Saving Caladium Bulb's-what am I doing wrong?

[renovationmom]

I planted 50 caladium bulbs last April under a shady china berry tree. They were stunning. I dug my bulbs in october, and stored them in my laundry room,in old wood framed and wire bottom incubator trays(they allow air flow and stack up) temperature stayed around 70. When I planted the bubls this year, they looked good, firm, no mold on them, but not one came up. I watered well, and we did not have any cold weather after I planted. I tried digging them up to see what was going on, but could not find any. Did something eat my bulbs, or did they rot, or did I store them wrong? I hope someone can help.

 

[digitS']

I don't grow caladiums but store quite a few dahlias and gladiolas in the basement each year.

Here is what Purdue says about caladium storage: 50F in low humidity.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-085.pdf

Steve

 

[lesa]

If they looked good and felt firm, when you planted them- my bet is something dined on them. I have stored bulbs of different kinds unsuccessfully and there was no doubt, they were bad. Kind of hollow...The successfully stored bulbs look and feel fine. I had squirrels dig up and eat 50 tulip bulbs!! They didn't miss one!

 

[renovationmom]

I don't grow caladiums but store quite a few dahlias and gladiolas in the basement each year.

Here is what Purdue says about caladium storage: 50F in low humidity.

http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/HO-085.pdf

Steve

Thanks for the Info!

 

[renovationmom]

If they looked good and felt firm, when you planted them- my bet is something dined on them. I have stored bulbs of different kinds unsuccessfully and there was no doubt, they were bad. Kind of hollow...The successfully stored bulbs look and feel fine. I had squirrels dig up and eat 50 tulip bulbs!! They didn't miss one!

I think you are right lesa. I was not sure if squirrels eat caladiums, but I did have a family of squirrels in my attic this year, and I had to have my exterminator come to evict them, there were 11 of them! I even saw a squirrel laying on one of my porch columns, eating pinecones! (I had no idea they ate pinecones until I saw this) With the chickens out in the flower beds pulling back the mulch, to get bugs, I would not notice the squirrels dug up and ate my bulbs. Sorry for your Tulip loss, it is so frustrating, to spend the money and time, and have a critter eat them for lunch!

Thanks for your help! I will have to put down wire mesh next year(wish I had thought of it sooner)

 

[vfem]

If they looked good and felt firm, when you planted them- my bet is something dined on them. I have stored bulbs of different kinds unsuccessfully and there was no doubt, they were bad. Kind of hollow...The successfully stored bulbs look and feel fine. I had squirrels dig up and eat 50 tulip bulbs!! They didn't miss one!

I think you are right lesa. I was not sure if squirrels eat caladiums, but I did have a family of squirrels in my attic this year, and I had to have my exterminator come to evict them, there were 11 of them! I even saw a squirrel laying on one of my porch columns, eating pinecones! (I had no idea they ate pinecones until I saw this) With the chickens out in the flower beds pulling back the mulch, to get bugs, I would not notice the squirrels dug up and ate my bulbs.

Thanks for your help! I will have to put down wire mesh next year(wish I had thought of it sooner)

I do the wire mesh under my beds, as my biggest issue is the underground vermin eating my bulbs... I lost near 50 tulip bulbs to voles this year.

 

[lesa]

That is so disappointing!! To tell you the truth I haven't planted a tulip since! I think the chicken wire or even deer fencing just under the dirt will do the trick...

 

[renovationmom]

If they looked good and felt firm, when you planted them- my bet is something dined on them. I have stored bulbs of different kinds unsuccessfully and there was no doubt, they were bad. Kind of hollow...The successfully stored bulbs look and feel fine. I had squirrels dig up and eat 50 tulip bulbs!! They didn't miss one!

I think you are right lesa. I was not sure if squirrels eat caladiums, but I did have a family of squirrels in my attic this year, and I had to have my exterminator come to evict them, there were 11 of them! I even saw a squirrel laying on one of my porch columns, eating pinecones! (I had no idea they ate pinecones until I saw this) With the chickens out in the flower beds pulling back the mulch, to get bugs, I would not notice the squirrels dug up and ate my bulbs.

Thanks for your help! I will have to put down wire mesh next year(wish I had thought of it sooner)

I do the wire mesh under my beds, as my biggest issue is the underground vermin eating my bulbs... I lost near 50 tulip bulbs to voles this year.

I had not thought of the underground critters. Do they still dig from the top to get bulbs, or do they come up from the bottom?

 

[renovationmom]

So sorry for your bulb loss, lesa and vfem. Lets not get discouraged, and try again, using the wire mesh this time! My first home, I had a horriable Deer problem, they even ate the plants that were toxic! But I did not give up, I sold my house and moved! Just kidding, I only moved because I found a historic home to restore.

 

[vfem]

I think you are right lesa. I was not sure if squirrels eat caladiums, but I did have a family of squirrels in my attic this year, and I had to have my exterminator come to evict them, there were 11 of them! I even saw a squirrel laying on one of my porch columns, eating pinecones! (I had no idea they ate pinecones until I saw this) With the chickens out in the flower beds pulling back the mulch, to get bugs, I would not notice the squirrels dug up and ate my bulbs.

Thanks for your help! I will have to put down wire mesh next year(wish I had thought of it sooner)

I do the wire mesh under my beds, as my biggest issue is the underground vermin eating my bulbs... I lost near 50 tulip bulbs to voles this year.

I had not thought of the underground critters. Do they still dig from the top to get bulbs, or do they come up from the bottom?

Definitely the bottom. I found some got my garlic, and they ate away at the bottom of the outside cloves and destroyed most of the root system as well. In raised beds, I lay down chicken wire then fill with dirt leaving the wire flat. In areas where I now put bulbs I make the wire into a type of basket to protect the bottom and sides from invaders, then fill with dirt and plant. I actually saw some for sale on the PeacefulValley website just as I've been making them. Ridiculously expense premade though, I rather do it myself.