I have read so many conflicting advice and different ways to overwinter cannas, it's maddening. I planted mine directly in the ground late spring for the first time, and after getting frustrated and confused by youtube tutorials and various web site, I decided to follow a mix of Monty's advice and Hart Cannas' recommendations. I dug them up and kept them in the clump of soil, then bagged them individually in old compost bags and stored them in my unheated shed. I am keeping fingers crossed they won't rot. However, Monty and Hart Cannas both seem to agree that they should not fully dry out.
SophieK, how are you getting on with your Cannas? I find myself confused about overwintering them too. I read that they should be kept damp and not allowed to dry out, but as there didn't seem to be anything happening with them(in a cold greenhouse) I've tipped them out of their pots and they look on the verge of rotting. Wondering if I let them dry out a bit could they still come back to life. Bit of a long shot, I think.
The top ‘rolls’ will look a mess and verge on looking like rotting but at its core the rhizomes should be good and depending on size divided up. I started with two small canna year before last and split into 7 at the end of the season. Not sure I want 30 odd this year though 😀
@Snowberry - So I dug the cannas up last November, kept them in the soil and bagged them in old compost bags, then in large plastic boxes wrapped with some blankets as my shed is a metal shipping container so if it's -7C outside, it's -7C inside the container. The cold winter gave me some serious sweats and I was expecting all the low temps to kill them off. Eventually when the last mega cold snap was forecast, I freaked out and decided to start them all off early in pots. I was surprised that quite a few already had some new growths and the soil was still moist/wet. I reckon I got an average of 3-4 new plants for each once I had done the dividing. Unfortunately starting them off early in one of the bathrooms (though I highly recommend the location, so easy to water them all ) meant they grew a bit leggy - or in the case of cannas, tall and floppy. I decided to chance it and actually planted them out a couple of days ago. They seem to be doing okay so far.
I think it's normal to have some brown/black rotting material. Just cut it off (you can do so with a knife) and only keep the parts of the tuber that are white and hopefully with a pointy protruding bit. I'm not sure that drying them out a bit will work, better to remove the rotted areas. This video was useful to me when I was about to pot and divide my cannas, recognising rotten from healthy material.
@Aaron 583 Oh I disagree The more cannas the merrier! And if too many for you, I am sure neighbours, friends and family would be very happy to get pups
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I think it's normal to have some brown/black rotting material. Just cut it off (you can do so with a knife) and only keep the parts of the tuber that are white and hopefully with a pointy protruding bit. I'm not sure that drying them out a bit will work, better to remove the rotted areas. This video was useful to me when I was about to pot and divide my cannas, recognising rotten from healthy material.
@Aaron 583 Oh I disagree