I hear what you are saying Sean, but as these are such a good display, and the only plants it looks like I can get this season, I'm erring on the side of caution. Once they die down I will depot them and see how many bulbs I have, and if multiples will divide next spring.
Looking the varieties up, it appears the red one will take some sun, but the White Christmas is a shade plant only, and as the sun is 62 degrees high here now, only 5 degrees lower than March/September at the equator, I'm not risking burning it
Maybe after the equinox when the sun does not go above 38 degrees I'll try them, if they have not already died back.
Being a truly equatorial plant, apparently they die back on a time clock, and are not affected by seasons. They have a resting period after so many months in growth. Perhaps your mum's were started late
If this timeclock is the case, I am considering, if I can get the bulbs at a reasonable price, starting some off in September and using them as house plants over the winter period. They are easily as showy as Poinsetter, and may well take full sun in winter here, as it is equivalent of 30 mins after/before sunrise/sunset in the tropics.
As I don't have anywhere with all day shade in summer they have spent most of their time in the conservatory which is bright filtered light. The heat they don't have a problem with, but I was concerned about the humidity. I have the teracotta tub they are in sitting in a drip tray of damp compost as the porous pot and damp compost with add to humidity. However, temps have been as high as 39.6C with a RH of 10% which is not good for a rainforest plant
but so far they do not seem to be affected, and while all Alocasia, Colocasia, and Xanthosoma have been forced outside by Red spider mite attacts, the Caladuims have not (touch wood, finger crossed etc)
They are given an outing when possible in the shade of my Chamarops once temps have reached 20C, and the patio is doused down to increase humidity. They are also blasted top and bottom with the fan setting on the hose every few days in an effort to rid any Red Spider Mite or eggs. As said above seems to be working for the time being.
I repotted into the terracotta tub, using old peat based compost from a tub last year, and added potash and phosphate, the K and P avoiding any Nitrogen. The nest couple of White Christmas leaves were a very pale green rather than pure white, so it must have had some nitrogen still in the compost, but have now reverted back to pure white with green veins
I will just add more potash and phosphate every 6 weeks or so.
The major difference between Colocasia and Caladuims is the latter do not lose leaves. I have not had to remove one yet
This means that the clump just continues to fill out.
Certainly not a 'stick it in the ground and let it get on with it' plant, but the rewards far outweigh the effort for me
Not a good pic, but here under the Chamaerops on 25th June, together with Heliconia Schideana, and 3 x Hedescepe canterburyana.