This is my first year to have cannas and it's very ironic that I planted them in a monsoon year too.:) But anyway, I'm now wondering how to winter them. I'm not sure what to expect of this winter since we had such a strange spring and summer. Or maybe we didn't have summer and we've just been in spring since April.
Mary Lee
how to winter cannas in zone 8a
Mary Lee
I'm in Austin and I leave mine in the ground all year. Even when we had the ice storm, they came back. Be warned....they're like rabbits and multiply. Your neighbors will run from you when you try to share! BTW...if you want some more, I still have plenty. Next time you come to Austin, let me know.....
Sandi
In ground here too. I think about mulching but never get a round tuit.
MaryLee. Do nothing to them. They should come back, unless, of course, we have the freeze of the century, but I'm biting my tongue on that one! lol
I leave mine in the ground & give them a thick blanket of leaves to keep them warm! Don't have but 1 pine or I would use pine needles. They are even better, they say!
:~)
Ok, good news for me then.:) I have 2 large pecan trees so there's a good supply of leaves in the fall. I bought these through a coop last spring and I bought 4 or 5 different kinds. I figured I would decide which ones I really liked and give the rest away. I mentioned to DH that there was one that I didn't really like. He said "well I like them all". If I hadn't said anything about getting rid of some of them he probably never would have said he liked them. Now I know how to get a reaction out of him.:)
They are fr Mars & we are fr Venus! lol
:~)
Wonder if they have cannas on Mars?
Silverfluter,
You were MISSED at the West Houston RU!!!!
Regarding your cannas overwintering. I guarantee that after a few seasons, you'll PRAY that they freeze! They are the UBERweed.
Gymgirl, sorry I couldn't be at the RU. I had to work, and I get a headache when I get even close to Houston. In fact I get a headache even here at home when I work in the yard. So much mold and stuff. I hope it was a good RU.
I had heard the cannas are weeds, but that they needs lots of water. So I figured they just won't spread past the area I water. I hope I'm right.:)
you're not. "if you plant them, they will spread..."
In my area with more moisture than the hill country but I do not water, mine have spread very little and are very controlable. pod
This message was edited Jul 31, 2007 7:36 PM
Mine are in a 3' x 8' area @ the end of my front porch & have not spread out of that area in 2.5 yrs. They have no border or confinement to keep them in that area either.
:~)
This message was edited Jul 31, 2007 7:27 PM
Well Smockette, I hope I have the same kind you do.:) I really don't need another weed. But if they do become a weed atleast they are a pretty weed.
Bigbubbles, I forgot to respond to your offer of cannas. If these multiply like crazy, I won't need any more, but if they don't I might like some more Black Knight. I have Maudie Malcolm and a hot pink one in the pond that I know are multiplying like crazy. But I really like that Black Knight too. The hot pink one didn't bloom much - only one flower from 5 plants.
I have about nine different Cannas. I need to find a place to put them in the ground. I tried huge pots but they multiply too fast. I am thinking about growing them and selling them on Ebay. lol I really like them because they are prolific bloomers, but I cant keep up with them. Also there is a white one I want really bad. :)
I put some of the ones from the coop last spring in my pond. DH said they were making huge roots sticking out of the bottom of the pot that looked like christmas trees. I haven't looked at them yet. I guess I'll have to cut the pot apart to get the plant out, divide it and pot it up again to store it in the gh for the winter. I can't leave these in the pond all winter can I?