So pretty, Cinta. I'm going to collect up my remaining white ones and make a 'feature' pot with them. Out in the shady border, they pop up randomly and look like somebody threw trash out there . . . or something.

Anyway, Evan you're right, the Thais are smaller and wimpier than the Western types. They disappear sooner when the nights cool down here, so more cold sensitive, too. I haven't had mine through a really cold spell yet, so don't know if they will survive a 'real' cold snap here. They do stand up to wind and heavy rain better, though with the thicker leaves.

Cinta: I too love that arrangement! I have the Alocasia x 'Poly', white Caladiums and the Aphelandra squarrosa (which has a new inflorescence peeking out again!) I never would have thought about putting them all together but they sure make a beautiful combination! I think I'm going to have to do a combo planter with all of those. It's funny because I have two plant stands that look similar to yours too ... I will post a photo when I get them all planted!

Elaine: I LOVE those Thai Caladiums, they are so beautiful! I've never seen them for sale over this way (at big box stores or at nurseries.) I almost bought one on-line a year or so ago but didn't really want to pay the asking price at the time and I'm so bad about Caladiums, I don't dig them up ... if they re-sprout in spring great, if not I buy more. I don't think I want to pay the price of Thai's to use as annuals.

I have a pot of the A. x Poly by the deck beneath some elephant ears and when I was pulling weeds a few days ago I think I saw some pups sprouting on the ground nearby. They may have just been babies of the Xanthosoma but I think I remember striped leaves ... I need to go check closer.

I started my love for plants as a teen. I filled my large window shelf with plants and learned about them. One of my first was a large, unmarked hanging pot of the most beautiful leaves I had ever seen. I didn't know what they were, but I loved them. They were caladium, of course and they did die back. And me, not knowing a dang thing about them, tossed out the dirt and no doubt all the bulbs in one fell swoop. When I think about all the abuse my plants got due to my simple naivete I feel sorry for them.

Cheryl, we've all learned most of what we know by trial and error. Lots of trials and lots of errors!

Lin, don't know about where you are, but over here, Lowe's has a much better nursery with nicer plants and better - more interesting - selection than Home Depot. So I just make it a routine to swing through their nursery on a Friday evening occasionally. They have all the new stuff out for the weekend, and it's not crowded then. (not to mention cooler)

Lin it is funny it was an accidental planting. I was at Lowes one year and purchased the Polly and the Caladium. I had the Aphelandra in the pot on the patio already. I came home and took the plants out of the car and started looking for pots and laid them in the pot with the Aphelandra and they looked good together. So I just pulled the plant out of the pot got a bigger pot and planted them all together. My best pots have been accidents.

Because of the white wicker on the porch my plantings always have a lot of white to pull everything together.

Cheryl, my love of plants came from my Mom. I cannot remember not having plants in the home and gardens full of flowers, food, and garden ornaments.

Elaine, our Lowes has nicer plants than HD too but none of them carry the Thai Caladiums.

Cinta: your best combo planters may be accidents but if they all are as nice as that one above ... they are wonderful accidents!

Some new functionality has been added to the Caladium database. I hope you like it.
The thread "The Caladiums database" in Plant Database forum

Lake Placid, in Florida, is the Caladium capital of the world !. Went there a couple of years ago and it was just stunning.
You can go on line and look at a huge variety to order from: www.happinessfarms.com
There are other places to order from as well. There are huge fields of caladiums - beautiful.
I love them - but I find that they do better in pots for me (just got to take pictures and remember where I planted them !).

I've had magnificent bulbs from www.caladiumbulbs4less.com as well. Bill sponsors our raffles and a photo contest last summer as well so I like to support him.

Just got my new order a few days ago and am still wandering around wondering where the heck ? ? ? am I going to put another 40 caladiums? I always do a few 'feature' pots but since I have a lot of shady areas under my oak trees, I like to put them out where they'll show up in the garden, too. Such beautiful colors and patterns, and they last a lot longer than most flowers do.

I've been ordering from Bill at Caladium Bulbs 4 Less for a few years now and I have always been extremely satisfied with my purchases. On Monday I received 30 bulbs that I ordered from his classified ad here on ATP. Bill currently has a couple of ads listed on the classified forum ... great deals!

The thread "2015 Caladium & Tropical Bulb Sale" in Classifieds and Group Buys forum

The thread "Colossal Size Caladium Bulbs" in Classifieds and Group Buys forum

The thread "White Wing Caladium Bulbs - Also known as Angel's Wings" in Classifieds and Group Buys forum

The thread "Jack's Giant Elephant Ear Bulbs" in Classifieds and Group Buys forum

I second the Caladiums 4 Less approval.....I ordered them very early before winter and didn't get them until it was the right time...he didn't communicate this so I thought I was being duped but I was wrong. Just a little confusion, but what he sent me was absolutely outstanding. For $25 I had more bulbs than I knew what to do with! They are all popping up now, and I confess, I have put caladiums to the top of my Best Plants Ever list. I will be buying more if I can find room. They are simply magnificent plants! So beautiful!

I'm awaiting the first of my spring-planted Caladiums to emerge. I have a whole row planted here, all this same variety "White Wings" but this one came on super early because it was a potted one I got last year at Lowe's. When I put it in the ground so it would be alongside its siblings, I dug in a bunch of alfalfa pellets, (yes, horse food) and also added a little bit of pelleted fertilizer. The leaves on this plant have doubled in size in just over a week! Biggest one is 16in. long.

I've got to say, everything I've added alfalfa pellets to has just gone gangbusters! That stuff is the best soil amendment I've ever used. All my Caladiums are getting that stuff from now on - now, geez I've got at least 20 more bulbs to plant this afternoon! I might need to hit the feed store tomorrow . . .

I may have to go to the local feed store to get some Alfalfa Pellets! http://www.planetnatural.com/p...

Elaine, when I had horses in Virginia, I used to mulch with alfalfa pellets because they were so readily available at the feed stores. It was MIRACULOUS!!! I forgot about this...how could I! I had the best flowers and vegetables I've ever had. Well done.

Well, they're a bit more expensive than mulch, Kate, but I do add a generous handful to every plant that I put in, and scuffle them into the soil around. I've also mixed some into the potting mix in my Earth Boxes this spring and that sure hasn't done any harm, either!