My Cannas Dried Out Over Winter. Why?
corntobewild
16 years ago
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nightrider767
16 years agocorntobewild
16 years agoRelated Discussions
Has anyone brought their Cannas out of their winter storage yet?
Comments (14)Since I have been procrastinating lately and just glancing at a sign stating "Plant cannas today"; that was about 2 weeks ago, maybe tomorrow. But this is what I tried last year: Since I have two cartonfuls of mixed cannas, Tropicana, Inferno, a shorter salmon pink type and yellow, layered with peatmoss and a few dahlias, calla lilies and elephant ear. Each canna was set into a large plastic baggie (freezer type) with some soil and watered lightly. They are lined up in the garage on a cardboard lid. When the weather begins to warm up I will bring them out for a couple hours and then back into the garage daily. It seems like much work but it is definitely worth it. And then they are planted into large containers, urns and into the garden as the weather is more canna-friendly. They are gorgeous and make me feel like I am in the Tropics!! Vicki...See MoreOver wintering Cannas by wrapping them?
Comments (10)Jochen I have been experimenting with overwintering cannas alive for the last two winters. It does work, contrary to perceived wisdom. I only tried because of poor results overwintering the tubers. The first year they came inside 3 feet high. The next year they grew to 6 feet high and didn't flower, but the leaves were enormous. During last winter they died back to 4 feet high again, were slow to get going this spring, as was the canna musifolia, but they are now 5 to 6 feet high again, with no sign of a flower. I over winter them in an outhouse/conservatory that has plenty of light and a minimum temperature of about 5 or 6 degrees C. I bring them in before the first frost, and treat them for vine weevil and remove anything hiding amongst the leaves. Light watering is occasionally required during the winter. I don't mind the lack of flowers as the huge foliage is a good exchange. They stand next to the canna musifolia, which is a big brute that reaches 8 - 9 feet from scratch every year, but unlikely to flower in the UK. I wish I had the height in the outhouse to overwinter it too. Good luck Nik...See MoreNo basement, Z5 How do I winter over canna?
Comments (4)Sorry to miss guide you on the hosta Samfawzy & slfairless but I am a hosta collector with over 100 varieties. The hosta in the pot was an example that they can be stored in pots in the garage. Only a few make their way there as all the other are in the ground. I am thankful that you responded with advise. I didn't know if they should be in a cold area or basement for winter. I guess what you are saying is it's not the cold but the darkness that is important. So I will try your suggestions. Clean them, wrap them, keep them dry and in the dark. Thanks so much for responding. G...See Morestorage of cannas over winter
Comments (8)I live in Missouri next to Illinois, I have been growing cannas for the last 7 years. Through research I have a method for over wintering my canna rhizomes that has never failed me. I dig them up after the first frost has killed off the foliage, trim the stalk to about 2 inches, rinse off all dirt/mud from them, check for any damage or signs of disease,(cut away any yuck) and place them on a rack to dry with a fan on low to dry them. After about a day of drying, I then place them on top of dry potting soil in cardboard boxes (no lids, open to the air) and give a mist of Fungcide, and will typically keep a small fan blowing for circulation throughout storage in a cool dark corner of the basement. Every few days I check them and give them a mist of water. I am pretty medothical about making sure that any soft foliage dries so as to not promote fungal infection that will turn them to mush by spring. Last winter I tempted fate and did not dig them up, the winters had been mild for years. I mulched them and Well, last winter we had record snow fall and lots of moisture. I lost half of my collection, they were mush. Only the rhizomes closest to the foundation of my house made it. Happy to report that the ones that did make it grew and flowered beautifully :)...See Morejroot
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