Forum home› Talkback
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Talkback: Glory be!

Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
in Talkback
What a beautiful plant. I was wondering if anyone has experience of leaving their canna lillies outside over Winter? I live in Bucks and thought I would give it a go this year with the winters' seeming to be milder now. It's a Canna iridiflora that has flowered for 2 years running. I covered the crown with a good layer of straw and peat, and a big pot. Do you think it will bloom again this year or have I been foolhardy and lost the plant? I can't see any new shoots yet.
«1

Posts

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I also grow canna lilies in large pots, and one has been in the same pot for its third summer. I simply move the whole pot into my unheated greenhouse in late October, before frost strikes in my area.

    Refrain from watering to allow the foliage to die down naturally, and then snip this away at compost level during winter. Come spring I just start watering the pot again, and once shoots emerge I start giving a liquid feed occasionally too. No, I don't remove it from its compost or do anything complicated, but it appears to thrive.

  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Thanks for that Adam, I'll give it a go. However as I heat my greenhouse in the winter I will probably store it in my frost free outhouse.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I have grown canna lilies in large pots for several years and have always found that even though kept in a greenhouse overwinter they have been very slow to come into bloom. Last in desperation - because I had bought a yellow striped leaved canna and forgotten to put it in a larger pot and therefore it had dried out several times - I put it in the garden in a sunny position. Would you believe this year it has been the best canna in the garden, that includes several in pots as mentioned. This has grown to about 5-6ft tall and has flowered repeatedly for some weeks now. The others have hardly produced any flowers at all and are stunted in comparision. So maybe with our warmer winters they can now be left in the garden.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    A friend made my wedding bouquet of gloriosa and ever since I have wanted to grow this plant but have not yet tried. Can it be grown outside (North West England) as I haven't got a conservatory?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I bought glorisa tubers from Gardeners World NEC in June and did not pot them until July and had a good display September and still flowering. I grew mine in the kitchen. I believe you can grow them outside in the summer but maybe have to bring the tubers inside for winter. They climb and climb.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    Did you know that the Gloriosa lily is known as the 'Flame Lily' in Zimbabwe? I also wondered if I could treat my new Rheum Palmatum the same way as you treat the Gloriosa Lily? It is in the greenhouse and wouldn't want it to die. I live in the North East - Newcastle.
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I need some help as this year I planted two arum lillies, at the start of the year in the garden. They have flowered profusely this Summer and are continuing to do so. I live in between Glasgow and Edinburgh, so the weather here might not be suitable to keep then in the garden over Winter. I have read varying advice on the internet and am no further forward as to how I can look after them. I was also wondering as to how I could propogate them? Any advice would be great. Thanks!!
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I'm afraid this really is a plant for a pot growing in warm conditions, Lindsay. I've never seen it grown outside in the UK, and wouldn't recommend it unless you live in a very warm area that can provide a bright, hot, sheltered position (hopefully backed by a warm wall).
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    I live in London can anyone recommend a stockist of the Glory Lily. Is this the same as the Flame Lily we have just seen in the Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens in South Africa?
  • Gardeners' World Web UserGardeners' World Web User Posts: 17,147
    You should be able to find lots of mail-order suppliers on the internet, Mary. Gloriosa are not often sold at garden centres, but wait until the New Year and check the summer bulb catalogues for prices. They will NOT be found at this time of year.
Sign In or Register to comment.