Successfully planting cannas depends on these prepping, placing, and potting basics.
But when properly planted and cared for, yourcannaswill soon reward you with their gorgeous foliage and flowers.
What is a Rhizome?
Credit:Marty Baldwin
Rhizomes may look like fleshy roots, but they are actually underground stems with nodes that sprout into shoots.
Choose the best rhizomes to plant andcompost the rest.
A healthy canna rhizome feels firm with no mushy spots and should be cream or white in color.
Credit:Lokibaho / Getty Images
Rhizomes that have blackened or become soft may be rotting.
Likebulbs, corms, and tubers, a rhizomes main enemy is rot.
Excess moisture, either in storage or once planted, is the end of the line for canna rhizomes.
Conversely, canna rhizomes may dehydrate if stored too dry and have a shriveled, wrinkly appearance.
Wake them up early.
Youll enjoy largetropical foliage and flowersmuch earlier than if you waited to start the process outside.
Dont plant too deep.
Planting them deeper means more time for them to pop up, possibly resulting in stunted growth.
When planting cannas in containers, adopt a bigger is better mindset.
Some cannas become massive and need space for a giant root system.
A pot 18 inches in diameter is about right for one canna (unless its a miniature variety).
Larger pots can hold two or three.
A second benefit to agiant container for your cannasis mass.
Wait until tomato planting time.
As youd guess from their tropical nature, cannas dont like cold air or soil.
Like any other plant started inside, cannas need to behardened offbefore being transplanted outside.
The same goes for canna plants purchased from a greenhouse.
Know which way is up.
If your canna rhizomes have started to sprout, it is easy to see which side goes up.
Order cannas in winter and store until spring.
Popular varieties or new releases often sell out early in the season.
Waiting until late spring to order cannas can leave you with a poor selection.
Dont forget to keep an eye on the big box stores toward the end of spring.
Frequently Asked Questions
The only way to tellunless it has dissolved into jellyis to plant it.
However, an inspection will reveal whether the canna is likely to sprout.
If it is soft, slimy, or smells rotten, toss it.
If the eyes look healthy, cut off any rotten portions of the rhizome and give it a try.
It depends on where you live.
Cannas are perennials and can be overwintered in the ground in warm climates.
Typically, gardeners inUSDA Zones 8 and warmercan get away with leaving their cannas in the soil.
Many gardeners report that cannas are not bothered much by deer.
