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Tropical Plants Canna garden

Cut back to the ground...after blooming ?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Greetings from Southern Oregon. We moved here 12 years ago and found canna planted in the front... that gets morning shade, mid-day sun and afternoon shade. They are doing well. I cut to ground in the fall and they sprout up without fail in May, or so.

I clip the faded first bloom and leave the sheath that contains a new flower. I can get about three separate flowers, this way. Lots of 5-10-10 helps along with kelp, etc.

A friend told me he cuts his canna to the ground after the first bloom and his re-grows and re-blooms. I have not yet tried this...and thought I would ask others on this forum.

Sound OK to do this ? TIA

Featured Answer

roselee z8b S.W. Texas

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

I deadhead until the buds on the stalk beneath the first flowers have all bloomed and then cut the stalk back to the ground. Another flowering stalk soon rises from the rhizome to bloom again.

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Comments (7)

Embothrium
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I wouldn't. His is probably continuing on despite the premature decapitation rather than because of it.

>Lots of 5-10-10 helps along with kelp<

Without conducting a test using control plants you don't actually know that your particular fertilization program is producing any one specific benefit. It might be for instance that what they are responding to is primarily the 5% nitrogen.

If you keep doing this same combination for years the 10% phosphorus might eventually start to become a problem, depending on how much P was already in the soil. And how much the kelp might be adding.

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/seaweed-extracts.pdf
Dorion Fields
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
I let mine grow naturally and they bloom quite a few times without doing any cutting sometimes I peal the old faded flowers for looks if they dont fall before I get to them but once I see flowers I usually keep them all season
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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
5 years ago
If you have many of them, try the method on some.
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5 years ago

This is one of mine but they all continuously bloom without Deadheading them and also I think it adds somewhat of a balance to the flowers cause they get so full they tend to lean over this way I find they hold up
HU-45559746726
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks to roselee and others for their comments. Sorry to relate...I am so inept that I can't post a picture. So..I have not yet cut any first bloom stalks to the ground. Still cutting the first bloom after it has faded and starts to show seeds. The sheath right below is hiding a new blooming shoot. After that one fades and is cut...there will be another sheath. Three is about all I get.

I leave all the foliage until winter, because it covers the front outside wall of the house and provides a nice contrast.

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