Deep watering - in containers - would be until it is running out the bottom of the container. But are you sure they need it every day? That usually isn't needed if the plant is in a proper size container for its root ball. Do you check the moisture in the container soil deep down? Stick you finger in it. better yet is to water from the bottom - set the pots in large saucers and fill the saucers with water - let the plant suck up the amount it needs through the drainage holes. Since you have backed off on the water, other causes could be that the plants are root bound in their container and so need to be transplanted to larger containers. Or that the container soil has lost all its nutrients - they wash out with every watering - so what and how often have you fed them? Hope this helps. Dave

since they are at the surface of the water, my pond definately freezes solid down for at least a foot, which would mean the tubers would be frozen solid as well, That doesnt kill them????? I certainly cant leave my terrestrial cannas in the ground

Man alive! This deep watering is going to take a couple of weeks. I got some soaker hoses from Harbor Freight and have been rotating them around the drip line of 2 mesquites, a vitex, a fruitless olive and the shamel ash. Move the hose about every 15 minutes to a different section of the drip line, do this for 3 or 4 hours, back and forth along the two sections of the drip line. Turn the faucet off and wait overnight. Most are still wet less than one foot down, 6" - 8" maybe. One is at one foot. The shamel ash I think, it's out front and has the most consistent watering over all. Plus I've been hitting that section with Dispur-sul since it went in the ground in the fall of 2005. Maybe that stuff works??

My general rule of thumb is about 2" below the soil surface. However, that said, it really isn't an exact science. When I first pot 'em up, it's usually about 3 plus inches deep as the potting soil will settle and the eventual depth will be anywhere from 1" to 2" deep. If you're going to transplant them inground, then basically you just want them up and growing, with the rhizomes starting to put out new roots. To get them started once you have them potted, water moderately and put them in the warmest spot you can find, hopefully in a window with direct sun. When they start to feel dryish on top, water them well. You don't want to overwater at this point as they can rot. Once you have them outside and the temps are hot, then they'll take all the water you can give them. Here, in our hot, zone 9 summer climate, we can't give them enough water. Hope this helps some. Jenna