Soft & mushy is pretty much the end of the line I'm sorry to tell you. I don't believe you can save it. You can wait & see if it produces any new growth from the center, but if the center is also soft & mushy, it's a goner, especially if it's turning brown or black. I think it's time to toss it & go out & buy a new one, sorry.

I actually have Double Pink Knockout. I got it from White Flower Farm this spring. I like it very much! It is very pretty, prettier than regular D Knockout in my opinion. Its not, perhaps, as great as the original single Knockout - its not the same kind of non-stop bloom machine (but then of course, my plant is young, and this is just its first year). The color is very bringht, good in hot sun. No disease problems or anything like that. I do have it planted in a sort of difficult spot (pretty bad, dry soil and roasting sun for most of the day) and it seems to be holding its own quite well.

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

moving plants in your own garden is approved.. as they are totally tempered to your gardens weather ... after all.. they have been there all winter ... subject to the above mentioned walking in your sodden soil.. and turning it into concrete thru compaction ... as to plants from your local sale.. where did they come from .. and are they hardened off ... if they came from a local greenhouse.. which has already been hardening them off to local weather... they are probably ready to plant ... but it wouldnt hurt to just give them a protected week or 3.. to settle down ... full bright shade ... protected from wild cold temp swings ... its easier to protect a small collection of pots all sitting together.. rather than all over the yard .... but.. if they were trucked in from God knows where ... but presumably a warmer clime .... then its your job to harden them off ... it always helps.. if you include your location in your fact scenario .... ken ps: random warm DAYS .. arent as important in the equation... as random really COLD nights ... so dont focus on day temps.. look for the potential of night temps .... its rare that there is a mid day frost or freeze this time of year ...