Caladiums are beautiful tropical plants known for their colorful, heart-shaped leaves. If you’ve planted caladium bulbs in your garden you may be wondering – when do caladiums come up?
Well, I’m here to provide a complete guide to caladium emergence so you know exactly what to expect. As an avid gardener myself, I understand the anticipation of waiting for new plants to make their appearance.
When to Expect Those First Shoots
The timing of caladium emergence depends on a few key factors:
Planting Time
Obviously, caladiums planted earlier in the warm season will emerge sooner than those planted later. If you get your caladium bulbs in the ground in early spring when soil temperatures are still cool, expect a longer wait time. Bulbs planted in late spring or early summer when it’s warmer will wake up faster
Bulb Size
Large, jumbo bulbs will leaf out quicker than smaller bulbs after planting. The extra stored energy in those big bulbs powers faster growth.
Soil Temperature
Caladiums hail from tropical areas so they need warm soil to come up. Most sources recommend planting them when the soil reaches 65-70°F. The warmer the soil, the faster they’ll emerge.
Variety
Some caladium varieties are early risers while others are slower to wake up. Check the description where you purchased your bulbs for estimated emergence times.
What’s Normal for Caladium Emergence?
With the factors above in mind, what’s a typical timeline for seeing those first shoots poke up from the ground? Here are some general guidelines:
-
Planted in early spring in cool soil – 6 to 8 weeks
-
Planted in late spring/early summer in warm soil – 3 to 4 weeks
-
Jumbo bulbs planted in summer – Up to 2 weeks
So in optimal warm conditions, you could see signs of life in just 2 weeks! But it’s not abnormal for them to take 6 to 8 weeks if conditions are less ideal.
Patience is required when growing caladiums. Resist the urge to dig them up or assume they’re duds if you don’t see growth right away in early spring.
Signs to Look For
When caladiums first emerge, you’ll notice:
- Tiny shoot poking up through the ground
- Unfurling of first leaves initially folded up underground
- Leaves start out light green and get darker with maturity
- Rapid growth and leaf unrolling once they get going
If you don’t see any signs of life after 8 weeks, you can start to get concerned. Carefully dig down and check bulbs for signs of growth. Still plump and healthy bulbs can be replanted a little deeper or in a warmer spot.
Caring for Young Caladiums
Once those first shoots emerge, your caladiums need a little extra care to ensure vigorous growth:
- Keep soil consistently moist but not saturated
- Start fertilizing when a few leaves have unfolded
- Place in partial or filtered sun to prevent leaf scorch
- Watch for slugs and snails munching new growth
With the proper growing conditions, your caladiums will quickly bulk up into a vibrant display after emerging.
Prepping Those Bulbs for Rapid Emergence
You can take a few steps when planting caladium bulbs to speed up their wakeup call:
- Select the largest bulbs available
- Prepare soil well with compost to warm it
- Plant in raised beds that heat up quickly
- Use black or red plastic mulch to absorb heat
- Place in hot spots against walls or brick patios
Grouping bulbs closely together can also create a warmer microclimate underground. Just give them a little more room as they expand.
Why You Might See Leaves Before Planting
Some gardeners are surprised when their caladium bulbs arrive already sending up leaves. This can happen when bulbs are stored in warm conditions before shipment. It’s fine to plant sprouted bulbs as long as you handle them carefully.
Just make sure not to damage the emerging leaves. Plant them a little shallower than unsprouted bulbs. Then take care not to knock off any above-ground parts when watering.
Be Patient for Those Tropical Wonders
While waiting for caladiums to emerge, remember they originate from tropical areas very different from our gardens. Their internal clock says to wait for consistently warm soils and air before waking up.
Even when conditions seem perfect to you, allow at least 4-6 weeks before getting concerned. The payoff of these exotic beauties is worth the wait!
Plan for Success
Shade and Sun: Caladiums grow well in shady gardens and yards, but most types can handle some sun as well. Different types of plants can handle different amounts of sun, and how much sun and water the plants get also affect how well they can handle it.
Zone: Caladiums are tropical plants and will not survive the winter outdoors unless you garden in zones 9-11. In these warm climates, the tubers may be left in the ground all year round. In zones 3–8, caladiums are usually grown as annuals. They are put in the ground when it’s warm in late spring. Not sure about your hardiness zone? Check out our zone map here.
When to Plant: Caladiums need warm soil and warm overnight temperatures in order to begin growing. If the tubers are planted into cold soil, they will not sprout and may rot. Do not plant the tubers outdoors until nights are warm and the soil temperature is at least 65ºF. In cooler places, you can get your caladiums off to a good start by sprouting the tubers inside 4 to 6 weeks before you plant them outside. Plant the tubers shallowly in pots or seedling flats. Keep them warm (70°F) and barely moist to encourage sprouting.
Start with a Better Bulb
It’s easy to see a difference in quality when you compare two caladium plants side by side. Caladium tubers are graded by size. The largest ones are graded #1 and measure 1. 5 to 2. 5” in diameter. Smaller tubers are graded #2 or #3. Longfield Gardens offers only grade #1 caladium tubers. The left-hand picture shows these bigger tubers. They have more growth points, or “eyes,” and they grow into plants that are bigger and fuller.
How to grow caladiums from bulbs – De eyeing caladium bulbs – Planting caladium
FAQ
What time of year do caladiums come back?
Why are my caladium bulbs not sprouting?
When should I wake up my caladium?
Will caladium come back?
How long does it take caladiums to grow?
It depends, however, in good conditions you can expect to have your Caladiums sprouting in their pots in about 3 weeks or so (or a bit less if conditions are optimal). What kind of light do Caladiums like? Depending on the variety, they can grow in shade and sun.
When do caladiums come out?
The plants are available at local nurseries in mid-spring as bulbs or tubers. You can buy caladiums at many local nurseries. They usually show up in mid-spring as the soil warms up. Most of the time, these plants are sold as bulbs or tubers rather than as mature plants. However, nursery starts may become available later in spring.
Are caladiums a seasonal plant?
Caladiums are seasonal plants even in the tropics, where gardeners plant them in the spring and summer months when they’ll thrive in the heat and humidity they require. Unless you live in zones 9 to 11, you should plan to grow them as annuals, or dig up the plants’ tubers at the end of the growing season and store them for the winter.
Do caladiums come back every year?
Caladiums can come back every year as long as the bulbs are kept dry and above 50°F (10°C) during their dormant period. What is the secret to growing caladiums?
