I live northwest of Houston and I dig up my caladium bulbs up every fall and replant in late April. Most of our winters are too wet and warm loving caladiums normally rot and may not return in the spring
molly

Rare for any caladium bulbs left in the ground to return for us in the SW Houston clay. Could get 2 or 3 years out of them if dug.

I have dug them in the DFW area and had some come back. Even when I dig them, that first year the bulb is a fraction of the size of the originals. I end up buying them again anyway. Have any of you noticed the same?

Cynthia, I have had a similar experience as you with a few bulbs left in the ground returning the following spring, and the re-planted bulbs both having little vigor. I purchase new bulbs each spring to plant along the "older" bulbs.
Molly

That decline is why we only ever got 2 or 3 years out of them by digging. Believe we had similar experience in Dallas clay, but been a long time since we've grown any here.