Caladium Planting Guide: How to Plant Caladiums for a Lush, Vibrant Garden

Despite their exotic appearance, caladiums are surprisingly hardy and easy to grow. Everyone from a master gardener to a complete novice can successfully grow caladiums, adding layers of lush foliage to their landscapes and containers.

For full, happy plants with vibrant color, follow this caladium planting guide.

1. Choose the Right Bulbs

Look for healthy bulbs from a reliable supplier. When you gently squeeze the bulb, it should feel firm but not brittle. Mushy or slimy spots are usually signs of a dead bulb.

Caladium bulbs are graded by their diameter. Typically, the bigger the bulb, the bigger the plant it will produce.

The bulbs have knobby protrusions called eyes. Larger bulbs may have several, which can lead to a taller plant with fewer leaves. To encourage a fuller, more even plant, you  can use a small, sharp knife to cut out the largest 1-3 eyes depending on bulb size. Or, buy bulbs from a supplier like Classic Caladiums that “de-eyes” them before shipping.

2. Pick the Perfect Spot

When deciding where to plant caladium bulbs, remember caladiums love the shade. They’re a great way to bring a jolt of vibrant color to shady corners and under trees.

If you choose a sun-tolerant caladium variety, you can plant it anywhere in your garden, even in full sun. Typically, caladiums grown in the sun develop more vivid colors, while those in the shade grow taller with bigger leaves.

Even sun-tolerant caladiums can get too much sunshine. Before digging in a full-sun area, you may want to try putting a container of caladiums in the spot for a few weeks to see how they do. Sunburned caladiums will develop brown-edged holes in their leaves.

Caladiums like rich, well-drained soil. Low areas that tend to puddle after a heavy rain are not a good location for these leafy beauties.

3. Wait for the Right Time

Spring is the best time to plant caladiums; anyplace north of Zone 10 is too cold for them to overwinter in the soil.

Wait a few weeks after the last frost to put caladiums in the ground. The soil needs to reach a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit for caladiums to sprout; in northern regions that might mean waiting until May or June.

You can start your bulbs indoors in a container of light potting mix, then move them outside once the soil temperature has stabilized.

4. Space Bulbs Carefully 

Don’t plant your caladium bulbs too deep – you want just 1 ½ to 2 inches of soil covering them.

They will sprout no matter which direction the eyes are facing, but you’ll get a faster sprouting time and happier plant if you plant your bulb knobby side-up. 

Jumbo bulbs produce bigger plants, so space them at least 12 inches apart. Smaller bulbs should be spaced at least 6 to 8 inches apart.

Immediately after planting your bulbs, give them a slow, deep watering. Topping the soil with a layer of mulch can preserve moisture and help control weeds.

5. Caring for Your Caladiums

Keep the soil evenly moist by watering in the early morning or late afternoon. You don’t need to soak the soil; caladiums don’t like to be soggy. About once a month you can feed them with some balanced fertilizer.

At the end of the season, whether they’re in containers or in the ground, you will see your caladiums start to droop and fall over. That’s a sign they’re going dormant and are ready to be dug up.

You can store caladium bulbs in a cool (65F+), dry place over winter, but they will not perform as well the second year. Typically, it’s best to treat them as an annual and start over with fresh bulbs in the spring.

Find Your Favorite Caladium

With nearly 100 varieties in a range of colors, heights, and sun tolerance, there’s a caladium for every space. Shop our selection to find the perfect plant for your landscape or containers.