Mid-Atlantic Gardening: Fall Time Bulb Storage, 1 by Gitagal

Gitagal wrote:
Callas---

I have on big pot which grew beautifully this year, You saw it--almost black.
Last year, I just brought the pot into my cool (58*) Shop and left it there.
In spring--when i saw a tip growing out of it--I brought it outside and watered it.
Will do the same this winter. It went from ONE stalk to about 4 or 5 in one year.

Cannas---

I have had these forever....that is the red one and the dark-leafed one, which I almost
lost as the few roots I had shriveled up. I am hoping to have a new supply.
Here's what I learned fro Allan Summers....
1--Allow the 1st frost to kill the leaves. Cut hem back to about 8".
2--Allow the roots to stay in the ground another 2 weeks, then dig them up.
3--Knock off, carefully, the bigger clumps of soil and then lay out in an airy place
to completely dry off. If it is still warm and sunny--I put them on my picnic table outside.
If not--I spread them out in a cardboard box to finish drying.
4--I store them in an open box on the floor in my cool shop. I may throw some
sheets of newspaper loosely over the box.
Moisture would not be good at this point--as the roots may rot.
5--Come March or such--I start misting the roots a bit now and then.

This year I have the short, pink Cannas for the first time. They have grown into a
big clump and continue blooming. I I will do the same as I have done with the others,

Caladiums---

Last year was my first in growing Caladiums due to the group Buy.
Mine were all planted in beds and a couple in a BIG combo pot.
Not having much experience--I dug them all up and allowed them to dry.
Any bits of soil hanging on--I left there. Hung all the dried bulbs in mexh bags
from the seiling in my cool Shop.
In spring--I sorted them all out by variety and soon planted them in deep 4" pots
hoping for earlier germination. Nope! I almost gave up, bur eventually they started
sprouting. Out of 25 pots--I lost 4. The rest were planted in beds and some containers.
All grew out.

Purple Oxalis? It is impossible to kill it.

You cam keep it as a houseplant. You can let it go totally dormant.
Or--you can let it grow in some bright spot and dribble a bit of water on them
now and then. I keep mine on the small windowsill in my laundry room.
Most of the time--they are bone dry. They grow pretty well sitting there...

The plants that surprised me the most were the Bgonias we all grow from the corms.
Last summer--I bought 2 at Md. F& F here. They did great! Amazing is more like it.
Winter came--and I simply put the dry clay pots on the floor in my shop and
there they sat. Spring came--and there was no sign of life.
Summer started--and still no sign...put them outside in shade--and, lo and behold,
they stared sprouting and grew and are blooming eight now.
There is one pot which I thought had nothing in it--but right now--it is starting to grow!!!!

Amaryllis and Brugs I/We have discussed to no end--so i won't talk about them here.

Gita
These are the Begonias i am talking about...