How to Lift and Store Bulbs

Caladium bulbs can be treated and stored over the winter.

Tender bulbs often don't survive harsh winter weather in the ground. You can lift and store them over the winter. Bulbs that are crowded, not producing flowers or faring poorly in wet summer soil can also benefit from being lifted and stored. You can get more than one season out of bulbs with proper storage.

Things You'll Need

• Wire mesh
• Garden fork
• Cardboard box
• Fungicide
• Peat moss
• Vermiculite

Instructions

1. Wait for the bulbs to finish their blooming season. Continue to water and fertilize them until the foliage fades completely; this allows the bulbs to store energy for future growth.

2. Place the bulbs in a shallow, open trench in the ground out of the way until they are ready to be stored if you want to move them before the foliage fades to allow for more room in the garden. Place wire mesh or a screen inside the trench. Place the bulbs on top of the mesh, cover with a light layer of soil, and then water the trench regularly to keep them moist.

3. Moisten the soil around the plants to loosen the ground after the foliage yellows and dies back. Work underneath the bulbs with a garden fork and lift whole clumps out of the ground.

4. Brush soil from the bulbs and inspect them for damage and signs of dry rot or disease. Discard any bad bulbs and store the others in a cardboard box in a shady airy spot for several days or until they dry.

5. Treat the bulbs with a fungicide to prevent disease and rot, especially if the bulbs are susceptible to rotting and diseases.

6. Transfer hardy bulbs, such gladiolus and ismenes, to a mesh or paper bag and store them in a safe, cool, dark spot. Leave them until the next planting time. Store tender bulbs such as dahlias and caladium in a tray of peat moss or vermiculite in a protected area indoors.

References

• The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture: Spring, Summer, and Fall Bulbs
• Texas A&M System AgriLife Extension: Caladium