Caladiums are my "set 'em and forget 'em" shade plants. All they need is sufficient water to keep them happy.
Dwarf Caladium (Caladium 'Gingerland')

I do like Caladiums too! At first I was hesitant to even try it, but winning in the ATP raffle, I got some of them. Really enjoyed them, though I find it was a slow starter here maybe due to our dismal humidity, but once it starts to grow, oh it will endure our triple digit days here with gusto as long as I water them everyday.

And I really like it when it blooms too, some don't but I appreciate any blooms any plant can give me

@tarev Did you save your caladiums to replant in spring? I've had some success digging them up and keeping them in the garage over winter. They aren't as robust as the new ones I order, but I like to have those mixed in pots around the yard.
I don't let them bloom because I think it may sap the strength of the bulb, but that's just a personal preference.

I did not dig them up, but have pulled back the containers indoors this winter. I still have one last leaf standing upstairs, by our south facing window

I let them bloom last summer I want to see it, it did not seem to sap out their strength the way it seems. But we will see if they come back this late Spring.

@Xeramtheum has had success harvesting some seeds from the caladium blooms and actually having them sprout!

I also like Caladiums. Mine are growing in filtered sun.

@Dutchlady Mine get a bit of morning sun, then those blasted oak trees shade everything.

Caladiums are my all time favorites for shade too for the exact reason Sandi states ... Set 'em and forget 'em!

@plantladylin Do you like to mix the colors or keep them in one color shade?

Sandi, I start out planning to plant like colors together but then I end up sticking bulbs here there and ... anywhere! http://garden.org/thread/view_...

Those are some really pretty caladiums, Lin. I haven't gone through my old caladium photos in a long time. Too many bad pics!

I used to have a border of just one color. It would be Gingerland, Miss Muffet, or some red. A few years ago, when the drought hit, I started growing them in pots. It was easier to keep them watered. Once I started digging the bulbs out of the pots to store, I liked mixing them up around the tree roots. Changes every spring!

I usually plant some in the ground and some in mixed containers ... if we have warm winters they sometimes pop back up in spring which is always nice! Member Bill of Caladiumbulbs4less has a special sale running right now for ATP members ... we get 15% off of our orders. The coupon code ATP15-16 is good until Feb. 8th. The thread "ATP Special Promo Code" in Classifieds and Group Buys forum

I've been holding off on ordering because we're moving a bit farther south (to our forever/retirement home) the first week of May but I'm thinking about placing an order and asking Bill to hold them for me.

I order mine from Bill also.

Here's some mixed caladiums with a calla lily that had already bloomed, but still has good interest.

Oh, I like 'Miss Muffet' a lot, and the Calla as well!

Love Miss Muffet but so do the deer.

I never thought about deer eating them! I just have them in the back yard because it's shady there. Love that photo, pirl!

Caladiums are my #2 shade plants, right behind Coleus.

Sandi - it's one more reason why I dislike the deer. This is the photo I meant to post:



Tiffany - me, too!

@purpleinopp Coleus are great too, but I usually am unsuccessful overwintering them. I start out taking cuttings, but soon forget to refill the water in the vases. Can you save them year to year in Alabama?

@pirl I recognize that darling pic! Didn't Bill from Caladiums 4 Less use it on his website? It's a good one!