Caladium (Elephant Ears)

These tubers make for a wonderful showy colorful display throughout the summer. They are basically a tropical plant which thrives on good moisture high temperatures and humidity. When your soil is workable and not frosty start them off by planting in a good fertile well-drained soil so that the roots have plenty of area to easily grow deep and not sit in a soggy soil. This would lead to root rot and the death of the plant. They like shade but appreciate about one half day sunlight.

Water them when the top soil feels dry to a depth of 2". Always slow-water them deeply and let drain. It is better to give them slow deep waterings spaced far apart than several small doses of water often.

The watering needs will increase as the sprouts get taller and fuller. They will be drawing moisture from the soil more rapidly. It is not written in stone how often you will need top water. Every factor involved will affect the frequency of watering.

Also be sure that you feed them. I would give them a dilute portion right now and then as they get to 6" and taller go to the full strength. Scotts Peters Hyponex and Miracle-Gro are very good brands. Read the label directions and feed often. They need it for their large foliage.

Q. I bought some caladium bulbs a few weeks ago and every one but one rotted within two weeks. What did I do wrong? I put them each in their own plastic pot and buried them 2-3 inches deep in new potting soil. I probably watered them every 2 to 3 days. They were in a sunny location and I live in the southern end of zone 9 - Jacksonville Florida. The day temp were usually in the 80's and night time was 60's and low 70's. Thanks.

A. Right off the bat you may have introduced a fungus in the potting soil or it was present on or in the bulbs when you bought them. I hope you still have them. I would brush them off and take back to the store of purchase. You should be given new ones or reimbursed.

Next I wonder about the watering. That seems too often. Did you check the soil with your index finger down an inch and felt no moisture? Bulbs without roots and foliage cannot tolerate much moisture as they rot readily. There is nothing to use up all that excess water! That could have been the problem.

Thirdly the soil mix: what did you use? I find that almost all the ones available commercially are way too heavy for gardening especially in containers. They must be lightened with some perlite to produce air pockets in the soil for the roots to breathe. Consider all of this and I wish you well.

Q. About my elephant ears: They are growing on me and I want them to do very well. I removed an offset from the bulb. What do I do now? How long will it take before it starts growing?

A. I am glad that you got an offshoot. This is by far the easiest way to reproduce this plant and very quickly too!

Place the little plant into its own pot 4" diameter plastic or clay with a bottom drainage hole. Purchase some new fresh potting mix [do not use outdoor soil not fertile and organic enough and usually too heavy]. Plant the new one keeping the same soil level as it had before. That is do not plant it deeper than it was growing as this can lead to rot. Planting it more shallow will make a floppy plant and will need staking.

Water very carefully with a slow drizzle from a faucet.