Hydrangea for Mother's Day

It's time to change out tired, cool-season annuals with heat-loving summer annuals such as: Angelonia, pentas, portulaca, vinca & much more. Planting tropical sun lovers like hibiscus is ideal now, too. To encourage more rapid re-blooming, pinch off old flowers on bedding plants after their first flower cycle is complete. MAY TO DO LIST: -Plant warm-season bedding plants. Vinca can now be planted for best results! Don’t know which warm-season bedding plants will be best for your area? Come visit us for a wide selection and knowledge to be successful! -To encourage more rapid re-blooming, pinch off old flowers on bedding plants. -It’s a great time to plant a crape myrtle tree for great summer flowering. -Prune & feed azaleas & camellias once their blooming has finished. -Sow seeds for heat-loving annuals and watch them begin to grow! This is a fun kid project, too, once school is out. -Now is the time to plant all kinds of summer-loving vegetables. -Prune & shape all winter-flowering shrubs and vines. -Mulch all garden beds well to help regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and keep weeds at bay. An excellent mulch to try, in addition to Grade ‘A’ Cypress or Cedar, is pine straw. To effectively suppress weeds, apply mulch 2 inches thick. -When in the garden, wear a wide brim hat and apply sunscreen. -Plants you had indoors for cool weather can now reside outside. -Place houseplant containers in an area that receives bright shade- not direct sun. -Don't forget to fill bird feeders with seed! -Watch for insect problems on roses. Aphids may develop on tender new growth, thrips on flowers and cucumber beetles on foliage. Let us know and we'll set you up with the proper treatment. -After spring bulbs finish flowering, wait until the foliage turns yellow before cutting it off. This is because food is being manufactured and stored for next year’s blooms. Don't forget Mom! Mother's Day is May 11! Click here to read some of our Mother's Day Must Haves !

We all love the tropics- the bright colors and inviting tones! Bring that feeling into your garden with two of the best-looking tropical bloomers! Bougainvilleas enjoy to be “root-bound”, meaning they are an excellent choice for a container or hanging basket! They flower the heaviest when the roots are slightly crowded in the container. If they are planted in the ground, you’ll notice they tend to stay more green. If you have some from last year and want to encourage it to bloom, a simple tip is to “tip prune” off about ½ inch of the stem tips. This encourages more branching and ultimately more flowers! Another fact about Bougainvilleas is they flower the heaviest when they are water-stressed. This may not make much sense to you because we like to care for our plants and give them drinks often. However, there are some plants, like these, that enjoy being more drought-tolerant. Think of them like a desert plant: they are under water-stress, then water pours into them and BOOM- they bloom! Withhold water for extended periods to force the plant into bloom. Our advice would be to wait until you see the leaves slightly wilting. At that point, it’s ready to receive a thorough watering session so it can perform for you! Hibiscus bloom on new wood, so it’s always important to “tip prune” them back. Also, pinch off old flower buds to help the plant perform best with less “baggage.” Pests like aphids and white flies effect their blooms as well, so preventive measures work best. We can help provide you details. One of the most common questions we get from concerned customers is that their Hibiscus’ leaves are yellow. Yellowing leaves is an indication of overwatering or underwatering. In the summer, it’s usually underwatering. Just like us, plants need lots of water in the hot summer months. We have a homemade superbloom tonic when you want to kick-start your Bougainvillea and/or Hibiscus to bloom: 1 gallon of water 2 tablespoons of Fertilome all-purpose plant food 2 tablespoons of Fertilome Blooming & Rooting 2 tablespoons of Epom Salt Fertilize with this mixture every other week for results!  When your Bougainvillea and/or Hibiscus are already blooming, and you want the blooms to continue, our recommendation is to maintain a slow-release fertilizer schedule, every 3 months during their growing season. Our best slow-release fertilizers formulated for these specific plants are HibisGain and BouGain. As always, we want to help you know it to be able to grow it! We are always here to provide the education and products to ensure gardening success and a green thumb you can be proud of! Please come visit us to DIG IT!

If you love the beauty of a garden as well as sweet-smelling flowers and plants to give both your eyes and nose a Springtime delight, then check out these “nose”worthy specimens! Gardenia: Gardenias are one of the most iconic sweet-smelling shrubs around, and we are lucky that they do so well in our climate. Their smell is often bottled for perfumes or added to extracts in soaps and lotions. Planting these at an entrance or around your outdoor entertaining area is sure to have your guests breathing in a deep breath to savoy the smell. Butterfly Bush, Buddleia: While there are many different varieties of Butterfly Bush with colors ranging from white to purple, pink, blue or even yellow, two things they all have in common are their honey-like fragrance and being a magnet to butterflies. In fact they are so rich in nectar, they are highly attractive to other beneficial insects and pollinators like bees, moths and hummingbirds, too. They are flowering shrubs that produce distinctive flowers starting in spring and lasting into fall. Scented Geranium (Pelargonium Citronella): This perennial that we’ve also nicknamed “Mosquito Plant/Shocker” has a strong citronella scent we find pleasant, but mosquitos hate. This is an ideal plant to banish the bug (mosquitoes), which is why we recommend planting this in your entertaining area, such as in container gardens. It’s also a great plant to crush the leaves and rub them on your skin while outdoors; offer some leaves to your company as a fun “party trick!” As a bonus, it blooms clusters of lavender-pink flowers adorned with deep crimson brush marks on the tops of their petals. Rosemary: Rosemary is an attractive perennial shrub with fragrant leaves. It’s also a popular culinary herb with a wonderful aroma and piney taste, which goes well with chicken, steak, pastas potatoes, or soups. In liquid form, its scent is enjoyed in soaps, diffusers and more! Rosemary also blooms small, sweet blue flowers. Skinner’s Banana Shrub: Is this a banana tree? Nope, it’s a magnolia, but its blooms smell just like bananas! It’s a worthwhile broadleaf evergreen shrub reaching heights of 10ft in full sun. The spring time flowers are small, cup-shaped and cream in color with a pleasing banana scent! This is a perfect plant for a border or screen hedge! Citrus Trees: Before you can pluck an orange or other citrus for your snack, the tree becomes covered in blooms! These blooms are white, fragrant sweet-smelling flowers with the buzz of pollinators in the air nearby! Society Garlic: These spring-blooming perennials produce stalks of star-shaped purple flowers. The plant gets its name from not only looking like garlic/chives, but smelling like garlic. However, it’s not garlic and is ornamental only, meaning to be enjoyed by your eyes and nose and not your taste buds! It’s a great plant for a full sun flower bed or container since it only reaches about a foot tall and wide. Plus, the garlic smell adds a twist of garden delight! Specialty Roses: “Take Time to Stop and Smell the Roses” is an idiom that means to relax and take time out to enjoy and appreciate the beauty of life. But, it’s also literal because the Specialty Roses smell absolutely heavenly. Planting a rose garden is a beautiful way to share the love of gardening with the love of beautiful blooms, beautiful scents and flowers worthy of being in a vase for interior enjoyment. Lavender: Lovely lavender adds a relaxing vibe and aroma to a garden or container. Lavender grows 1-3’ tall and has those long airy spikes with soft blue-violet flowers quintessential with the Mediterranean. The oils in the flowers are what give this herb its distinctive fragrance. When inhaled, lavender has calming properties that reduce anxiety, as well as being a gentle sedative for sleep. Its name derives from the Latin root “lavare,” which means “to wash,” because it was used in baths to purify the body and spirit. Magnolia: Plant Louisiana’s state flower as a show of culture as well as to enjoy the fragrant (and large) white flowers of this “famous face.” This evergreen tree is low maintenance and adaptable, not to mention making a strong southern statement. The blooms begin to burst open in spring & summer unleashing the sweet aroma of its flower. Don’t want a 40’+ tree in your front yard? The Little Gems, reaching only 12-14’ tall, offer a great alternative. Confederate Jasmine: These are some vines that really shine…or should we say “smell?!” Planting Confederate Jasmine along a fence, on a trellis, arbor or even a mailbox, adds a beautiful look and a strong sweet smell. This evergreen climber is known for its fragrant white star-shaped blooms, which will be more prolific when planted in full sun. Please note- All Seasons may or may not have these plants in stock available to purchase at the time you come to purchase these. If you're ever looking for something specific, please call the garden center at 337.264.1418 or send an email question via this link prior to your shopping visit!

As spring finally awakens, there is no doubt that we will begin to see bursts of color throughout the landscape. While we are grateful for these spring flowers, we are also anxiously awaiting the return of one of our favorite blooms. The hydrangea, that graces us with its beauty all summer long will be making an appearance soon! So, what are the things we do to keep these beauties healthy and ready for bloom season? Water Hydrangeas should never dry out - especially during hot weather. Check your plant’s water needs regularly during the spring through summer, and water as needed. Light Depending on the variety, there are hydrangeas that grow well in whatever light conditions you have: full shade, partial shade and full sun. Most hydrangeas will grow well with 4-5 hours of sun and prefer morning sun to the hot afternoon sun. Mulch In an effort to preserve moisture to their shallow roots, hydrangeas should be mulched with 2-3 inches of shredded bark over their root zone. Pruning Pruning is primarily divided between 2 methods. It is imperative that you know the variety of your hydrangea so that it can be properly pruned. Pruning a hydrangea the wrong way may lead to the absence of flowers during the growing season. Pruning Method One: Macrophylla, Oak Leaf & Serrata Hydrangeas These types of hydrangeas typically bloom on ‘old wood’ – growth from the previous season. Flowers usually appear in June and July but the future season’s flower buds form on the stems during late summer & early fall. These hydrangeas should be pruned immediately after flowering so they can produce buds for the next season. Do not prune these hydrangeas in late fall, winter or spring.  Pruning Method Two: Arborescens and Paniculata Hydrangeas The hydrangeas in this group flower on new wood – growth from the current season. Do not prune these hydrangea types in the late spring or summer since they are about to bloom on this year’s new growth. Pruning is typically done in early spring or late fall. However, spent blooms can be left on the plant in fall for winter interest. ‘Arborescens’ hydrangeas should be cut back 12”-18” from the ground in early spring to help prevent flopping during the upcoming season. ‘Panicales’ can be pruned to shape. Exceptions · All dead or broken branches and stems should be removed from the plant each year. · If your hydrangea is outgrowing its space, it can be pruned, but that may mean forfeiting blooms for the short-term. It is always good to choose a hydrangea that can grow to its full size without needing to be pruned to fit the area. · After 5+ years of age, one third of the living stems can be removed. This will revitalize the plant. · ‘Deadheading’ spent flowers is not the same as ‘pruning’. It is okay to cut off spent blooms during the growing season for any type of hydrangea. However, be careful not to cut too much of the stem on macrophyllas and oakleaf varieties so buds will not be removed for the following year. Endless Summer and other re-blooming varieties bloom on both ‘old’ and ‘new wood’.

Shop for the one you love at the place she loves! We have HUNDREDS of gift ideas for your Mom, a special Mom in your life or even for you to put on your kids’ list! With the recent expansion, our footprint has gotten larger with more plants she will love, a large pavilion full of gift ideas for her home + garden, pottery in all sizes and colors, furniture and much more. Gift cards serve as a quick and easy gift, giving Mom the joy of shopping in any and all seasons for her favorites. Purchase a Gift Card for Mom online here! If you would like to purchase Mom a special plant, we have come up with a list of blooming beauties she would likely enjoy that we have now! Pick from pretty blooms like Mom, or plants in her favorite color family! The gift ideas are upon every turn; we invite you to stroll and shop! Plant Mom a Container Garden: We have SO MANY plants and pots, so dig Mom by planting her a custom container garden! We can help you mix the right plants for full sun or shade. Mix colors and textures, or stay with the same color- the possibilities are ready for you to DIG! Great full sun plants that do well in containers are pentas, vinca, salvias, angelonias, zinnas and many more. Great plants for Mom’s more shaded area are caladiums, begonias, torenias, impatiens and many more. We even offer a potting service, so we can create it all for your Mom- even if you give us a call for a phone order, and even if you don’t live in town. We offer delivery services right to Mom’s door. BONUS: All Pottery now 25% off! View Sales! Clematis: Clematis are gorgeous blooming vines with flowers often as large as your hand. These are tough perennials that like to keep their roots shaded, but otherwise can take the sun/partial sun. Several varieties are available in colors from white to bright purple. Since they like to climb, they are great on a trellis in a large pot or on a wall, on an arbor, a mailbox, etc! Mandevillea/Bougainvillea/Hibiscus: Bring Mom a slice of the tropics with these bright bloomers that put on a show from Spring all the way through summer (and since we *typically* have mild winters, through the winter season as well.) Mandevilleas can climb a trellis, mailbox, arbor, etc, or add beauty to a container or landscape in the bush-form variety. With their trumpet-shaped flowers, hummingbirds enjoy them-especially the red ones! Bougainvillea “blooms” are paper-thin, but their bright presence brings us straight to a tropical paradise. They are often in hanging baskets which brings a pop to a porch. Hibiscus plants bloom in the brightest shades of red, orange, yellow, pink and even a mix of some! Blooms can even be double- you should see the peach color one we have now! Cajun Hibiscus have our local Cajun personality with larger blooms, typically “loud” with ruffles, crazy colors and simply show-stopping. Cajun Hibiscus: We love our loud and proud Cajun Moms! Mimic her personality with a Cajun Hibiscus- the leaves and blooms are larger and showier than the traditional Hibiscus. A bonus to this gift is to select Mom a variety like “Cajun Maiden,” “Grand Mere” or “Love Song!” The names, and blooms, are beautiful and memorable- just like Mom! Shasta Daisy: Many Moms love the look of sweet, delicate daisies. The Shasta doesn’t disappoint. It mixes well with others in a full-sun container, or can be planted in mom’s garden. A fun thing for Mom to do with these is to cut the blooms, place them in a vase and use as a tabletop reminder of your Mother’s Day gift. This form of “cut flowers” lasts much longer than a store-bought bouquet. Sunflower: Few perennials embody the sun’s sunshine like a sunflower! The recognizable blooms are as radiant as Mom, and some varieties can grow as tall as her, too! Herbs and Vegetables: Does Mom love to cook? Give the gift of her ingredients! With fresh herbs, she can easily flavor your family’s favorites- like a pasta or a gumbo! Another herb gift idea we love is lavender! Lavender has stress-relieving benefits that Mom surly needs. Add to her vegetable garden or get her started. We can help pair you with everything she needs- like an easy raised bed (check out our Big Bag Bed product), organic soil amendments, vegetables from tomatoes to squash to melons to peppers of every spice level. Some can even be planted in a container for easy access! Citrus, Fruit Trees, Berries: Give Mom the gift of an orchard with results she will surely enjoy as healthy snacks, meal additions, and more! We have several varieties of citrus, like lemons, oranges, limes and more. A popular apple you can find in the grocery store is the Fuji, and we have it in tree form for Mom to plant and enjoy without needing to go to the store. Blueberries, blackberries, muscadine grapes and raspberries are fun to pick and enjoy as snacks and sides, plus Moms with youngin’s can plant for her kids to learn the love of gardening! Butterfly Attracting Plants & Milkweed: If Mom loves monarch butterflies, we have the milkweed they love. Milkweed is grown as a food source for the monarch caterpillar. They munch and begin their metamorphism- right in Mom’s garden. Pair milkweed with the plants butterflies enjoy- like lantana, salvia, coneflower, zinnia and more! Butterfly Bush: Speaking of butterflies, Buddleia, or Butterfly Bush is an all-time favorite butterfly magnet. A benefit for Mom is they have a sweet fragrance she will delight in having fill her garden while she watches butterflies flutter without being in a hurry. Japanese Maple: Does Mom like unique trees that bring interest (and shade) to a back or front yard? You can’t go wrong with a Japanese Maple tree. The mature height, leaf and/or bark shade varies depending on the variety, but they all have a light, wispy look to them that makes them the focal point-much like Mom on Mother’s Day. Drift or Knockout Rose: Blooms on these low-growing shrub rose bushes pop in color and season- much like popcorn. In fact, we have a “Popcorn Drift Rose” variety! Colors are white, coral, red, pink, yellow and shades of those. These shrubs are ideal for landscapes since they stay low, add color and personality in several seasons. Much like the Shasta Daisies, Mom can clip the blooms for a vase for an alternate gift idea to the rose bouquet. Hydrangeas: Hydrangeas are an iconic look to a shady garden/landscape. Their large cluster-forming bloom heads bring a soft look when in the ground, and when used in fresh flower vases around the home. Hydrangeas in white may be Moms favorite, or she may want to change her soil pH level to go between the blue or pink Endless Summer varieties. The Summer Crush is a hot pink look to get Mom ready for summer, while the Limelight has hints of lime to the flower heads. Other varieties, such as Oak Leaf and Variegated are here as well and all will bring Mom a smile. Confederate Jasmine: If Mom has a trellis, mailbox, or structure, a confederate jasmine will look (and smell) delightful climbing. Staying evergreen all year, the sweet white blooms explode with a sweet fragrance throughout spring and summer. Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow: This plant is a perfect metaphor for your love for Mom: you loved her yesterday, you love her today and you will love her tomorrow. The blooms are purple, fading to lavender and to white all while new blooms are putting on the same show. It’s a lovely plant for a partial sun area. Bird of Paradise: If Mom spends her daydreams on a tropical beach, a Bird of Paradise sets the stage in her ground or large container. With exotic blooms of orange (and we have yellow, as well as white for indoors), she will plant a “staycaction!” Gardenia: With snow-white blooms resembling roses, Gardenias not only look as sweet as Mom, they smell as sweet as her too! The strong fragrance carries on a breeze, and does well in ground or containers- especially near an entrance or frequent back-yard relaxing spot of Mom’s. Passion Vine: Another climbing option, but this one is for the Mom who enjoys something different, unusual, and a talking point! The blooms are a unique look, resembling something you would see when traveling to a rainforest. Butterflies are extra fond of the Red Passion Vine, which will bring another show to Mom’s garden! Interior Plants: It doesn’t matter if Mom works in an office, works from home, or simply enjoys the look of live plants in her home space: interior plants bring the outdoors in, calm moods and most importantly purify the air so Mom can stay healthy and happy. Our greenhouse is FULL of options with all shades of green, succulents, cacti, the Mom who likes a different look, or the Mom who loves a traditional Pothos Ivy, or the Mom who loves the trendy Peperomia or Fiddle Leaf Fig. Please note- All Seasons may or may not have these plants in stock available to purchase at the time you come to purchase these. If you're ever looking for something specific, please call the garden center at 337.264.1418 or send an email question via this link prior to your shopping visit!

Once you know a few growing tips, you’ll enjoy these easy-to-grow beauties even more. They Can Take the Sun You don’t need heavy shade to grow hydrangeas. In our South region, most will thrive in morning sun and afternoon shade. We can help you depending on what variety you’re interested in planting. Avoid Trees Don’t plant hydrangeas directly under trees. They don’t like competing for moisture and nutrients, and aggressive tree roots will crowd them. Transplanting Hydrangea The best time to transplant a hydrangea is when it’s dormant in early spring or late fall, after most of the leaves have dropped. Deadhead Your Blooms Deadhead your hydrangeas to encourage more blooms. (Deadheading refers to cutting off dead or faded blooms.) But unless your plants have outgrown their location, it’s not necessary to prune at all, except to remove dead stems and branches. Cut Flower Arrangements If your hydrangea blooms wilt soon after you cut them, take a bucket of cool water along the next time you go into your garden. Drop the stems into the water right after you cut them. Back in the house, boil some water and let it cool for about a minute. Re-cut the hydrangea stems to the length you want, and pop them into the hot water for 30 seconds. Now put the stems in room temperature water and arrange as desired. Watering Hydrangea Hydrangeas are thirsty plants and like deep watering, especially in hot, dry weather. But don’t let them stand in puddles. Amend your soil with plenty of organic matter so it drains easily. We can help! Leaves, But no Blooms? Lots of leaves, but no blooms? You probably over-fertilized your hydrangeas. Once in early spring and again in late summer/very early fall is enough Use a time-release fertilizer or a balanced fertilizer like 10-10-10. We can help! Great Plant Combos Hydrangeas make a beautiful backdrop. Combine them with camellias, sweet potato vines, azaleas, begonias, gingers, caladiums, ferns, impatiens, hostas and any other flowers or foliage plants that like the same growing conditions. If necessary, keep your hydrangeas in shade or part shade, behind plants that need more sun. Great Company Try growing some evergreen shrubs and conifers near your hydrangeas. They’ll help provide winter interest when the plants drop their leaves. Change Their Color Hydrangeas will often be labelled as either blue or pink. The plants can be changed back and forth, however, with simple soil amendments. If you long to change the color of your hydrangea, try this simple trick. Adding sulfur to the soil will make it more acidic, and turn pink hydrangeas blue. Adding lime to the soil will make it alkaline, and will turn blooms pink. Have fun, and treat different plants with different amendments to have some of each color in your yard! We can help since we carry the right blends to change the soil AKA your hydrangea color!

One of the top questions we get asked by customers is what soil we recommend for planting in the ground or in a container. We carry many options of soils, and agree that it can be overwhelming. Here are our recommendations: Planting in the Ground: Happy Frog Soil Conditioner In every bag of Happy Frog Soil Conditioner you’ll find finely-screened aged forest products, earthworm castings, and bat guano, not to mention soil microbes to help increase root efficiency and encourage nutrient uptake. There is also added humic acid, which may increase the uptake of important micronutrients to your plants. This conditioner can be used to plant within your native soil, build up a bed, or even used as top dress mulch. Planting in a Container: Happy Frog Potting Mix Your potted plants deserve the best. Their roots can’t seek out nutrition in the ground, so you have to bring it to them. That’s why Happy Frog Potting Soil is amended with soil microbes that can help improve root efficiency and encourage nutrient uptake. Between the earthworm castings, bat guano, and aged forest products, your container plants have never felt so good. Garden tip: Happy Frog Potting Soil is designed for container planting. Whether you’re growing a ficus in the dining room, a geranium on the patio, or a lemon tree on the deck, use our Potting Soil in your containers. Ocean Forest Potting Mix This potting mix is a powerhouse blend of aged forest products, sphagnum peat moss, earthworm castings, bat guano, fish emulsion, and crab meal. Aged forest products, sandy loam, and sphagnum peat moss give Ocean Forest its light, aerated texture. Garden tip: Designed for containers and ready to use right out of the bag.  Strawberry Fields Potting Mix Strawberry Fields ® Fruiting & Flowering Potting Soil is designed to pump up your blooms, fruits and berries with no hang-ups. Fafard Ultra and Pro Potting Mixes These mix contains vermiculite, perlite, RESiLIENCE ® , compost, bark and/or other forest products, Canadian sphagnum peat moss, dolomite lime and a wetting agent. RESiLIENCE ® is an all-natural, water-soluble mineral offering gardeners real growing benefits. Numerous trials have shown that plants grown in RESiLIENCE ® -enhanced mixes may exhibit: · Earlier Flowering · Better Root Growth · Longer Time Before Wilting · Increased Stem Diameter · And Quicker Recovery from Infrequent Watering

Mulch helps plants and keeps soil healthy. All plants greatly benefit from mulching. The application or re-application of mulch is important to provide your garden once per year. Cedar or cypress bark is recommended due to its resistance to rot and fade, and has the ability to stabilize soil in beds and retain moisture. Cedar also repels insects. Other grades of mulch are available, but you will find that they will fade and float away, thus not being as effective. Here are some of the benefits : · Conserving soil moisture · Preventing crusty soil at the surface · Maintaining the ideal soil temperature · Reducing weed seed germination · Reducing weed growth · Preventing the splashing of soil fungus during rain and watering · Lessening cold damage · Slowing soil erosion · Reducing soil compaction · Adding a clean and beautiful look to a landscape Following the LSU AgCenter's recommendation, we suggest mulching annual bedding plants and herbaceous perennials to about 1'' deep; shrubs to 2'' and trees 3-4'' deep. Be careful not to use excessive amounts of mulch. If it is too deep around plants it creates health-related problems for plants. Research has shown that mulching deeper than 4'' is not healthy.  We recommend: Cedar Mulch at first: This is best to be used for brand new beds. It will lock everything in there without a runoff. Plants will stay where you planted them. All material and products will stay put. Ideally, create it to be about 2’’ thick. Natural Cedar oil is a insect repellent for an added benefit. This mulch is exceptionally long-lasting. This mulch suppresses weeds well. However, don’t keep applying it: Cedar on top of cedar, on top of cedar. This creates a barrier where water won’t get through. When it's applied over and over, it binds very strongly. After the initial application, switch to Grade A Cypress mulch. Grade A Cypress is fungus resistant for established beds, locks in moisture and temperature. When the soil is at a continued temperature, rather than going from one extreme to the other, it is more beneficial. This mulch also locks in nutrients and suppresses weeds well. You can add new mulch to old mulch and do not have to use the same mulch material each time.

Caladiums are an A+ selection for reliable color in areas that get some shade. And one investment can provide years of color. Easy enough for the casual gardener to expect routine success, the caladium’s elegant beauty also makes it a staple in the most accomplished gardener’s landscape. Native to tropical South America, caladiums grow from tubers and thrive in the heat and humidity of our long summers. They are remarkably free of major insect or disease problems. Caladiums (Caladium x hortulanum) are grown for their attractive foliage. The 6-to-12-inch heart-shaped leaves emerge from the ground on arching stems that are generally 1 to 2 feet tall but can grow taller. The foliage may be splashed with combinations of white, pink, rose, red, burgundy, chartreuse or green, often with several colors combining in wonderful patterns. These bright leaves with their bold texture embellish our shady gardens from May until October when the tubers go dormant. Where to plant Caladiums grow best in shade to part shade (two to four hours of direct sun, preferably morning) or bright dappled light. In these conditions, they produce the lushest growth with large, colorful leaves. The caladium plants you purchase at nurseries are usually grown in shady greenhouses, and the foliage will often scorch or burn if you plant them into beds that receive too much direct sun. This often results in brown areas and holes literally burned into the leaves. If the light conditions are appropriate, the new leaves that emerge will be adapted to the increased light and not burn. Some cultivars are more tolerant of sunny conditions and are successful in beds receiving part to full sun (six hours or more of direct sun) as long as they receive adequate irrigation. When grown in full sun, caladiums tend to produce smaller and more brightly colored foliage, and the plants will be shorter. Planting caladiums You can purchase caladiums two different ways. Buying caladium tubers is the most economical way to add caladiums to your landscape. You can buy caladium tubers and plant them directly into well-prepared beds now. Plant the tubers about 2 inches deep and 8 to 12 inches apart. You should see growing points or even pinkish-white sprouts on the knobby side of the tuber. That side is planted up. The smoother side is the bottom of the tuber. Wait until unsprouted tubers have emerged and grown several inches tall before mulching them. Caladiums are also available growing in 4- to 6-inch pots, and they will provide immediate color in the landscape. Growing caladium bulbs should be planted with the top of the root ball level with the soil of the bed. Plant them 8 to 12 inches apart into well-prepared beds, and they will grow larger and more beautiful through the summer. Once growing caladiums are planted, mulch the bed with 2 inches of your favorite mulch and water them in. Keep beds of caladiums well-watered during the summer, especially those receiving lots of sun. Winter care In late September or early October, longer nights and cooler temperatures encourage caladiums to go dormant. But the tubers you plant this summer can be used to grow caladiums next year, either left in the ground or stored and replanted. If the beds where the caladiums are planted will stay relatively undisturbed and if drainage is good and they will not stay too wet during winter, you may simply leave the caladium tubers in the ground. Or you may choose to dig and store them. This is the most reliable way of making sure they grow another year. Dig caladiums when a number of leaves turn yellow and most of the foliage begins to look “tired” and falls over. Use a shovel or a garden fork to lift the tubers, being careful not to damage them. Leaving the foliage attached, shake and brush off most of the soil from the tubers and lay them out in a single layer in a dry location sheltered from rain (in a garage, under a carport). After the foliage becomes tan and papery in appearance, pull it from the tubers and store the tubers in paper bags indoors where temperatures stay around 70 degrees through winter. With poor growing conditions, particularly in areas of heavy shade or sunny, dry locations, the plants will likely produce small, weak tubers that may not return well either left in the ground or dug and stored. Under the right circumstances and with proper care, however, the tubers you plant this year can provide a beautiful display again next year and for years to come. Article by LSU Ag Center. Click here to visit online.