Gardening Questions: My Calla Bulbs Won't Stay Dormant!

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Chickadee12 Brookfield, CT (Zone 5b) November 19, 2008 11:18 AM	A few months ago, a local nursery put their Callas out on the free bench after they wouldn't sell. (overpriced and out of bloom) I took them all home and as the foliage died back, I dug up the bulbs and put them away. Now they are all tucked back onto a dark shelf in the garage to wait out winter. I made sure the storage conditions are nice and dry. I checked them yesterday to make sure nothing was rotting, and lo and behold, they are growing! What can I do? I can't take care of all those callas this winter, I have too many plants as it is!
meadowmouse Scarborough, ON (Zone 6a) November 23, 2008 9:59 AM	I grow Callas and it sounds like you're doing everything right. My method is to dig them, remove the dying foliage and most of the root system, dry them thoroughly and store them behind the steps in my basement where it is about 50ºF / 10ºC in paper bags. The only thing I can think of is that humidity or some variation in light is triggering the growth cycle. Perhaps you could bring them indoors and spread them out on cardboard to make sure they are completely dry before returning them to storage.
pastime Waterman, IL (Zone 5a) November 28, 2008 1:08 PM	I once stored a box of cannas in my basement. I forgot all about them the next spring. So they sat there for another year. When I finally noticed the box, I opened it to find my cannas were alive and sprouting. Now that's a tough plant! Just make sure they are kept in the dark and dry, you can also pack them with a little peat moss. I can't believe I took the time to dig and box those bulbs and then forgot I had them in the basement.
Chickadee12 Brookfield, CT (Zone 5b) November 29, 2008 2:52 PM	Haha, wow. I'm happy they're plant I like, it sounds like It'd be impossible to get rid of them. I'm going to try putting them in a darker place in the garage, maybe in a drawer or something. i also planted two of the bulbs out of curiosity to see how they fare this winter. As of now, they're still growing. Hopefully they'll quiet down soon. . . Thanks for all the input, maybe I just didn't give them enough time to enter dormancy.
scicciarella Metcalfe, ON (Zone 5a) December 2, 2008 10:48 AM	5b they will rot over the winter now I found that when they grow it is because it is to warm and to much light so find a colder place for storage in the fifties is best
dp72 Woodway, TX (Zone 8a) December 2, 2008 5:31 PM	This may be off-topic, but I put my caladium bulbs in the garage to store for the winter, and a few of them were sprouting, too. I pinched the sprouts off, though, and nothing has come back so far.
newhobby Tolleson, AZ (Zone 9a) December 2, 2008 10:41 PM	Wish I could offer some help but I leave mine in the ground and they come back up as they please each year. Sure wish our nursery put things out for free, especially those!!!

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