CANNAS - need info

(dummy here that's never grown them but wants to)

Are they bulbs? When do you plant them?

The only dumb question is the one not asked. :) Technically they are rhizomes. I like to start mine indoors in butter bowls or ice cream bowls. I only start them about 6-8 weeks early so I can set out a plant instead of big ugly root. LOL I do the same with elephant ears and caladiums. You can actually grow them from seed and they will bloom the first year too.

Hi, Badseed -

What do you mean by "butter bowls" or "ice cream bowls" - you mean the tubs you buy butter or margarine in? And how do you start them - in water? In soil? I have a HUGE rhizome I bought in flower last year and right now the whole clump I pulled out of the pot in fall is sitting in a box in a cool corner of my attic. I plan on cutting it up into pieces to start new this Spring - would love to do it indoors -- so share your method with me..

Diane
Krnysgirl

Howdy :)

Yes, I do mean the bowls the products come in. They are perfect for Canna. I put a couple of inches of seed mix in the bottom, set in the rhizome and cover with enough soil that it is covered or only has growth points exposed. If I have small rhizomes, I put two in each bowl. You can punch holes in the bowls and use the lids as saucers. I set them under lights with other seedlings and such. Then I harden them off in my hoopster (which is basically a miniature greenhouse/hoophouse). By the time I put them in the ground, they are about a foot tall and fully acclimated.

Ok - so what I need to find are these "rhizomes". Guess I'll start looking. I'm hoping to find some red ones. I have a new garden area I'm putting together this spring, and think they'd be perfect for part of it. :)

http://www.cannas.net/shop/cart.asp?action=catalog_start This is a great place to purchase Canna rhizomes. They are very reasonable and the size of the rhizomes is great.

I had success growing Canna from seed last winter. They bloomed the first year. Bought the seed at the 'Members Store'. The hard part is cracking the seed coat without demolishing the whole seed. A triangle file is recommended, but I found it too small to hold tight. A nut cracker might work best with just the right amount of pressure.

Golddog, those heavy cuticle clippers work very well. Just be careful not to clip your finger. Maybe holding the seed in pliers would be best. I'm glad this thread was started. I will need to get my seeds started in another week or two and I had totally forgotten about them.

Needle nose pliers do work great! I hold my seeds with those then sand a to a white spot with my electric nail drill/file. Hey, why pass up a handy tool??

Karrie, I find our local garden centers (even the garden section of the "big box" stores) carries a pretty decent selection of Cannas if you're just getting started. Look for them where they have bins of packaged or loose gladiolus corms, lily bulbs, dahlias, caladiums, etc.

Cannas are like anything most plants: the highly prized (and hybrized) varieties go for a pretty penny, but "oldies-but-goodies" are plentiful and can be had fairly cheap (that's usually a good place to start, when you're figuring out of if you really like them, and how to grow them.) In your zone, you'll need to dig them and store them (like glads and dahlias) if you want to save them from year to year.

If you do want to start with named varieties, here's a pretty good place to start looking for ones that catch your eye (yeah, there are really 500+ varieties "out there" - some of which are not available commercially, but many are): http://plantsdatabase.com/search.php?search_text=Canna&Search.x=0&Search.y=0

I second Badseed's advice - I start mine indoors or in my GH about 2-3 weeks before the last frost date, so they have some nice foliage going before I set them out. Make sure your soil is good and warm; they will sulk (or worse yet, rot) in soil that's too cold and wet (another reason to start them early; they "hit the ground running".

Horn's is great, and there's a gal on eBay, Neoma's Garden that offers some of the best rhizomes I have ever seen. She has a bunch on there now.

"eyes"

eyes, you know we will go directly to Ebay for a look.:) I like the idea of 'clamping' the seed and then using a power tool. Norm Abrams would approve, I bet.:)

I started a seed in my window sill in one of those tiny clay pots like you get baby cactus in. I filed a section of the seed down but probrably not far enough because it took a long time to see the sprout coming out but now I have it in a big pot in my dining room waiting for spring to put it outside. Im a seed rustler, whenever I go someplace with plants out front and they have seeds I grab some. This one I got from in front of the old courthouse in Annapolis, Md. There are five plants in that pot all from the same seed.

Karrie,
If you want some rhizomes for postage, email me..I would be glad to dig you some..They are in-ground here all year and multiply very fast..Every spring I get rid of wheel barrow loads..
Larkie

I'd say it turned out fine Dravencat! :) You want to file a seed until you see a small white spot. Just don't do it on the eye (the little nub where it was attached). If you toss the seeds in water for a day or two, the root will start to sprout faster.

Thanks Badseed, thats always good too know for this years seed rustling. I am so bad.

Larkie, you've got mail.

LOL We are all so bad! I was just looking and don't have a pic of my seed growns from summer! Well, I have one, but they are amid a jungle of ears, brugs and weeds! Ack. I ended up with 80 something from seed last year and almost all of them bloomed for me. Makes me wonder why I keep buying the rhizomes. ;)

I didnt realize that they could bloom the first year from seed, thats way cool. I had so many seeds from rustling that DH started getting a little upset with all the open bags I had laying around, I wanted to make sure they were dry and he just couldnt understand that. Thankfully most everything survived the 4 yo DD and quite a few things I either traded, or gave away to friends. I only got two of the canna but plan on keeping a sharper eye out this year.

Karrie starting these from seed was really easy if you want to give that a try too.

Draven, I wouldn't mind giving it a try. I'll have to see if I can find seeds though. I emailed Larkie - She (or maybe he? hard to tell) said would send me some rhizomes.

Larkie, you have email!

Dravencat,

Also, that photo was very nice. It looks like the canna makes a very attractive houseplant until you are ready to put it outside. :)

Cannas multiply quickly. I have a few colors & they're the only thing I bother to dig up to bring in each year. I bought one Tropicana 3 summers ago. I had enought the next spring to plant 4 clumps. Now, I dig up my 4 clumps & give the extra roots away each spring. The bright flowers are almost as nice as the colorful varigated leaves.

Thanks Karrie, Im still practicing and yes it is a nice houseplant. It would be very interesting to have one bloom in the house but all my plants go outside in the summer. The bad part of that is is now I have to actually clean the spots were they were. LOL

Larkie,

You have more mail! Had more questions for you before sending you the postage! :)

Regarding the seeds: I have a Propagation book and just looked it Cannas. It says that for the seeds you can also use the "Hot Water" soak. I do that with Nastursians as well.