Caladium can be grown in any region as an indoor plant, but take care to only start outdoors once nighttime temperatures are high 60's and above. Zones 8 and lower should dig up bulbs before winter and store in a cool dry place.

Plant the caladium bulbs in holes (or the ground or pots) that are two inches deep with the eyes pointing up. Add a little bone meal to the soil and plant other tubers six to twelve inches apart, depending on how full you want your garden to look. Water them generously to encourage the caladium to take root. Caladium bulbs should be kept moist during germination, without allowing the soil to become soggy.

Caring for Your Plants

Fertilize bulbs placed outdoors once a month with a general purpose fertilizer. Indoors, use a liquid fertilizer every couple of weeks. During the growing period, remove any dead or damaged leaves. In USDA zones eight and above, trim the yellow growth from the foliage when the growing season has passed and leave bulbs underground. Mulch if necessary.

In zones where winter is a concern, dig up the caladium bulbs before the soil temps dip below 55°F. Lay them out in a cool, dry area and allow one week for the bulbs to dry and label each variety. After labeling, remove the dead leaves and store them in net bags until spring. Make sure that the temperatures in the area where the bulbs are stored does not drop below 60°F. Alternatively, you can grow Caladium bulbs indoors year round.