Gardening with Gary

Gardening Advice from an Expert

Planting Times

Q. I bought some caladiums, glads, freesia, and some elephant ears. When do I plant each one?

A. I do not know where you live, but if the States, you can go ahead and plant these now [late April]. The freesias are spring-blooming, so you probably will get no flowers from them until next year.

The others, caladium's, glads, and elephant ears, will bloom this summer. Be sure to plant them fairly deep, up to 6 inches. The glads need that support of the underground stem to keep from toppling over when the bloom stalk grows.

Caladium should be planted more shallow and in a spot where they do not get more than morning sun. They thrive in cooler, more moist areas of the garden. Elephant ears are larger but like the same sort of environment as caladium.

Water all of them well during the season, especially if the rains falter. Feed them every two weeks with a good general garden fertilizer for foliage and flowering plants.