My cannas are looking really bad. I don’t really like them too much in the first place, since the only thing they are attracting are Japanese beetles. Looked around, but knew this wasn’t it. Even though I don’t know what he is. There ar so many hairy white ones Went out again when it was almost dark. Boy, the mosquitos were bad. Found one of them open. No idea if it was the sprinkler running earlier? I think it’s a large canna roller. Is that correct?

oh.. and btw.. now just take a good pair of heavy kitchen scissors... and cut out that leaf.. outta site.. outta mind ... but if it happens again.. you will know there was a second ... i presume you know this is not a houseplant.. and that you have it indoors because of your situation .... if you need help with what to do with it for winter.. you might ask in the houseplant or perennial forums ... and MAYBE someone will know ... the question that comes to my mind.. is whether it will bloom again.. if it does not go dormant for winter ... ken

I simply take a small file and file away a little of the outer hard shell, then soak them overnight in water, then pop them in some soil. I have never had problems getting them to germinate, For storage I put them in a paper envelope, write a description on the outside, put that in a ziplock bag and put them in the fridge. ( I have a college dorm size fridge, I keep all my seed in). I would think if they never die back in your zone, you could start the seed anytime. Here in Southwest Arkansas they are killed back to the ground each year. So I don't usually start them from seed until about six weeks before the last expected frost. I did start some this spring, that I had stored for several years, they germinated and are now about five feet tall. I collected seed from them earlier today. Good luck, I hope you have success with yours.

"Assuming" you have sanded the seed deep enough to penetrant the hard outer shell, you do not have to provide light "but" it would likely be more beneficial to set in a warm sunny area. This will simply provide additional warmth and the water penetrating that seed coat is imperative. Best, Kent