Dave and Trish, I am doing catch up on the podcasts and will toss something at you occasionally.

I was confused about the caladium bulbs. You are in 8b and you have to dig them up? I am in 8b and they grow in the ground and stay there all winter, coming back in about May. The really nice thing about caladiums, I can get bulbs from some of the nurseries around here for 75% off in the fall. I take them home, plant them and they still have time to grow before first frost.

And Trish, I am quite lucky to live in a pine forest so have a lot of shade. Unlucky as to have to fight every year to keep the forest at bay.

Thanks for the podcasts. I really enjoy them and now I need to find some surprise lilies, (not rain lilies right?)

Happy Gardening,
Molly

Hi Molly, I'm glad you're enjoying the podcasts! Tank you for saying so.

When we forget to dig the caladiums, they never come back for us!!

Leaving caladium bulbs in the ground over the winter usually works for everyone below the I-10 corridor in the south. It is variable, depending on how much mulch above the bulbs, what temps are during the winter, etc - don't rely on the zone only. If they are in a low area and are damp or soggy, that can cause rot. While caladiums are wonderfully easy to plant and maintain, they are tropical plants after all, and just don't like anything below 55 degrees F. Get the soil and air temps at 70 and above, they grow quickly.
Don
ClassicCaladiums.com

As Don says, maybe it's in the soil. Mine are in pine straw (naturally mulched) sand under the pines. They would never be in danger of rotted in the wet, since we perk real good here. Guess we are just lucky.

Goodness, I couldn't even think about digging bulbs in the fall. Couldn't remember where they all were put. So glad I don't live in the north.