, 2014.
They come up out of the ground very quickly this time of year with summer rain and humidity.

When you plant bulbs versus buying plants, you get the thrill of watching that first sprout rocket out of the ground.

Brand new leaves from bulbs planted July 12, 2014. A package of mixed whites... each leaf a surprise.

Then you look the next day and wonder of wonders... there are more leaves. It's like fireworks. If you blink you might miss the entire explosion.

Red variety in front is 'Bombshell' and to the left is 'Candyland'. Behind 'Candyland' is 'Red Ruffles'.

Each spring/summer I plant a few bulbs into my existing perennial and evergreen pots. Caladiums elevate any plant combination to gorgeous and the additional summer color and texture is a no-brainer. This year I decided to be more deliberate. I planted more Caladium bulbs in containers specifically designed to highlight the splendor of Caladium foliage. Classic Caladiums sent me a number of new and new-er varieties to trial this summer. They produce high quality bulbs at their farm in Avon Park, Florida.

Spray paint your own pots to save some dollars!

For starters I spray painted some plain clay pots with 'Brilliant Blue' to mimic the more expensive blue-glazed pots I already have throughout my garden. I placed them on the open deck at our new home.

Containers were planted 4.15.14 and this photo was taken 5.17.14. Only two Caladiums leaves have started to unfurl.

Silver lace, maidenhair and bird's nest ferns along with various begonias are included in the mixture. The spilling vine is Hemigraphis 'Red Ivy' (amazing part-shade plant) and the sweet green and yellow foliage in left pot is Asystasia. Blue spray-painted Crepe Myrtle branches were *planted* in the center pot.

June 2, 2014 a few more leaves keep me encouraged as we wait.

Then I remembered (for a change) to take photos of the development as the Caladiums evolved into their best cheerful faces.

Just a few days later June 8, 2014 even more progress.

'Modern Art' is the stunning variety I used in this combination. I de-eyed them a few days before planting them. You can read more about the procedure of de-eyeing and see comparison photos of Caladiums de-eyed vs. not de-eyed here.

Also June 8, 2014

Caladiums that are de-eyed take a little bit longer to press out of the soil. But the form and habit of the plant is usually worth the wait!

June 30, 2014 time to trim the Red Ivy and where did the begonias ad ferns go?

'Modern Art' starts out with smaller lace shaped leaves and then push out some nicely large shaped ones to top off the bouquet.

June 30, 2014

The corner spot where these three pots reside is mostly shady with a spot of direct sun for about an hour midday as it shifts through the tree limbs above.

July 11, 2014 Almost 3 months since the bulbs were originally planted.

You gotta love foliage plants with a variety of color, shape and texture. These containers only need water once a week. If it rains I don't give them any extra irrigation.

Stunning close up! July 11, 2014

In each pot I popped in about 3 or 4 #1 size bulbs. I've been using Fafard Professional Formula 4P mix with superb results for my edibles and all my container plants this year. It is light and airy and yet retains moisture better than any other potting soil I've ever used.

July 22, 2014

And there you have it. The full progression through today.  Purposeful pots in the no-flower zone and who can deny the cheerful color they supply all summer long! I'm sold on 'Modern Art'. Cheers!

Have you planted your Caladium bulbs this year? If the answer is no, it's not too late. 

Happy gardening,
Meems

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All material © 2007-2014 by Meems for Hoe and Shovel Gardening Blog. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Are You Ready For Fall?

I know I am eager for that first true Florida cold front.  It's been a long, endless summer this season. I'm ready for less humidity and cooler temperatures. I can hardly remember what it feels like to garden without pouring sweat. 

'Postman Joyner' caladium, 'Siam Ruby' ornamental bananas, variegated shell ginger (Alpinia), and Cordyline in back garden.

The change of seasons doesn't necessarily mean a change in fall foliage in this part of West Central Florida. These are the colors my fall garden is displaying this year. I know, it's kind of like cheating since these are the original colors of these foliage plants. We just have to make due sometimes and this is how I do it for fall and now that I think about it for spring and summer also. What are some of your favorite fall foliage plants?

More on Autumn here:
Delicious Autumn 
To Capture the Sunlight
Peaceful Passage
Autumn's Calming Scenery
Morning's Hopeful Glow

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Summer Caladium Festival

'White Queen' ~ Back Garden
 

Steamy, hot Florida summers are the ideal environment for caladiums (Caladium x hortulanum). Actually, the warmer and muggier it gets, the better caladiums perform when widely used as an ornamental in the landscape. They are part of the Araceae family and originally from the Amazon basin of Brazil after all.

'White Queen' tucked into nooks and crannies of perennial pathway~~back garden

My summer garden comes alive with colorful caladium leaves to enhance existing planting beds.  Winding borders or clumping arrangements of caladiums, planted from bulbs, weave among aztec grass, flax lily, agapanthus, ferns, lilies, gingers, grasses, and liriope perennials.

'White Queen' on perimeter of Circle Garden

They are a simple plant with an oh-so-easy-to-love quality. Once the bulbs are planted the leaves rocket out of the warm earth within a couple of weeks. After they sprout they require no special attention in Florida's climate. If planted in container gardens attention to watering needs will keep them happy.

'White Queen'

'White Queen' is an old-time favorite of mine that likes partially sunny conditions. Its large white face with deep magenta veins blends just as well with evergreens as with annual coleus.

'White Queen' tucked into nooks and crannies of perennial pathway~~back garden

I tuck them into as many nooks and crannies as possible. They add an exotic touch to the garden and provide a layer of lushness to the understory of the grand oak trees.

'Red Flash' to left of pathway leading under back garden arbor~~ 'Miss Muffett' on right covering the ground underneath a gardenia shrub

Caladiums perform as a substitute for flowers especially in my shade gardens. Isn't it great to find plants with pizzazz that do well in shady spots. Bright red, chartreuse, white, pink, and even bronze and almost black are just a few of the colors incorporated into a multitude of arrangements on the faces of heart-shaped foliage. An array of  flecks, speckles, veins, and blotches appear in varying formations depending on the cultivar.

A mix of *reds*~~ 'Red Flash in foreground/ 'Freida Hemple' in background~~ behind chairs.

Well-draining, organic soil is preferred by caladiums to thrive, but they will also grow in sandy soil. An organic soil will hold the moisture they require while a sandy soil will need to be monitored more closely for sufficient irrigation.

'Red flash' and 'Miss Muffett' in foreground and 'Torchy' and 'Red Flash' in back ground.

Florida receives an average of over 50 inches of rain a year.  Caladiums are quite happy about this statistic since the majority of our rain falls during the summer. It's also a good thing for the rest of the garden, too, following our customary dry spring season.

'Red Flash' and 'Miss Muffett' add color underneath the Sweet Almond bush/Ligustrum/Gardenia bush

Since the greatest percentage of my garden is turf-free, caladiums are a fitting blend with Florida-Friendly ornamentals and native plants I've used as alternatives to grass.

'Red Flash' in low bowl in front garden with mixed whites in ground

I decide what to plant and where to plant according to each variety's height, sun requirements, and color. There are endless combinations and possibilities with caladiums.

Check the website at Classic Caladiums for an extensive supply and assortment of caladiums available both for sun and shade conditions.

'Peppermint'

My summer garden is a festival of leafy color with caladiums as the stars of the dramatic show!
Which caladiums are shining brightly in your garden this summer?
Happy gardening, Meems
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You may also like:
Caladiums:: Not Just For Shade Anymore
Not Too Late To Plant Caladiums
Lawn Removal

***My most recent Troy-Bilt article written for 'The Dirt' newsletter is out. Click here to read "Caladiums Add Spectacular Color to Any Garden".

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5 Reasons To Make Your Own Shade

Do you have time to wait for trees to grow? No matter how old you are, I say, yes. If you like shade, go ahead and plant a tree ...  or ten! Trees grow while you're sleeping, while you're at work, while you're raising your children, while you're cleaning the house, while you're gardening. Put them in the ground and a few years down the road you'll be glad you did it!

If I had known 20 years ago when I planted four live oaks and two drake elms in my back yard how much I was going to LOVE shade-gardening I probably would have planted a forest of them.

Each oak tree started out no taller than me and hardly 1.5" in diameter. Currently the canopy from those oaks is high and shifting sunlight peeks through the limbs from every angle at all times of the day.

As the day progresses, and the sun moves from east to west, a good deal of light floods in under the edges of the canopy. The trees have grown so tall. More light around the perimeter allows for options like Brugmansia, oakleaf hydrangia (Hydrangea quercifolia), sweet almond bush (Aloysia virgata), variegated shell gingers (Alpinia zerumbet), bromeliads, irises, ferns, begonias (and many more) ... all plants that prefer part sun but not full sun or total shade.

Photos like this one remind me of a time when every square inch of the space shown here was lawn. As a matter of fact, almost the entire back garden was lawn before I planted the trees. It never fails to amaze me. To think ~~ my very own little hands have planted every single plant visible in these pictures.

Gradually. Lovingly. Passionately. Every single plant.

Shade gardening is so much easier than full sun gardening. Of course that's just my opinion.

I have my reasons for making such a claim.

Here are my top 5:
1) Tree cover helps hold the moisture in the soil which means my shade plants don't require nearly the amount of water that full sun areas do.

2) The umbrella of outstretched limbs from trees protect plants from scorching, intense sunlight; in winter that umbrella acts like a blanket to keep the more tender varieties from frost-bite. Shade keeps me cooler, too. No matter how hot and humid it is or the time of day~ I can garden in the shade.

3) Less weeds. I don't know about you but weeds in the sunny areas are a constant battle. In the shady areas the percentage of weeds is greatly reduced. Weeds are very manageable in the shade.

4) Shade is peaceful. Walk from a sunny, bright spot in the garden to a shaded area and relief is the first thing noticed. Beyond relief is the pleasant shift to a restful, tranquil environment even in the midday hours.

5) The varieties of plants to choose for a shade garden is endless. Colorful, textural Florida-Friendly plants mixed with natives and fun tropicals neighbor well together in happy masses creating an easy-care environment.

Go ahead and plant a tree if you wish you had more shade.

Did I leave out any great reasons why shade-gardening is the BEST!?
Meems

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