As a horticulture and landscaping expert , I can provide some brainstorm into whether caladium can be leave in the earth over the winter . caladium are tropical plant that thrive in warm and humid weather condition , so they are not naturally adapt to colder climates . However , some gardeners have had success leaving caladium Tuber in the earth over the wintertime , depend on their specific growing conditions .
It ’s of import to look at the climate and stain conditions in your area before deciding whether to leave caladiums in the ground over the wintertime . Caladium tubers are susceptible to rotting if the soil is consistently wet , peculiarly during the showery wintertime months . If your garden bed tend to stay wet or waterlogged during wintertime , it is more likely that the tubers will molder if leave in the primer .
In my personal experience , I have found that digging and storing caladium tuber over the winter is a more dependable option . By digging up the Tuber , you may control their storage condition and understate the risk of guff . Here are some footstep you may follow if you choose to dig and store caladium tubers :
1 . await for the foliation to naturally die back : As winter approaches , the leaves of caladium will by nature turn yellow and wither . This is a sign that the plant life is entering its hibernating leg . Wait until the foliage has completely died back before digging up the tubers .
2 . Gently dig up the tubers : Use a garden forking or shovel to carefully lift the tubers from the ground . Be conservative not to damage the tubers during this physical process .
3 . uninfected and dry out the tuber : Remove any excess grease from the genus Tuber and set aside them to tune dry for a few days . This helps prevent the growth of mould or fungi during storage .
4 . storage in a cool and dry emplacement : Once the tuber are teetotal , place them in a container with peat moss , vermiculite , or dry backbone . Store the tuber in a cool ( around 50 - 60 ° F or 10 - 15 ° C ) and wry location , such as a basement or garage . nullify storing them in area prone to freezing temperatures , as this can damage the tubers .
5 . check over periodically : Throughout the winter , check on the stored tuber periodically to ensure they are not waste or drying out . If any genus Tuber show sign of rot or dilapidate , remove them immediately to foreclose spreading to the levelheaded 1 .
By follow these footstep , you could increase the chances of successfully overwintering caladium genus Tuber . However , if you choose to leave them in the ground , it ’s important to monitor the soil conditions and make adjustment as want . Adding organic affair or improving drainage in the garden bed may help contract the danger of rot .
While some gardeners have had success leave behind caladium Tuber in the ground over the wintertime , it is more often than not more honest to grind and stash away them . This allows for better control over store conditions and minimizes the risk of rot . However , if you settle to leave them in the primer coat , be mindful of the soil conditions and take necessary metre to keep rotting .
Caroline Bates
