Canna lilies bring so much joy to the garden. Their lush tropical foliage and brightly colored, large flowers make them a landscape-changing plant. Unfortunately, cannas are not very cold tolerant.
If you dig up the plants and provide them with the right conditions, you can store them over the winter. Here are some Tips for storing canna lilies in the winter. If you follow the instructions correctly, you will have gorgeous cannas again next year. You won’t need to buy new plants.
Monitor the weather
Canna lilies are relatively cold-tolerant plants, surviving temperatures down to 0°F. This means that if you live in zones 7-11, you don’t have to worry about your cannas at all over the winter. A thick blanket of mulch applied when the weather shifts to around 50°-60°F will give them a bit of extra insulation.
Store your canna bulb for the winter, if you live north. You can then plant them next year. After the first frost is when you should dig up bulbous plants and rhizomatics.
Canna lilies are grown from rhizomes which differ slightly from true bulbs. Since plants like ginger and turmeric also grow from rhizomes it is no surprise that the same thing happens with cannas. For our purposes, we will refer to “bulbs” and “rhizomes” interchangeably.
After the First Frost but Before a Hardfreeze
You can also contact us by clicking here. They can tolerate colder temperaturesIdeally, these plants should be left in the soil long enough for dormancy to occur. It is easier to do the job if the leaves are killed by a frost. No one likes to chop down those pretty tropical leaves before it’s necessary.
As much as you don’t want to dig them up too soon, it’s important not to leave them in the ground too long. A hard frost can damage the plants. You want to harvest the plants after they have lost their foliage but before a hard frost.
Canna Lillies can be grown in containers
It’s much easier to dig up your cannas in the winter than every year. Canna lilies do very well in containers. Cannas in containers don’t have to be removed from their pots for the winter. Bring cannas that are in containers inside and store them in a dry, cool place until spring.
You should leave them in the containers they are currently in for the winter. They will not have to recuperate from the transplant in a state of dormancy, resulting in little growth. Strive to keep your containers in a space that stays around 50°-60°F most of the time, and keep them in darkness as much as possible.
Cut the Foliage
Once you’ve experienced your first freeze, your canna’s foliage should die back, making the process easier. Trim the dead leaves with a sharp, clean tool before you dig. Trim the foliage to about 2” above the ground.
It’s important to use a clean tool when making these cuts. In between plants, you can dip the tool in a solution of 1 part bleach and 10 parts water. This avoids contaminating the vulnerable bulbs with fungus and bacteria that could be residual on a tool that hasn’t been cleaned.
Dig up the Bulbs
Cannas is a plant that grows in the Cannas family. Plants are typically four to six inch deep.It is best to use an instrument that will disturb as few roots as possible. A shovel or gardening fork works well.
Using your tool, dig down around the plant stalks in a wide enough circle that you don’t damage any potential new offshoots. Later, you can divide them and plant new canna seeds in the spring. Lift the bulbs with a shovel and dig down under the bulbs.
Once the soil is well loosened, it’s time to get your hands dirty. You can loosen the bulbs by using your hands. By using your hands, you can help to preserve them as well as any potentially vulnerable offshoots. You can either separate your offshoots right now or wait until spring. But more on that later.
Clean Them up
Prior to storing, it is important to remove any soil from the rhizomes. These bulbs can be stored for a long time as they are very robust. They will become more susceptible to pathogens if they are damaged while digging. Even small cuts could make them susceptible to certain pathogens. These forces can make you more vulnerable.
The soil can contain fungus, bacteria, or other garden pests you don’t want to store. Clean the bulbs with your hands, a rag, or gently rinse them off with water. It is important to not store the bulbs wet if you wash them. This can cause them rot.
Cure the Bulbs
After cleaning your bulbs, let them cure. This reduces the likelihood of rot. This process also hardens the skin and protects it from fungus or mold. Cannas and most bulbs need to be cured prior to storage.
Cure them by placing them in a dark, cool and dry place. Allowing them to air dry for a few days. You’ll notice that the skin begins to wrinkle after they have cured.
When the skin wrinkles, it is time to store. Be sure to remove those that seem unhealthy. In storage, diseases can spread rapidly.
Wrap the Bulbs
Wrapping your bulbs is a great way to protect them against any moisture left behind. This could lead to them rotting. This can be done with newsprint paper. As are paper bags for grocery shopping.
If you don’t want to wrap your bulbs, you can bury them in vermiculite or peat moss. Be sure to use a breathable medium when wrapping or packing your bulbs.
Wrapping them also stops them from touching. It is best to avoid any contact between them and potential pathogens. When storing them, make sure they don’t touch and there is enough medium to cover all sides.
How to Store them Correctly
It is important to keep them dry and in the right container. You need to decide first what container you are going to use.
The paper bags are a good option, but they may not allow you to inspect your bulbs at mid-season. I store them in cardboard boxes that are shallow. I can store them in shallow cardboard boxes, allowing me to use a single layer per box.
If you’ve wrapped your bulbs in paper, you can store them in breathable nylon or open-weave cotton bags. It is important that the bulbs are not in contact with each other and that there is enough air flow around them.
Avoid storing bulbs in plastic containers. They will rot if moisture is present and the container doesn’t breathe, so avoid using plastic boxes or bags for storage.
It is important to consider the location where you store your bulbs. Temperature and humidity are two of the most important factors in maintaining the integrity of your bulbs. You want a space where the temperature stays between 35°-50°F. The space should also be relatively dry and free of fluctuations in humidity.
If you have a basement that is cool and drier, The ideal place to be For storage. A garage can be a good choice if your climate doesn’t cause your garage temperature to fall below freezing. Storing bulbs against the wall where the garage is joined to the house’s interior can help insulate them slightly.
Another option is a cool shed or closet. If you have a greenhouse that will stay in that temperature range, that would also be acceptable, but make sure it doesn’t get too humid.
Check up Periodically
If you store your bulbs correctly, they should last through the entire winter. It is still a good idea to check on your bulbs every now and again. It is usually enough to check in on them once a month.
Check to see if any are rotting. Remove those that are rotting or decaying from the box. Do not let them infect others.. Check the moisture levels as well. They should be dry but not completely dry.
You may have too much moisture in your bulbs if you notice that they continue to darken and shrivel. Spray the vermiculite or peat moss with a spray bottle. You can also mist the paper that the bulbs are wrapped in. Don’t saturate anything. A little moisture can go a long ways. After checking your bulbs again, you can cover them up and store.
Final Thoughts
Storing your canna bulbs for the winter doesn’t have to be complicated. Keep these tips in mind, and don’t skip any steps. You may end up with bulbs which are damaged, rotten or dried out. The plant may not produce any growth during the following season.