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Cannas
bmt
Posts: 1
Hi could you tell me if I need to cut my Canna right back. I have inherited it in a house move. The flowers have reached 8ft tall and it lives in the ground, there are 9 flower heads which have just ceased blooming. I really could do with some advise as I would hate to lose this glorious plant.
0
Posts
Where abouts in the country do you live ? I cut mine back to 20cm and lift my canna's then store them ( I live in Lancashire ) I am not sure how people down south deal with them, they would get cut back and either lifted then stored or heavy mulch to protect from frost.
Last edited: 26 November 2017 15:29:28
I cut mine back and heavyly mulch them. Dorset area. So far so good.
I used to grow Cannas in England, though I have to admit they are more at home here in Brazil!. I always found they did better if you keep them heated over winter, so they do not die back completely. They are tropicals remember. You need to keep a strict watch out for spider mite though, as the latter will proliferate rapidly if air conditions are too dry (central heating). One solution is to keep them in shallow water. This takes up some space but if you really love them, as I do, it's worth going the extra mile. Absolutely nothing beats them for colour. Good luck. Ian
Last edited: 27 November 2017 00:05:49
As Perki says - depends where you live. They certainly can't be left outside here either (west central Scotland)Even a bit of protection like a cold frame isn't enough. You need a proper greenhouse. I used to keep mine in the conservatory when I had one. Even a decent porch will be ideal.
They're definitely better if not allowed to get too cold or too drywhen undercover. A little dampness in a relatively mild environment is best
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I lift mine in Devon. More to protect against waterlogging than cold.
I grow mine in a large container In central Norfolk. As soon as the frosty weather arrives we move it into our frost free garage. In the spring we'll repot it in fresh compost and put it in the little lean to greenhouse protecting it from slightly frosty nights with bubble wrap or even moving it indoors if very low temperatures are forecast.
Yours sounds magnificent so good luck with it
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.