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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Miss Muffett::Not Sitting On Her Tuffett

If you don't know her already it is my pleasure to introduce to 'Miss Muffett'. She sort of brings out the, gushing, proud-as-a-Mimi, 'giddy' me.

She's a bright chartreuse green, medium tall caladium variety that has been and remains my number one choice for summer foliage from this beautiful genus of ornamental plants.

Planted from bulbs in amended organic soil, that is moist from summer rains but well drained, these lovelies will hold their heads high for all the months from spring to summer. Mix them with reds, pinks, greens, or clump them alone to add splashes of delightful color all over the garden!

The freckly magenta pattern on her heart-shaped face is bright enough to add just the right amount of pizazz yet subtle enough to blend quietly with her surroundings.

Tip: She is a perfect specimen for cut arrangements in water vases. I especially like to reach underneath the larger leaves to cut a few of the smaller leaves for small glass vases to put in the kitchen window sill. They will last for over two weeks in water.

Plant her directly in the ground or in container plants. For a fuller habit in containers she benefits from the de-eyeing process first. Although her recommendations come with full sun capabilities my experience shows she performs best placed in partially sunny to small doses of full sun situations.

This one will make any gardener smile during the hottest, most humid months of the year. And that's really something to boast about.

Tip: I reserve an order of Miss Muffetts bulbs storing them until late August to freshen up my favorite varieties with another planting. A second season of flourishing caladium foliage will extend the beauty in my garden until late fall.

Have you tried adding Miss Muffett to your garden yet? She promises to be a great performer for you, too. This year my healthy and vigorous Miss Muffett bulbs came from Classic Caladiums.

To De-Eye or Not to De-Eye

When planting caladium bulbs, especially into a container, there is a procedure called de-eyeing(which you can learn more about here) that can help or "force" each bulb to produce more leaves. The finished habit turns out a slight bit shorter and remarkably more full. I experimented with de-eyeing for the first time when planting some varieties of caladium bulbs this spring.

Feeling inexperienced and a bit shy with this process I admit I was hesitant to try my hand at de-eyeing. If executed incorrectly I could dig out too much of the flesh of the bulb and damage the sprout altogether. But I was determined to give it a whirl. I used the tip of a Phillips head screwdriver to gently release and remove the central growing point or "terminal eye". It popped right off and turned out to be not as scary as imagined. Following this the bulb should be left to heal over or "cure" as disease can enter the open wound. I actually forgot about this step and held my breath that each de-eyed bulb would emerge.

In 2 containers of equal size, (5) #1 size (1.5"-2.5") bulbs were planted in each and placed in the same partially shady conditions with each receiving the exact same irrigation. The comparisons featured below speak for themselves.

Raspberry moon is a recent hybrid introduction by Dr. Bob Hartman of Classic Caladiums. It is a brightly colored lance leaf variety of chartreuse and 'raspberry'. It is sun tolerant growing from 18- 24" in height.

Above is the container planted with the bulbs that were NOT de-eyed.

And above is the container planted with the bulbs that WERE de-eyed.

Side by side visuals clearly indicate the fuller habit, more leaves, and brighter colors in the container planted with Raspberry Moon caladium bulbs that WERE de-eyed.

I'm a believer. I will take the time to de-eye caladium bulbs that are planted into containers from now on.

This whole fun experience has my curiousity up ... is this a method you've heard of or tried?

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Disclosure ***Dr. Bob Hartman and Mike Woods of Classic Caladiums generously gave me (10) Raspberry Moon bulbs during my tour (which you can read about here) of their facility in February. They did not require anything in return. I believe in what they are doing to improve the caladium industry and I LOVE caladiums so much I am honored if I have any small part in promoting the industry and specifically Classic Caladiums. It isn't too late to plant caladium bulbs. If you want to place an order Classic Caladiums still has a few specials being offered at great values and prices.