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Dormant Cannas and Dahlias

borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
in Plants
I have a number of Dahlias and Cannas - some which I kept from last year, and other I acquired this winter.  All are in a frost-free greenhouse, sitting in pots in a mixture of JI2 and MPC.  I haven't watered them at all over winter for fear of the tubers rotting.

Is it time now to give them a good soak?  Or would I risk them rotting (should I wait for shoots to appear first, or is it the watering that will stimulate them into growth)?  It's getting nice and warm in the greenhouse these days.

Posts

  • thevictorianthevictorian Posts: 1,279
    I'd start by giving them a little water (enough to keep them moist but not wet) and they should spring back into life where you can water more as they get into more vigorous growth. 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    they should enough energy to start into growth without additional water. The tubers are storage vessels.
    I'm sure we've all seen them sprouting in bags on racks in garden centres with  no moisture at all . 
    I'd not risk watering until you see activity, and then only a dribble to start with.
    Devon.
  • NollieNollie Posts: 7,529
    I agree with hosta, wait until you see shoots peeking out before watering, and then only until just moist, making sure the pot drains well, otherwise you might undo your previous restraint and risk rotting off. 
    Mountainous Northern Catalunya, Spain. Hot summers, cold winters.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
     ;) 
    Devon.
  • borgadrborgadr Posts: 718
    Thanks guys.. I'll do this
  • PosyPosy Posts: 3,601
    If the tops are exposed you can spray water a couple of times a day - just a mist - to wake them up. My dahlias don't do anything until they get a bit of wet but I store them in dry compost, not pots, they are too big to fit in pots.
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