Tropicals: Storing the tenders?

I've been digging up my cannas and plan to store them in a wooden box of peat moss down in the basement. I'm wondering what else I can store for the winter in this fashion. I have a couple of tuberous begonias & lots of crocosmia to do too. What about elephant ears & taros? Can they be stored like this? How about a butterfly ginger? Maybe even some 4 o'clock tubers? Any others that can be packed away like this? It will make a big difference on what I can keep for next year. I just don't have the space to keep them all growing in the house.

Nother question :] I have some other items that have been hit by a couple of frosts. The ones I'm concerned about are my blue potato bush (lysianthes rantonii), and St. Joeseph vine (solanum seaforthianum). The Blue potato has lost all it's leaves & the vine has died back to the ground. I read they are hardy to zone 8. Since the coldest temps we've had to date are high 20s I'm assuming these plants aren't dead - just gone into their winter sleep. Can I still save them? The potao is in a pot - but the vine is in the ground. I don't want to bother if there's no chance of survival. I thought maybe if I stuck them in the basement they'd stay dormant most of the winter and begin the growth cycle again when the days start to lengthen...???

I think they should be ok. I have both and they do fine and we get temps down in the teens sometimes

I guess I will try. I don't think my cuttings are going to root.

Some more I thought of - caladiums & cala lilies. They can be stored - yes? How about the taros? They have a big bulbous root don't they? Will they stay dormant?

Poppysue, yes to all the bulbs and tubers you mentioned. I dig mine and just store them loose till spring where they don't freeze.

I'm no good at these tender things. If I manage to take care of them before they freeze they usually shrivel up and die over the winter anyways. I'll do the peat moss thing this winter and see if that helps. I got a big wooden wine crate that should hold most of them.

Poppysue, I think that's what I did wrong in years past, let them dry out. Last year I stored them in slightly damp peat and most survived. I also tossed some butterfly gingers and cannas in the corner of the greenhouse(damp corner, but too dark for a plant)and they did great. You can dust them with a bit of Captan fungicide if they have injured or cut places on them.

I even bought some dust!! :)

I have trouble keeping over my Dahlias...any sugestions??

I was told by a very experienced gardener to spray wilt proof on the tubers, then store. She swares by it.
Kristi

what is wilt proof?

and where do you get it?

I've seen wilt proof in Wally world back by the bug spray

It's an anti-dessicant spray. We use it in the greenhouse.

Wilt-Proof is indeed an anti-dessicant spray. It is widely available in any nursery, garden center, hardware & goods stores.

I swear by the stuff! I use it every winter (at least 2 applications) on my rhododendrons & broad leafed evergreens. Winter winds and lack of precipitation will dry out many plants. Some plants demonstrate this damage through brown leaves & shriveled limbs. Other plants that are severely affected by lack of moisture will die a slow death and it's NOT a pretty sight.

Wilt-Proof helps to protect plants from moisture loss. When sprayed on the leaves, it forms a lightweight polymer barrier, which protects the shrubs. Less evaporation means a healthier plant come springtime!

okay, book says store clean bulbs. does that mean I wash the dirt off with a hose? I don't want them too wet, I know I'll lose them.

I washed mine off and then let them dry for a few days before I packed them away.

Can you do this with brugs, too? A couple of generous souls sent me a bunch, and I'm afraid I will kill them. Some are beginning to rot.