Pruning out dead leaves gives the plant room to grow new foliage. If the edges of the leaves are brown, you can simply trim off the brown (like a haircut). Trim off any dead leaves at the bottom near the stem, being careful not to nick the main stem. Sometimes if it gets really hot, the leaves can get sunburnt. Other than deadheading, there is no need to prune unless you think the foliage looks trashy. Trimming & Pruning: Deadhead regularly to prevent plants from setting seed, which will prolong bloom.Īfter it has been deadheaded several times and with flowers no longer forthcoming, cut the flower stem back to the foliage.As flowers fade, deadhead to promote continued flowering.Rose or tomato food products are also suitable. Higher nitrogen fertilizers tend to increase canna height. Fish emulsion fertilizer, which is a little higher in nitrogen, is a beneficial organic alternative. However, canna are big eaters and would benefit from slow-release fertilizer at planting and twice during the growing season. Where the soil is fertile, fertilizer is optional.Maintain a thin layer of mulch to help retain moisture. ![]() If soil doesn’t remain moist, provide a good soaking once a week and every other day during the hottest weeks of summer. Cannas should not need to be staked as they have strong, upright stems.Ĭanna ‘Tropicanna’® ‘Autumn Joy’ makes for a stunning display in late summer.Full foliage color develops when days are warmer (59✯ or more). Blooms should appear in 10 to 12 weeks.Once sprouted, water at least once a week by slowly soaking the area around the roots. ![]() Water thoroughly, then withhold water for as long as 3 weeks, and watch for signs of growth.Dig a hole 2 inches deep and set the rhizome 1 to 2 inches below the soil with the “eyes” (bumps or nodes, which are growth sprouts) pointed up.Before planting, loosen the soil to a depth of 1 foot, then mix in 2 to 4 inches of compost.Containers need to be at least 18 inches in diameter (per rhizome). Space rhizomes 1-1/2 to 2 feet apart to give cannas enough room.In cold, short-season areas, start canna rhizomes in pots indoors or in a greenhouse, ready to transplant outdoors at the right time.To determine soil temps, dig a small hole 2 inches deep and insert a thermometer. See our Planting Calendar for tomato-planting dates. Soil must be 60✯ or warmer before planting rhizomes-often the time when folks put tomatoes in the ground. Cannas can not tolerate cold temperatures.Position plants away from any strong wind their large, soft leaves are vulnerable to damage. ![]() If your garden soil is acidic (low pH), add lime before planting. (Learn more below.)Ĭannas need full sun for good flowering as well as consistently moist soil with a pH of around 6.0-6.5. In colder climates, cannas are easy to lift and store during cooler months. They will also grow equally well in large containers that can be dragged inside during the dormant period. Note: Canna plants can be left outside in the ground all winter in zones 7 to 10. ![]() Mix cannas with grasses, lantana, zinnias, snapdragons, elephant ears, salvia, periwinkles, and more. Use them to bring structure as a tall border or to add depth to narrow spaces. They add a colorful splash to garden orders and poolside plantings, bring a tropical touch to water features and they thrive in boggy areas ( NOT salt water). –Georgia O’Keeffe (1887–1986), speaking of her work titled Red CannaĬannas can be both focal points and stylish accents. “I decided that if I could paint that flower in a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty.” The foliage color can also vary, ranging from green to maroon to bronze, and in solid or variegated patterns. Most varieties grow between 3 to 5 feet tall, though there are taller types as well as dwarf types for containers. Canna leaves are often heavily veined, adding even more beauty, especially when backlit by the sun. They may look tropical, but several species are native to the United States. The flowers are somewhat similar to an iris in shape, blooming in red, orange, yellow, and pink. Flashy and flamboyant, this perennial has distinct, paddle-shape leaves which wrap in ruffles around stems, tapering to refined buds that open into large, rainbow-hued flowers all summer long, even in the heat of late July and early August. They’ll grow up to 8 feet tall in one season. Though often called “bulbs,” cannas are not true bulbs as they multiply beneath the soil from a rhizome, an underground stem. Learn when and how to plant cannas-as well as how to store cannas, which need to be dug up in colder climates. Sometimes called “canna lilies,” these perennials are unrelated to true lilies. Cannas are spectacular summer bulbs that thrive in the heat of July and August.
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