Canna's in a Container

Hello I got a 29 qt container, it is square. Lowes called it a Patio planter. Anyway I wanna plant cannas in it. My question is... How many Canna's can you plant in a container of that size & what else can I add to it so it keeps color all summer?
thanks
tamlamb

I had some cannas last year in 5 gal containers;1 per container.
You can plant moss roses;low rooting and blooms all summer in full sun. The flowers bloom in different colors so would really add color to your pots. Could also plant some with Allysum and that comes in colors of white, purple and yellow. Don't know if that comes in other colors or not. Those are the 3 that I know of right now and the allysum will and the moss roses both will help soften the edges of the pot.
There was something else that I was thinking of,but my mind just went blank. Let me think some more and will get back to you on this. Been a very long day here so brain not working too good right now

Sunday I split a pot that is about 18" x 18" & has had cannas in it for 8 yrs that I know of.(I live at someone else's house & it was here when I got here) I got 10 sets w/at least 2 eyes each. There is also a lot of tubers left that didn't have green on them yet.
So, not counting the tubers, if I hadn't split it up, it would have had @ least 20 stalks. So the number is really up to you. Just remember the more you put in the less room you have for a lower plant.
Also, I don't know how your ant population is but ours is almost out of hand. When you set it where it will be for a while, sprinkle some ant "stuff" under it. We have a terrible time w/fire ants. I just sprinkle some under the pot & they find another place to build there nests & it is not in my cannas.

Smockette; I have found that if I place my pots,no matter what they are,up on a cement block you have less trouble with those nasty fireants in your pots

Sounds good for your zone maybe but that didn't make any difference down here. These cannas were & are on concrete blocks. Those 'onry' critters climb like monkeys to any space that is not distrubed regularly! And in just a couple of days can have a mound 6-8" tall. Busy little rascals!

Smockette... try some Diazinon. it work for me. of course there is no way of getting rid of them permanently. an ounce of prevention is better than nothing. i try to fill their nest with Diazinon. draw a line of dianizon along the perimeter of my planting area. so far, i never see them cross the line :D.

i plant my cannas in 1 gal. containers. they grown and bloom nicely.

I've planted three tubers in a 5 gal. container..nursery pot, and they're doing ok..Elaine

Ladies, I don't know if this will work on fireants, but human uring is instant death to the regular black ant here in central MO. I think it is Jerry Baker who says to dilute it half & half with water. Boiling water will also kill ants of any kind. However I realize that will also kill your plants so you will have to remove them from the pot. Tansy repels all kinds of ants here in central MO but I don't know about your kind. Just some thoughts.
Question. Can or will poultry eat fireants? They will eat most kinds of any here, but I don't know about fireants because of the terrible bite.

I bought the Diazinon other days ago and put some on top of my flower pot and in few days they all Gone. It did worked for me so I am going to put some on each pots.. We have problem with fireants and black ants....all over on the ground..... My rooster do eat the ants but we only have one rooster.. I am going to give Rooster to someone cause he keep eating the leaves off the tomatoes plant!!!!

MiniSchnuz... be sure not to put Diazinon on edible plants! only on non edible plants only.

i try to find the ant holes and fill some Diazinon, about 2 tbsp. Diazinon. and draw a line along the perimeter of the flowering plants, about 1" line.

i have used Diazinon through they years and it always worked!

I have several canna in containers. I left them in their containers all winter and kept them growing. I plan to raise nearly all of the canna in containers this season.

I use cannas in the 25 gallon containers in my yard. They do great and it gives enough room for lots of other stuff in there. When I took out the Tropicanna last fall, there were at least 12 new tubers. I did like Leaflady, I potted them up in smaller containers and kept them growing all winter. I've got some yellow ones that are getting ready to bloom. I'll pop them into the Tropical Bed and have instant color!!

I don't think I've been to this forum before, but decided to take a look today. So glad I did, will have to come back more often. I have quite a few cannas that I'm growing from seed. They are in pots now, just babies, and was wondering what to do with them as we are planning to move soon. Thanks to you all, I now know I can leave them the pots as long as necessary. I have learned more in one year at Dave's Garden than I did in forty years on my own. Thanks so much. Pam

ONE CANNA PER POT! ... they multply so fast I divide them every year. ...and they bloom a lot better if they are not so congested.
Anyone want Cannas just let me know. :)
Sylvia

Sylvia, I sent you a private message. I would love some! Thanks. I am in zone 5a..can the cannas stay in containers here over winter?

I have one canna in this pot with many other things...

Up here in Alberta I have found that my Canna's do best in a pot without holes, that way I can keep them wet enough. If your Canna's get dry wavy edges it probably is because they aren't wet enough. I had this problem till I left my canna's in a two gallon pot , plugged the drainage holes and put that pot into a bigger one so I could under plant with what ever I want. That way I could keep the Canna wet enough without drowning the under plantings. I have not been too successfull with overwintering but starting very early I can bring them along in the house till I can plant out. Mine are just getting ready to flower.
Don't you just love the leaf color and size! They make such a super statement. Levilyla you have a great grouping in your pot!

Levilya is that a King Hubert canna in that pot? It sure is a lovely setting...look like a pic out of Garden Gate! I wish I had a knack for putting plants together that work well with each other.
Breeze I answered your email;) I never take my cannas out the pot until I am ready to divide them. I dont remember what color they are since I divide and give away so often. I know I have a yellow one. I want that brilliant red King Hubert with the dark leaves again...I think I gave it away in error.:( an apartment complex tried to dig up all thiers which is a brilliant orange.... but they are coming back like crazy. I getting my nerves up to go and ask for some...same thing with the King Hubert a couple of blocks up the street. LOL no reason to buy Cannas around here..they are everywhere!lol
Sylvia

my first bloom

I have no idea which Canna it is. It was just marked Canna.

Sedrick..thanks for the e-mail..I have the huge king humbrets..red..will send you also in the fall..e-mail me with address..we actually bought 5 of them and they are doing good!

gee thanks Breeze...will do... lets keep in contact!:)
Sylvia

In Ottawa, I find that they do very well in a large pot and I put two-three tubers in each pot depending on the size of the pot and the variety of Canna (I've found some multiply MUCH faster than others). It also gets hot enough that I have late summer bloom if I put them straight in the garden. Could be earlier if I'd get my act together to start them sooner. It's a rare year that they will survive winter in the garden. I never dig all of mine and I think just once in the last 10 years some have wintered over.

Sedrick- that's a gorgeous yellow bloom you have.

Ann

Thanks Ann. I had one bloom from each pot so far. I think its time to dump the pot and start over. they bloom a lot faster. It appears sometimes the entire bottom of the pot is one great big corum. I dont dare put them in the ground or they will be everywhere. I will take pics of my pots tommorrow for you guys to see.
Sylvia

Just found this thread and am so mortified! I put "a lot" of canna in a big copper container (with drainage holes) in an area where they grow but it could use more sun.
I'll see how they do and maybe other plants will have to depart the property to make room for the cannas next year!

This is my Canna Lily 'President' http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/58247/ from last year (in the ground.) This year they're in a giant pot with some salvias.

~* Robin

A friend of mine told me a lady in her home town had cannas that were purple and she also told me she had some white ones. I never seen or heard of cannas in these colors and I wonder if she knows what she is talking about. have any of you seen cannas in these colors?
Sylvia

Sedrick -- If you still have extra cannas, let me know what I can do to get some - please. :)

Someone gave me some salmon-colored ones (corms) at the Feb. plant RU. First ones I've tried and they so well in Florida's HOT summer! Put some in the ground and some in the pot and they are beautiful...

Your yellow blossom is brilliant! Any color would be a lovely addition to this Florida garden.

Sue

Soozer I never knew these cannas could be so popular. At this point I think I will raid the neighborhood...so I can acommadate everyone. LOL
....got to get those orange ones I saw in a complex around the corner too;)
Sylvia
this is what the two pots look like four months ago and I have only had four blooms because its so over packed now.

sedrick -- Nice, lush-looking corner...with a little chiminea 'fire' for cooler weather.

I'm really jealous of you who can leave them in the ground all year. We have to dig them up and carefullly store them for 4-5 months. I usually get them mixed up and some of the nicer varieties don't seem to store as well either.

Ann

White Cannas: http://www.karcheskycanna.com/
Look under GALLERIES

~* Robin

Gee thanks Robin...how interesting! I would have never imagine Cannas were this popular or extravegant. I guess I take them for granted. I think I might just buy me one of those white rhizomes...they are beautiful and rare. I never did see a purple did you? ...then again it was too much to go thru this time of night...this is a sunday project. :)
Sylvia.

it'd be nice to be able to leave them in ground.
I've been Wyoming, Pretoria, Black Knight and Tropicana for years. I've found if I'm doing them in a container it needs to be big or I couldn't keep them watered enough to get good growth or they'd all but burst plastic pots.

I grabbed this at the IA roundup this year and put it in a container. Initially the flowers were just the speckled yellow then it started throwing in this red petal. It's got some standard green foliage but several of the leaves have an inch wide burgundy stripe up through it. Pretty cool for a change.


Canna 'Cleopatra'

This message was edited Aug 6, 2005 12:44 PM

8ftbed -- Wow! You went to the IA roundup? Was going to suggest that the next time we drive up to Minnesota to see family, we'd swing by (going thru IA anyway) and pick up a few corms next year. lol But I see you are on Lake Michigan! Soooo....you got quite the bonus with this beautiful dual colored canna. Lovely!

Got my first canna at this Feb. FL roundup. Salmon colored. Really like it! :)

Well, I'm kind of on your way.. Come by anyway. :)

I have trouble with containers drying out badly. Does the moisture
control potting soil really help? I may try repotting a few.
Teresa

yes it helps.
there are other factors you may want to consider first- what type of plant , size of plant, size of pot and what the pots made of

First thing I say is mulch the pots if you don't already. I use shredded leaves and it really helps.

If you're using terracotta, they'll dry out even quicker. I guess some folks paint the inside or you could also do what I do with the 1/2 barrel planters (not the water tight whiskey b). I get a large heavy duty plastic bag and cut the end off. Put it in the container to the bottom and fold the top over the lip. Fill with potting medium then cut the top off with an exacto just below the rim. I get the wood or clay look but the plastic slows the evaporation.

If your plant is large and something like Elephant Ears, Cannas or Brugmansia they really use a lot of water in the heat and will also quickly fill the pot with roots. Thats another problem. When the root become so thick and congested, there's not enough potting medium left to hold any water for the roots to take up. I've had 2 many cannas in too small a pot due that to before and an EE is probably almost there now.

8FT...WHAT A COOL CANNA COLOR! DO YOU KNOW THE NAME OF IT? NATUREWALKER PROVIDED ME WITH A WONDERFUL VENDOR, MAYBE I CAN FIND IT THERE . BTW ,,THAT SOME GOOD ADVICE. I LOVE THE USAGE OF THE PLASTIC BAGS FOR SOME OTHER PLANTS...ESPECIALLY MY HERBS...THEY REALLY DRY OUT FAST. I THOUGHT THE CANNAS LOVE THE DRY SOIL...IT DONT STOP THEM FROM MULTIPLYING BUT IT DOES SLOW UP THE FLOWERING. :)

SYLVIA@WORK

Hi Sylvia... I'll look in that pot tonight and hopefully I kept the tag.
You know cannas are actually marginal plants. Grow them right in the water!