Caladium Bulbs Spoiled?

I am new to gardening and trying bulbs/tubers this year. I live in South Texas. I planted some Red Blaze Caladiums from Walmart in the north facing side of the house(very shaded from big oak tree %26amp; house) about 3 weeks ago. We did have light rain for an entire week the week after i planted, so i didn't water them. I dug down to check on them and they are not growing an roots that i can see. I accidently knicked one with my little shovel and inside it was all white and a little gooey. My husband says they rotted. Another lady told me to dig them up and put them somewhere sunnier. Idk, what to do. I have another package of different Caladiums I didn't know where to put, should i just plant those in instead? The tulips * Daffodils I planted have all already sprouted. Please help. And I thank you for your time.

Caladium Bulbs Spoiled?
Caladiums take a lot longer to sprout than do daffodils and other cool-weather bulb plants. They DO need some sun. I don't personally like purchasing plants from Wal-Mart; they don't seem to have any qualms about selling you last-year's merchandise as current. I recommend getting bulbs from a reputable nursery and paying a bit more, even if it means you get fewer bulbs.
Reply:Tulips and Daffodils sprout earlier in the spring than Caladiums so you would expect them to grow earlier, but sounds like your Caladiums were put out to early, they shouldn't be put out before April as cold weather will hurt them.
Reply:Hi,

I am in North Carolina, and have at least 100 Caladiums.I dig them up every fall and re-plant in March.Caladiums must have at least 70 degrees steady SOIL temperature to sprout, which would be 2 weeks at least.It seems like the gooey one might have froze?

Sometimes I will miss a bulb or 2 and if they were deep enough without a solid freeze they come up also.We seldom have a solid freeze near the coast.I plant the bulbs 2-3 inches deep.

Good Luck



BTW Trish is so right about Walmart. I never buy plants there.(Or much of anything)

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