Hi,

I have some small Caladium bulbs that I would like to grow larger for planting next year, and it is about half an inch in diameter. Can someone help me on how to encourage growing the bulb larger fast, and does anybody now what is the normal growth rate per yer. Thanks to all in advance.

Time and conditions that don't prevent growth are the only recipe for a plant growing larger.

I'm curious about your other question too, about growth rate. This is one kind of plant I've only installed, never excavated, beyond potted plantings.

I like to disbud bulbs that I'm trying to bulk up to stop the plant from wasting energy on growing flowers and seeds.

Yeah, that's what I thought I'm keeping one small bulb in one pot and pinching leafs as they appear and wait. I'll check it by the end of the season and see how large the bulb has grown. I'll let you know

By the way, I think it is a good idea to excavate and check the bulbs every once and a while as they are susceptible to rotting.

Don't know if this would apply to other bulbs, but I read on the lily forum a long time ago that when grown in a fast draining soil they tend to increase bulb size faster. I have found that that is true here in my raised beds, though few bulbs last long in my climate.

Hi,

In order for a caladium bulb to propagate and grow larger in size it has to be cut.
You can take the bulbs you have and in the Spring about a week or so before you plan on planting them, take a razor knife and cut the bulb in half or maybe even third's. Let the cut part callus over. Caladiums are similar to a potato in that if it has an eye, it's going to grow. Those cut pieces you created will get bigger over the course of the growing season. It's Impossible for me to tell you how much bigger they'll get as there are a ton of variables that'll determine that!!
In a round about way that's how we generate our seed for planting in the Spring although doing it commercially is A LOT more involved than what you'd be doing!!


Happy Gardening!!
Bill