Hi qf, Per the FAQ at the Canna Forum: How and When do I divide cannas? The best time to divide cannas is in the spring as you are planting them. However, if you are digging them up later in the season for some reason, you may divide them then. They really arenÂt picky. But it is generally best to divide when you know can replant them soon. Divide the rhizomes by cutting them into pieces containing one or more eyes (growing points). Sue

Just thought you might like this photo (sorry for the damage on the right hand leaf, we've recently had devastating hail/storms here) .. a canna I bought .. the seller listed it as 'Bengal Tiger' or 'Pretoria' .. it is 'Bethany' & is in fact a naturally occurring mutation of the above (as they are the same & the name 'Tropicanna Gold' has become the Registered name). 'BETHANY' is acknowleged as being a separate variety. The main variation characteristic is that 'Bethany' has this particular bi-toned flower, rather than orange. They grow the same height & have no visible differences with the colour of foliage .. although mine sometimes does have some wider white strips in leaf patterns. The inaccuracy of retailers with names of cannas is frustrating .. I think they should all bear the name they were first given, rather than what the 'new' hybridizers/retailers select to call them or register them as .. so many of them 'laying claim' to so many cannas being 'theirs'. eg. 'Frau Gartenberg' being sold in Aust. as 'Garton Baudie' Research into correct names is now so easily available, but so few here in Australia (& elsewhere?) ever try .. I hope more canna enthusiasts give their cannas their first names. Below is a link that may be of interest. Dianne@Fleu De Lis Cannas. ps. I know that cannas are not true lilies .. 'Fleu De Lis Canna' (I do not have a 'business') is my own 'in joke', as the 'fleu de lis' insignia represents a canna 'lily' supposedly :) Here is a link that might be useful: canna-news.org.uk

You won't lose them. You're in a zone where you may be able to grow them all year, depending on your winter. Cannas continually produce new stalks which will bloom even tho old stalks may be exhausted. Here, we cut the cannas down when a frost kills the foliage, which was just in the last week or two. Do you get frost? I wouldn't cut the foliage until the last possible minute. It will continue to absorb energy for the rhizomes. Throughout the season, as old stalks finish blooming (each stalk may have two or three flushes of blooms), you can trim down the old stalks so new stalks can take in nutrients and sunlight. You can cut the stalks to about an inch tall. Don't worry, you're not going to hurt the cannas. In fact, in your zone, they may be "weeds" for you someday. Believe me, if I haven't killed them here in zone 7, with my neglect, they're safe with you. LOL

Oh dear, I hope it isn't too late. Dig them up and check the crowns. If they are mushy, you still might be able to save them. Dig out the mushy part, let them dry and dust the crowns with sulfur. Plant them a few days later and hope for the best. I have saved a few, but very few. The sooner you catch it, the better. The tell-tale signs for me is when you start seeing yellow or brown leaves in the central part of the plant, and not just on the outer leaves. I sure hope you can save your plants. It was very heart-breaking last year when I lost three seedlings that would have been registered this year. I can replace the registered ones, but cannot replace unique seedlings. Spraying with K-Phite in the past helped me to put a stop to crown rot. It crept up on me here in our new home, as I wasn't expecting it to happen again. Nancy