I wouldn't plant caladiums until June. If they get cold they will rot.

I read an article recently that said you could plant them in pots indoors now to get an early start and then transplant them into the garden at the appropriate (after last frost date, I suppose) time.

Hmmm, plaingint indoors in pots and then move them outsode in June. I like that. Thanks.

Yes, that is what I would do too however, if I remember right, Datdog grows a lot of tropicals and knows better than me. I grew them once before and they did take a while to break the dirt and get some size to them.

Check out Brent and Becky's instructions. They want you to break off the first sprout.

Here is a link that might be useful: Brent and Becky advice on caladium

Last year I potted up some elephant ears about this time and set them on the table. I didn't have an especially warm spot for them, and after several weeks, concluded that they probably rotted. I stuck them in a corner, and forgot about them. We got cold spell that caused the heater to run, and heat up that corner. Was I surprised a month later to have some of them sprout. I will pot them again this year, making sure they have some warmth. Don't know if I could bring myself to break off the first tip.

Aww, breaking off the tip sounds cruel but I may try it... if I have the heart. The heating pad sounds like a good idea.

BTW, do the rhizomes multiply like bulbs?