With the exception of a few quite expensive or rare varieties I prefer not to get involved in storing flower bulbs as purchasing replacements as required is much more rewarding.
I have found that it can be difficult with some bulbs to carry them through the winter months and have the same high quality plants when compared to those that develop from my new purchases.
For example let’s take a look at my experience and results with fancy leaf caladiums which I believe will be the same for you should you decide on storing them.
In a nut shell by the time that the following spring arrived I discovered that the bulb size was vastly reduced which led to poor plant quality during the growing season as compared to the previous year.
Therefore it is our suggestion that you leave the over wintering process up to the caladium producers that have close to perfect conditions for storage.
Some bulbs or tubers that you may want to store over and in our opinion can expect good results being the end product are as follows:
Elephant ear caladiums: I plant them in twenty to twenty four inch contains where they prosper every summer then when fall arrives they find their winter home in our garage which we maintain at about fifty five degrees. Do not water during the storage period and simply remove the foliage as it dies back.
Dahlias: Be careful when digging them up as cuts or breaks in their tuberous root system can allow disease to get a foothold. We advise you to store the roots in fairly high humidity which will keep them from shrinking in size or completely drying up. Consider placing them in plastic bags with perforations and be sure to add peat moss or vermiculite as the packing material. Fifty degrees should be about perfect for storage of your dahlias.
Gladiolus: Carefully dig after frost has killed the foliage and allow curing for several weeks in approximately sixty degree temperatures. Then remove the old corm which you will discard. Also remove the new cormels which you may want to save in order to increase your variety numbers and place all corms and cormels in paper bags and store at fifty to fifty five degrees.
Cannas: Dig after frost has damaged the tops and cut back stems to just above the eyes. Store in vermiculite or peat at fifty to fifty five degrees.
You can expect excellent results when overwintering the above four items if you pay attention to detail in preparing them for their winters rest.
