Packing cannas and callas

They are out of the ground and dry. Has anyone tried packing them in shredded paper (letter kind-not newspaper) or do I need to take a trip and get peat moss. Don't want to lose them, rather recyle then buy a large bag of pm.

My climate isn't the same as yours, but I've dug them up (cannas) and stored them in paper bags and they survived just fine in my basement. The rhizomes hold a lot of water so drying out never seemed to be a problem.
Since it gets much colder where you live, maybe just store them in shredded paper in a box and keep them indoors or in an insulated garage ???

edited to add that wood shavings may work just as well for both. Is there a wood-working shop near you anywhere that you could get the shavings ? Here, they sell both types of bulbs in boxes filled with wood shavings.

This message was edited Nov 7, 2010 8:54 PM

HI, will check on the shavings..otherwise will do paper. They will be held in the basement. It is cooler there. My garage is unheated and just OK to hold over hardy plants already in soil.
Thanks.

Just dug mine out, too. I store them just like this in a cool basement. I do overwinter a lot of bulbs in brown paper bags. My caladiums,

WOW,,,thats a lot of bulbs. all of mine will fit into small box.:)

Not entirely sure what I will do with them all next spring. Those are all either red or yellow. I use to have a lot of different types, more colors and leaf variations but last year a whole bushel basket of tubers were left at my son's house sitting out and never planted. By the time we found them it was too late. So I guess next year I will be giving away some canna and buying more.

If you end-up at a round-up..could be nice offerings. Bummer about the lost ones, I lost all my red ones and my dahlias to "mummification" as I forgot them for 2 seasons and they dried out.(never hit the stinky zone..as in the house....I might have saved a few.

Marcia

I lift callas every year. I let them dry out and then put them in paper bags and cardboard boxes. The bulbs are then stored with my dahila tubers for the winter...... haven't had any issues yet.....

Holly - I may decide to go to the Plantswap next year, based soley upon your caladiums LOL!!

Oh That would be so great I would love to see you. Ric and I have a new GH it isn't set up yet probably not until spring but I am looking forward to all the extra growing space. With luck I will have a lot of plants to give away besides the Canna. I will gladly save some for you when the time comes. I should have Mums, Asters and Sedum to give away, too. I have way too many of a couple of varieties.
We have another load of Canna that we just dug up from my Granddaughters school. These will have to go back next spring. I saw them the other day when we were checking out her new school and I had Jen ask if anyone was going to dig them out. Turns out no one was going to do that and they were thrilled to have someone volunteer to pull, store and replant them next spring.