Canna's in a Container

Really, I learn something everyday.

[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]
ANNABELLE...you might be on to something...as someone said in another thread that Cannas are marginal and can live in water. ...now...how do i plug up those holes? hmmmm..
Sylvia

I would say line it with a heavy duty plastic garbage bag first.
Tried it the first year in those 1/2 barrel planters. The end of the season I discovered I couldn't fill them with water because roots were coming out the bottom.

2nd year I DOUBLE bagged. They did it to me again.
So I didn't do them in containers the last 2 years because at the end of the season they have the 1/2 barrels completely packed with roots and it's a pain dumping and washing the soil off without breaking growing tips and rhizomes.

btw - that yellow red flower above is in a big pot (with holes) and it's name is Cleopatra

This is a shot of some of my container plants. Molly traded the African Mask last year for daylilies. It is so unique. It feels like plastic!

That is such a unique plant. Don't know why I always stop but don't get one.
Shade or sun?

Yes 8ft...I saw the Cleopatra at the Karchesky site! and its not a bad price either. I also saw a white one called "Blanche"it has awsome petals, but do I want to pay 20.00 bucks for a canna? ... its so different from anything I have seen. there is another called "Howzat" that is pretty too.
BLUEGRASS ...get read to repot...those Alacosia series grow huge. a girlfriend had one in her apartment it got so big, she had it in a pot bigger than a half barrel. lol
sylvia

sylvia I wasn't aware there were white ones until I followed Robin's link to Karchesky. I'll probably have to break down for one since it'll be something else I've not seen up around here. I'm still surprised you'll see Tropicanna out there for 19.95 for a single rhizome.

That's the beauty of cannas though, as long as you're not in a hurry. All you need is one grown very well and you'll have six at the end of the season.

I'll be lifting my cannas in Oct. The way that Cleopatra is going I could send you a piece if you're interested?

Interested? are you kidding? Why do you think I have been talking up on it for so long? LOL Yes I would love to have a piece ...thanks in advance. now you and Breeze are my two new best friends. lol

8FT...isnt Tropicana that orange one with the striped leaves? I think I have seen a patch of that around the corner somewhere.
Sylvia

Yeah it is. Here's the stand of cannas collected from me across the street at my buddies house. He put 'em in late this year. Thats Black Knight thats blooming. I really like that one because of the unbelievably velvety red flowers and it's got some maroon tints to it's foliage.

That's Tropicanna in the lower left.

This message was edited Aug 7, 2005 6:44 PM

I have the worst luck with canna, I traded for 3 tropicanna this Spring. They had a couple of leaves. I guess from the trip or something, the leaves turned brown. I cut them back thinking that, like most plants they would send up more. I haven't seen any. I really should did them up and see what the rhizones look like.

I have had them to rot on me during the winter too. I really like the tropical look they give. So I will keep trying. If anyone has a few to spare or trade, please LMK.
Teresa

This message was edited Aug 8, 2005 7:53 AM

I couldn't find "Tropicanna" listed on Karchesky. I really want one so bad! If anyone has one to spare I'll be happy to pay postage and any other expenses to ship. I would also love to have a "Bengal Tiger" and "Stuttgart" The varigated leaves are just awesome!
Pati

Blaine, Here are my two of my cannas from Tropicana

Tropicana canna ' Mactro' green leaves / yellow bloom

Tropicana canna 'Phaison' red leaf /orange bloom

Also have my first Cleopatra bloom.

Wonder if the red is called a broken color seeing as it appears irregularly like with some irises?

This message was edited Aug 10, 2005 4:44 PM

Pati , I believe Tropicana is the name of the nursery .

example of broken color , that can appear small or as a whole petal at any given time


TB Iris Ziggy

Nope, not the nursery. The correct spelling has two n's as well.
Anthony Tesselaar markets to 9 licensed growers in the US.
Tropicanna was the original and is the brand

You may see 'Canna Tropicanna(tm)' sold as Phaison because of it's registration:
Canna indica 'Phasion' Plant Patent No. 10569

Likewise the new 'Tropicanna Gold' may be listed as 'Mactro' since it's registration is:
Canna indica 'Mactro' -Tropicanna Gold
There's also been a pretty good scrap going on because Tesselar originally applied for patent saying it was a seedling of Phasion which can't be true because it's sterile. The claim was changed saying it's a sport of Phasion but many believe it's a sport of Canna 'Striata' aka 'Pretoria'. I'm more inclined to believe the latter.

Did you know he's releasing a new one for 2006? "Tropicanna Black "




This message was edited Aug 10, 2005 5:30 PM

from the DIY site

Good to know, but regardless I'm so glad I rescued them from death row 2 years ago at HD after a frost killed em back.

Blaine I got that info off the pot tags but if there is feuding going on who knows what is correct. IMO .... who really cares ?

I will continue keeping the info in my canna plant files for personal use.

Pretty sure ther are one or two other color variations in that line ( I think I read that somewhere) ('-'?)

Dey is shore purdy to look at !

edit ..... ooops , I just saw your ref to tropicanna black . sounds like it could be a real beaut.

Kyle has had a black hybred he created for at least a couple years but he will not market it for some reason.
I saw a pic if it once and it is really DARK !

This message was edited Aug 10, 2005 6:16 PM

Kudos on HD snatch!!! I should be so lucky. From the picture I've seen of 'Tropicanna Black' I agree with the sabre rattlers in the UK that it sure looks like 'Australia'. Of course if it gets released they'll charge for the 'Tropicanna' brand.

What color is Kyle's bloom? The ones ref'd above are a dark red like 'Black Knight'. If he's got something new he oughta contact Monrovia and make some cash. They're one of the Tropicanna growers as well.

bottomline... regardless of what they're called they sure put a smile on my mug

Wow Blaine...you sure know your Cannas! I can see why you are such a snob....lol...you not too bad either Scooterbug and to think how I take cannas for granted. I would like to see pics of the ones you guys are talking about. :) How often do you guys work the soil where your Cannas bed? Most people around here just let them go, when they get too compacted and begin to look bad they just dig them up.
Sylvia

Sylvia,
Here in zone 5 , I grow mine in the ground but they must be dug and stored indoors before they freeze.

Some gardeners in this area grow the cannas as an annual , letting them die in the winter and plant new tubers or seeds the following spring.

I have my favs that I dig and save every year.

(((*-*)))

This message was edited Aug 11, 2005 9:13 AM

My beginners are in pots, and it looks like I have at least four suvivors, and, of course, the Bengal Tiger (drool) that is very large that I bought at Wal-Mart. They will go in the ground in September and I'm hopeing they make the "Invasive Plant" list! LOL
Pati

hiya Pati, I wish I lived in a warm growing zone. U R one lucky gal.

Hi Scooter, come on down! It's really a wonderful place to live. I've had to adjust to cooler nights here than in Miami. Can't remember ever having to wear a sweater going out at night there.

This was my first year for summer gradening, and I just can't believe how BIG everything got in July! Coleus are over waist high and the ferns are scarey! I'm looking forward to starting my FL "summer" gardening in October. Impatients, Petunias, Begonias, and of course, Coleus, is my game plan.

I'm really excited about my Cannas and Plumerias.

Pati

Naw Sylvia, I know the ones I like and when you google things now and then, you can't help but come up with interesting trivia. I didn't know there were white flowered cannas until this thread. I have to dig mine as well. Like Scoot says, so many people just grow them as annuals around here. I've converted a few who just didn't know they could store the rhizomes dormant.

It was nice when I could just leave them in ground all the time down in SC. Of course I had amaryllis in ground as perennials as well. :) You know my DM and DA get away with leaving theirs in ground in Denver and 2 hours east of Denver. It's not fair.

That is so interesting about white cannas...I had a neighbor tell me that she knew somebody who had them and I didn't believe her..so much for my thinking...now I'm asking if she can spare a few LOL.

well breeze, are you on good terms with the neighbor? Have you got Wyoming?

I'm on good terms with my neighbor....just don't know if she can snag a few from her freind yet or not. LOL. No I don't but if I can snag some of the white..by all means I will need Wyoming also! You'll be one of the first I let know!

This message was edited Aug 11, 2005 7:08 PM

Deal!!

My first bloom of the year. This Canna is alone in a pot. Foliage is rather plain green. Can't find the tag which I thought I had in my gardening book. (Maybe it's with my seeds). Like Scooter, I have to dig my Cannas if I want to keep them, but I sometimes get them mixed up as to variety over the winter. LOL This one is on its second year, I think, but I also find that the nicest varietes often don't winter well. If anybody knows just what variety this is, please let me know.

Thanks,
Ann

This message was edited Aug 11, 2005 11:13 PM

pretty but I don't know who it is.

Sylvia..Here is a pic of my king humbert red. I am 5'7" and the blooms here are a few inches over my head.

And here is a pic of the king humbert orange although they are approx 6" shorter than the reds which I dont know why cuz they are planted next to each other in rows.

Both gorgeous, but I really like the orange one. thanks for sharing the pictures.

Ann

I have a newbie question about canna seeds. How long does it take for them to be large enough to bloom? 2 years?
Thanks,
Teresa

I've had them bloom the year I plant them but I start them in the winter and keep them growing as much as possible. Then start setting them outside as early as possible except in my case I don't actually plant them till June if planting in ground. I have to wait for the ground to warm up and danger of frost gone.

Breeze they are really gorgeous! ...that red one is to die for.:)

dumb question :( ....where are the seeds?

...just me
...ashamed to sign my name.lol

Sylvia..they are growing where the flowers/petals fall off..weird looking buggers. Kindof a round ball with inch long wing things. You'll see...sending you some of those also. :)
Also ashamed...just noticed them this year myself. LOL

This message was edited Aug 13, 2005 11:59 PM

LOL! oh the big thing thats left...is that just one seed? how long does it take to come up? I dont know anything about doing seeds unless it zinnias, morning glories or hollyhock....anything that you self sow. lol

The only thing I know is a few things I have read somewhere..let them stay on the plants til ?golfball? size...and brown. The actual seeds are inside, are black and approx. the size of B.B's. I guess we'll be the experimentors this go round!