Deciduous-wise, we've got the typical So. CA fare, a mimosa tree and some crepe myrtles. They came with the house. This one was blooming late.

My Caladiums still holding well this October. Daytime temps at high 70's to mid 80's and overnights at around mid 50's. There is still some leaf formation, though it seems a bit smaller now than in summer. But it is still going. Fall has been comfortably warm, so it is enjoying a little extended growing.

Weather is still holding well..and my caladiums are still okay..but I know next week's temps will be lower. I think I will cut off the leaves before this week ends, and force them to rest, then hide them all in our garage.

I decided to hold off cutting off the leaves, they still look good. After our first cold rain last Nov 2, we had the sudden dip into chilly overnights in the low to mid 40's and our highs in the low to mid 60's. So far Caladiums are still holding. That is nice, comparing it to my coleus before at this temps they are dead already. So will further see when the next round of cold rains come about this coming Sun/Mon:

So just documenting how it looks like now: I do not know what cultivar that leaf with more white than green, that one seems so okay with the temps, still growing new ones. The ones with more green and red variegation, I think is just using up what is left on it, but still keeping its nice upright growth. I have stopped watering though, with the cooler temps, the soil has remained damp, just letting Mother Nature do the watering.

Have brought all the caladiums inside our garage yesterday 10Nov2015. I will just keep the tubers inside the containers. Will just wait for them to sleep, so far still with leaves, though slowly the older ones are wilting now. So will just observe how it goes this winter.
Overnight temps started to go in the high 30's last night, with frost advisory and today it will do the same, but no frost advisory. Another batch of cold rain expected this weekend..so just time to force these plants to rest now.

Experimenting on two of these containers, brought them inside by our dining room. Somehow the white colored leaf is still ready to make more leaves even while it was inside the garage no lights, no watering.

Maybe the level of light good for my Dracaena marginata and Phalaenopsis orchids will be sufficient for it too and temps inside steady at 65 to 68F. So will give it a chance to do so, and observe if it will carry on till next year. I have cut a lot of the older dried out leaves from summer. Gave them some water today.

4 in 1 container


Striped container

Last one standing..a new one trying to grow, this container is near our south facing window upstairs. All the other containers, are done!


I will definitely add more caladiums this 2016, and my neighbor gave away some nice containers to me yey! More caladium planters!

That was a very nice pleasant thread to read and watch.
Very well documented @Tarev.
I'm liking the beautiful leaves with the very vibrant color to them.
Just might have to find a few to try this year.

Go for it Lucky! They are really fun, just have to be patient with the slow start. It is my consolation here when nothing else will bloom with the incessant dry heat, at least the lovely foliage of these caladiums adds nice color around here.

So as you have seen, almost nothing going in Spring, the plant really waited for the summer temps to wake up.

I am still on experiment stage with my Caladiums though, I want to see now if they will come back nicely this summer. Quite a long wait still...too rainy cold to be brought outside. Reviewing this thread now, I think end of May before I can bring them out. I wonder if they will start leafing indoors as temps improve in Spring? This I will try to observe too.

Thank you. I just bought 12 bulbs for 12.95. There called the tropical mix.

http://www.burpee.com/flowers/...

Now, I'm sorta thinking I should have asked here on this site of anyone selling bulbs but oh well.

On the grow calendar for zone 9 on that same page it says you can plant them (transplant) in February to March.
When did you actually start yours again? May?
I did a little research and it says they love full shade. That's how you had them right?

Oh, Bill of Caladium bulbs for less..he sells bulbs and is an ATP member, he was the source donor of our raffle, that is why I got mine in the first place.

I started mine in April, had to wait, and even then, it took its sweet time to show up, almost June already. It seems to like part shade to full shade. I was even putting the container while it has no leaves showing yet in some full sun to help warm up the soil, to warm up the bulbs below. I notice the ones with more white color can tolerate the sun and heat better, the more colorful and with more green ones, like to be in shade. But you really have to water them everyday here once the leaves are showing up, they love our heat and very thirsty, otherwise the leaf stalks will easily flop. My garden gets so shaded by the city trees here in the afternoon, so it gets some good heat protection. I have a very short window of full sun. My other issue here is the winds..position them where there is not much crosswinds, it will tatter the wide leaves easily.

Years ago, I bought a bag of mixed Caladiums and planted them in the ground, under my avocado tree. They did fine that year, but only a few came up the following year, and were small. Don't know if it was gophers, roots from the tree, or weather, but in my experience shade plants of any kind don't like dense shade.

Got my caladium containers out to enjoy the rains. I was initially planning to delay bringing it out till my return in May, but it was such nice rain, might as well give it some and allow to dry later on, that should be good till I return.

I bet they will enjoy that rain

I hope they do! Maybe a little more temp warm up then hopefully it will try to wake up.

Been adding some soil and compost to some containers, and went to check how the caladiums are doing, digging in, some are still asleep and some are showing signs it is waking up..woohoo! A few more days of high 80's will help it..got to wait patiently in the meantime.

Glad I have this thread, getting antsy waiting for the caladiums..looking back, it did start showing up better in late June already.

So far I have only two new growth trying to show up..waiting patiently for the rest of the gang!
Photo 21May2016


06Jun2016

Their time is coming......

@tarev My Caladium just opened up a few days ago

Gingerland Caladium