Shade-loving caladiums (Caladium spp.) produce large leaves in combinations of green, white, pink or red. These warm weather foliage plants can be left in the ground in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 9 and 10, but they might not survive winter in zone 8 and below. Digging up the plants and storing the tubers indoors protects them from winter cold. You can also dig them up during fall in warmer climates and winter them indoors for summer planting if you want to replace them in the garden with cool-weather plants during the winter.
The best time to dig caladiums varies depending on the climate, but generally it's done after the foliage dies back naturally in fall or early winter. Caladiums must be lifted from garden beds and stored before soil temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit to prevent damage. In areas with mild winters where soil temperatures remain above 45 degrees, dig them at any time after the plant begins to die and enter dormancy if you aren't leaving them to overwinter in the garden bed.
Careful digging around the root ball prevents root damage and allows you to lift the entire root intact. After digging, cut back the caladium foliage and rinse the soil from the tubers. The roots require curing, or drying, in a dry location for about three weeks to minimize fungal growth during storage. Once cured, inspect the roots once more and cut out any soft rotten spots. Coating the roots with a fungicide powder before storage further minimizes fungal and rot problems.
Dry peat moss or wood shavings prevent moisture buildup during storage. Bury the roots in a bag or container of peat or shavings so the roots aren't touching each other. A cool location, such as a basement or unheated shed, provides an optimum storage spot. You can store the caladium tubers until spring, but check on them monthly and remove any that show signs of fungal growth so problems don't spread to healthy roots.
Caladiums grow well in pots and garden beds. You can replant into pots in late winter or early spring, but wait to plant garden beds until after the soil temperature warms above 60 degrees and frost is no longer a danger. Plant caladium roots so the top, which is covered in knobby growing buds, sits 2 inches beneath the soil surface. The roots begin putting on new growth within two weeks when provided with indirect sunlight and moist soil. Best growth occurs when temperatures are above 60 degrees.
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