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I was recently captivated by a display of Caladium in the Boston Public Garden. From what I've read on the Web, it seems that planting bulbs in advance of setting out time (mid-May here in the Boston area) is the way to go. Does that mean I could start them now in a garage that will be 50-55 degrees over the winter? If so, will they need occasional visits to a sunny window?
Here in central Fla I leave my Caladium bulbs in the ground all year round. They die back in winter and reemerge in spring once the ground has warmed. Caladium's prefer hot, dry conditions and the soil needs to stay moist but not soaking wet. I'm not sure, but I think in a 55º garage they would stay dormant until the temperatures were consistently warmer.
Hopefully someone from a northern climate will pop in with some information on how they handle their caladium bulbs during the winter months.
Caladiums go dormant after about 16 weeks, depending on the variety. They have to go through a dormant period then before they will sprout and come back. So your idea won't work.
50-55 degrees is way too cool for caladiums. They don't like nighttime temps under 65 or even better 70 and like daytime temps even higher than that.
