Wintering Canna Bulbs: How To Store Canna Bulbs (2024)

FAQs

Wintering Canna Bulbs: How To Store Canna Bulbs? ›

Wrap and Store the Bulbs

Traditional methods advocate placing them in containers or bags filled with slightly dampened peat moss or wood shavings, but for those short on time or either of those materials, Cannas can also be overwintered simply by placing the sorted rhizomes into heavy-duty garbage bags and storing in the correct conditions ( ...

Expert Response. The majority of the roots can be cut off so you are left with the rhizome, similar to what you purchased or were given at the start of spring. You just need to let them air dry.

"To successfully overwinter cannas indoors, the bulbs should be dug up after the first light frost has killed the top of the plant," she explains. "Although technically they are not bulbs, but rhizomes, cannas need to be treated as tender bulbs and must be dug up to survive the winter.

For me, the ideal winter storage space is an unheated mud room attached to my house. I wrap the pots in insulating bubble wrap and place them next to the wall of the house where they get a little warmth. My cold frame is another good place to store pots.

Take a look at the stems.

Plants that are alive have stems that are firm, can bend a bit, and have a green hue on the inside. Mushy or brittle stems are no good, indicating your plant may be a goner.

When planting cannas in containers, use good-quality potting soil and a container about 18 inches wide. Plant a single rhizome 4–6 inches deep in the center of the pot. If the container is larger, plant two or three rhizomes in the pot.

If you choose to grow your canna lilies in a container then your job is even easier. Simply, bring the container into a cool, dry area for the winter. It's that simple! If you want to transplant them to a new container, dig up the rhizomes from the old container and place them in the new container in the spring.

In cool climates, canna bulbs are planted each spring, then in fall they are dug up, divided and stored away from the winter chill to be replanted in spring. Even in warmer climates, cannas will need to be dug up and divided every 4-5 years.

Before storing thick, moisture-laden bulbs like canna or elephant ears, it's a good idea to dry the bulbs a bit. This helps to prevent rot during storage. Arrange them on screens or in mesh trays, and place them in a cool, dry place.

What happens if you don't dig up canna bulbs? ›

In warm climates (USDA hardiness zones 8 to 10), canna bulbs can be left in the ground over winter, and the plants perform reliably as perennials, coming back year after year. However, north of zone 8, the bulbs will die if they spend winter in the ground.

In March and early April, it's time to wake up most of the plants that you put into dormancy in the basem*nt or garage for the winter, including tender bulbs like cannas, callas, tuberous begonias, caladiums, dahlias, gladioli, and alocasias, and also subtropical plants like pelargoniums and mandevillas.

Cannas are lifted after the foliage has been blackened by frost: Cut back the stems 5cm (2in) from the base.

Any bulb that is mushy and soft is rotten, and any bulb that is very dry, withered, or disintegrating is beyond its prime. Neither will grow. Toss them into the compost pile and console yourself with the fact that they will contribute to your garden's growth and beauty in a different form.

Let your bulbs dry for two to three weeks after you dig them up. Using newspaper line the bottom of a bucket placing a row of bulbs on top of the newspaper, place another layer of newspaper on the bulbs. Repeat this process until you have filled your bucket. Store the bucket uncovered in a dark, cool place.

When it comes to how to overwinter canna lilies in pots, the process is really simple as you can leave them in their original containers. 'As temperatures drop, keep an eye on the weather as you want to make sure you begin overwintering before the first frost in your area,' says Chris.