Digging Time

• Once temperatures begin to cool in autumn, even before the first frost, caladiums slow their growth and fewer new leaves emerge from the ground. Allow the first frost to kill back the foliage before digging up the tubers in anticipation of storing them indoors for winter. However, if you are short on time, caladium foliage may be cut off at ground level and the tubers dug and brought indoors. This situation isn't ideal because any remaining nutrients and carbohydrates are not transferred to the tubers before the plants go dormant.
  
  

Procedure

• The main concern in digging up the caladium tubers in the garden is lifting them without any puncture, cut or breakage wounds. Use a shovel or potato fork. Pierce the soil 6 to 12 inches away from the shriveled leaf stems of the caladium clump. Pry up the soil to reveal the tubers. Pull out the tubers and place them in a shallow tray or pan. Do not worry about removing clinging soil or stems at this time. Once all tubers are dug up, take the tray indoors to a dry, cool area -- 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit -- to air-dry for two to three weeks.
  
  

Processing

• After the tubers have dried, examine each one for quality and health. Break off dry soil clumps as needed, avoiding excessive pressure that may bruise or snap the tubers. Discard any soft, rotting tubers or those that have any wounds because they will likely rot more quickly over the winter in storage. You may choose to keep those partially damaged tubers, but expect to examine them again over the winter and throw them away if any rot or mold later forms on them. You may cut away any rotted parts of large tubers and then allow the wounds to air-dry.
  
  

Storage

• Some gardeners dust their caladium tubers with a fungicidal powder to prevent any rotting over the winter while in storage. It is not necessary, but it does diminish the issue of tuber rot. Ground cinnamon is a natural fungicide that may be dusted over the tubers. Pack the tubers in dry peat, vermiculite, sand or sawdust in a box or tray. Place these storage trays in a cool, dark and dry location in your home, such as in a cellar, porch or garage where the winter temperatures remain in the range of 50 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.