Canna: growing a flower in the garden, photo, care in open ground

Canna is an ornamental perennial that belongs to the family Cannaceae. The first flowers were exported from India, China, South and Central America. It was brought to the European continent by Portuguese ships in the 16th century. The ancient Greek designation can be translated as “reed”, the Latin - “pipe”. An ancient Indian legend tells that the leader of one of the tribes decided to burn the peace treaty in a fire, and a bloody massacre broke out. At the site of the fire, flowers with bloody petals grew, reminiscent of flashes of flame or spilled blood.

Description of the canna flower

The branched rhizomes of the perennial plant spread widely to the sides. Thickened hollow stems from 0.6 to 3 m end in a peduncle. Large leaves in the form of an ellipse or elongated shape have a length from 25 to 80 cm, a width from 10 to 30 cm at the top, sharp, with a smooth surface. The inflorescences and foliage are decorative. The green mass comes in attractive colors, ranging from malachite, maroon, red-brown to lilac.

The inflorescences of the plant, collected in a panicle or brush, are distinguished by a variety of colors. Bloody, golden, soft pink, amber, speckled, bordered, asymmetrical, they resemble a gladiolus or an orchid. Upon fertilization, a three-locular capsule appears.

Features of canna garden

The culture has unique external characteristics and can decorate any garden plot. Cannes has the following features:

The roots of the culture are large. They grow not only in depth, but also in width, so this criterion must be taken into account when planting.
The stems are tall and can reach up to 3 meters.
The stems are strong and fleshy.
The leaves have the shape of an oblong oval.
The stems and leaves are very nutritious and can be used as feed raw materials.
The inflorescences are large, bisexual, and can be red, orange, pink or white.

The flowers can have a two-color color, which is popular among modern gardeners. When planting a plant, it is necessary to take into account that cannas prefer open areas and a large amount of space.

Varieties of cannas

Almost all modern varieties are descended from the Indian species of canna. The cultivated descendants are given the botanical designation Canna hortum.

View	general description	Height, m	Varieties
Crozy	Appeared in 1861. The leaves are malachite or dark burgundy with white. The petals are bent.	0,6-1,6	Livadia: up to 1 m, with blood-crimson flowers 25-30 cm tall, burgundy leaf, blooms from July. America: 1.2-1.4 m, red inflorescence 12 cm across, up to 30-35 cm, lilac leaves, blooms from July. President: up to 1 m, bright burgundy inflorescence up to 30 cm, greenish leaves, blooms from July.
Orchids	Flowers up to 12.5-17.5 cm in diameter, edges in the form of folds. Dark green or lilac-green tone of leaves.	1-2	Andenken an Pfitzer: 1.1-1.4 m, with a panicle inflorescence up to 30 cm, bright red flowers, red streaking, brown-red foliage, blooms from July. Suevia: up to 1 m, bright yellow inflorescence, 12x15 cm in size, dark green leaf, blooms from the end of June. Richard Wallace: up to 1 m, light yellow inflorescence with burgundy traces, 20-23 cm long, malachite-colored leaf, blooms from July.
Deciduous (Small-flowered)	The leaf is malachite, lilac or green-green in color. The flowers are small, up to 6 cm in diameter.	3	Durban: Orange-yellow flowers, striped green leaves.

Prevention

To prevent the plant from being exposed to diseases, the following prevention methods should be followed:

promptly remove weeds that can act as a source of infection;
regularly loosen the soil for air circulation;
when the first symptoms of pests appear, it is necessary to use chemicals;
Before planting, treat the roots with an antiseptic.

The best way against diseases is to follow proper crop care. Timely and proper watering will preserve the plant and promote long-term flowering.

Growing canna in the garden

The flowers are unpretentious and can be successfully grown in the garden and in public places. Reproduction is carried out by dividing the tubers and by sowing seeds.

Crozy

Sowing canna seeds

Typically, plants were cultivated using this method for breeding purposes. Canna seeds of easily germinating varieties for garden plots appeared quite recently, but quickly gained popularity.

Seeds begin to germinate in late January-early February. The durable shell does not allow the flower to germinate quickly.

To speed up the process, they help it collapse. It is recommended to use one of the methods:

treated with boiling water;
keep for 3-4 hours in a thermos with hot water;
bury it in a snowdrift for 2-3 hours or put it on the freezer shelf for 1 hour;
act mechanically.

After this treatment, the seeds are placed in an aqueous solution of a growth stimulator for 24 hours. The prepared seeds are placed in bowls with planting soil to a depth of 0.7-1 cm, after watering they are covered with film and removed for germination, which lasts for a month. At this time, conditions are created in the soil so that its temperature remains at +22 ºC. After 3-4 leaves grow, the seedlings are transferred to separate containers. Flowers develop in them before being transplanted outside. After 3-4 days, the picked seedlings are kept in a room with a temperature of +16...+18 ºC.

Growing from rhizomes

Dividing the rhizome is a reliable way to propagate cannas. It begins in the last ten days of March - the first days of April. The roots, stored in the cellar over the winter, are cleaned and the dried parts are separated. Each is cut into sections, focusing on the number of buds on the tuber. Those who are close do not share.

To prevent infection by fungal diseases, the resulting sections are treated with potassium permanganate (0.2 g per 1 liter of water) or wood ash.

The prepared cuttings are planted in the ground, consisting of equal parts of soil, peat chips and rotted manure. You shouldn't go deep. Germination of the first leaves should be expected in 2-3 weeks. As they appear, the pots are moved to well-lit rooms, where they will be at a temperature of +16...+18 ºC. Under the created conditions, new shoots do not stretch and develop in time. Minor watering and keeping the temperature down is all the care young seedlings need.

Seed processing and preparation

If you want to know how to grow cannas from seeds, then you must understand that you need to carry out at least minimal processing in order to provoke better germination. Cannas have a very strong shell, which is why germination may not only be delayed, but may not occur at all. Therefore, at the very first stage, it is necessary to slightly destroy it to make it easier for the sprout to break through. There are 2 methods by which seeds are usually treated. They are described in more detail below.

Since regular soaking is unlikely to make it easier for the sprout to peck, you can carry out scarification. The procedure involves damaging the shell using sandpaper or simply filing on both sides. It is important to be especially careful here, as there is a risk of damaging the inside, and because of this the sprout will not appear at all. If you are not sure about this method, it is better to use another one.
For example, you can place the seeds in the snow, on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, or simply in cold water for a couple of hours. After the specified time has passed, the grains are again soaked in warm liquid for two hours. Amateur gardeners note that it is better to scald them with boiling water instead of soaking them in warm water. Be careful and try to immediately remove the seeds from it, otherwise they may completely cook. During this procedure, a characteristic cracking sound may be heard. Don't be alarmed, because it's just their shell bursting. Instead of scalding with boiling water, you can also keep them on the battery for about 12 hours.

When to plant cannas

Cannas are transferred to open ground after the end of return frosts. Damaged roots can take a long time to germinate, development lags behind, delaying flowering, and possibly its complete absence.

Deciduous

Soil selection

Planting flowers requires a sunny place, protected from drafts and wind. Canna loves humus-enriched, warm soils. The garden space is prepared in advance. To do this, dig a hole with a diameter of 0.5-0.6 m. The bottom is filled with fresh manure 0.2 m high. Due to it, the rhizome will become warmer, the flower will actively develop and bloom well. Soil is poured on top of the manure. The rhizome is placed in the spilled hole, with the growth point facing upward, and sprinkled with earth. The planting depth of unsprouted rhizomes is no more than 6-9 cm. A distance of 0.5 m is maintained between plants, and 0.3 m between dwarf varieties. The same is maintained between rows in the case of a large number of seedlings. Mulching the planted flowers allows you to protect the plantings from lack of moisture and weed germination. After planting, it takes 2 weeks for sprouts to appear; 1.5-2 months pass before flowering. At temperatures below +15 ºC, the emergence of seedlings is delayed.

Then the flowers require timely watering, loosening of the top layers of soil and fertilizing.

Video: Canna from seeds

For cannas, choose a container 8-10 cm deep or a mini-greenhouse with drainage holes. Soil with a high humus content, previously steamed and disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate, is poured into the container, compacted and watered. Seeds are placed in holes 1-1.2 cm deep according to a 4 x 5 cm pattern, covered with soil and moistened with a spray bottle. The container is covered with film or a special lid and placed in a warm place with a temperature of 22-24o C. Light has no effect on the emergence of seedlings. Sprouts appear within 20-30 days.

When the first shoots appear, the film is removed and the soil between the rows is slightly loosened. At this time, the container must be moved to the brightest place on the windowsill and the room temperature must be maintained at 20-22o C. After 15-20 days, the seedlings must be fed with fertilizer with a high humin content, for example, Gumiful or Potassium Humate.

Picking up seedlings

When they reach 3-4 true leaves, the seedlings dive into separate pots or cups. This is necessary to provide each plant with enough space and nutrients. Pots must have drainage holes. Drainage made of expanded clay, perlite or small pebbles is laid at the bottom. The soil for Cannes is highly fertile and black. The sprouts should not be buried too deep, otherwise they will stop growing. 2 weeks after picking, feed with complex fertilizer with microelements. In the future, Cannes can be planted in a flowerbed in the garden or left at home and cultivated as a tub crop.

Landing of Cannes in open ground

If the Cannes seedlings turn out to be quite well developed, then the plants may bloom this year, and for them you need to choose the brightest place on the site. The soil should be very fertile and loose. Additionally, you need to add manure, peat, humus or compost to the garden bed.

For strong seedlings, prepare planting holes at a distance of 60-80 cm from each other; if the plants are smaller, then they can be planted closer to each other, according to the 40 x 40 or 50 x 50 cm scheme. Seedlings are planted so as not to deepen the growth points . When planting tubers, they are buried 20-25 cm.

How to fertilize cannas

Throughout the growing period, cannas are given additional feeding for timely development. Along with watering, add 2 g of potassium permanganate to a bucket of water (or place granules under each plant). This stimulates the start of flowering. Before flowering, nutrition is applied in the form of a solution of chicken manure and water in a ratio of 1:10. A similar watering is repeated after 2 weeks. Cannas love complex mineral fertilizers sprinkled under each bush. They are mixed with the soil at the time of loosening.

When watering, you need to monitor the amount of water. Excess may create the possibility of an outbreak of fungal diseases.

At the end of the season, the root collars are sprinkled with soil to avoid damage with the onset of cold weather. During the first frosts, pruning is done by 15-20 cm. Digging at the end of September is carried out with a large lump of soil.

Preparing cannes for winter

The crop does not tolerate low temperatures well, so it is necessary to carry out proper harvesting before the onset of frost. To ensure that planting material is preserved throughout the winter:

From mid-August, the watering schedule is reduced to once a week.
In September, humus is added to saturate the roots with the necessary minerals for further storage.
The bushes are earthed up as the temperature begins to drop, this will reduce the risk of damage to the plant.
At the end of September, the stems are cut at a height of 15 cm from the ground.

It is not recommended to leave the stems; they additionally consume nutritional components and lead to depletion of the roots.

Timing for digging up bulbs

Digging up canna roots is carried out in the fall before the onset of severe frosts. The period of digging roots from the ground depends on weather conditions. Most often, the procedure is carried out in early October. The plant, along with a lump of earth, is removed from the soil and placed in a previously prepared container.

Storing canna in winter

At the end of August, the cannas are transplanted into containers, which can be easily brought indoors if there is a threat of frost. The final digging is carried out in the last days of September or the first days of October; the flowers are not frost-resistant. To improve the wintering of cannes, it is important to create an air temperature of +7…+15 ºC. She has no noticeable rest period.

The plant pleases the gardener with its beauty all year round. However, in order for the flowers to enter the blooming stage, it needs to create conditions. For 2 months, cannas are stored in a cool place with little lighting, while reducing watering. After digging, storage is carried out in perlite, sphagnum moss or peat, poured into plastic boxes, at a temperature of +6...+8 ºC. They try to avoid touching the tubers. Twice a month the condition of the rhizomes is checked, if necessary, wetting the materials with which they are covered with water. The damage is removed and the cut area is treated with iodine.

Collecting seeds

It is best to collect seeds at the end of August; the capsules should be dry, brown, but not yet opened. It is advisable to cut several boxes, dry them a little at room temperature, and then carefully open them, collect the seeds, pack them in a paper bag and store them in a cool, dry place.

Rhizomes are usually harvested in the middle or end of September, by which time the entire above-ground part is cut off. Tops are an excellent raw material for compost and warm beds; they can be used to cover strawberry beds for the winter. To do this, the bushes are laid out along the paths and slightly withered in the sun.

Canna at home

Cannas are grown independently or transplanted in the fall from a flower garden into a flowerpot with a diameter of at least 50 cm. To avoid infection of domestic plants, the ground is treated with insecticides in advance. In winter, the flower becomes a bright corner that attracts the eye. To thrive, it requires a lighted place and timely watering. The leaves of the plant are gently wiped several times. After flowering it needs rest. Cut the stem to a height of 10-15 cm and put it in a shady place with a temperature of +10 ºC.

Caring for canna flowers, what do cannas like?

Cannas are perennial plants that cannot survive the Russian winter while in the ground. Therefore, it is important to dig them up for the winter and leave them in a place comfortable for this plant. In all other respects, cannas are not demanding and caring for them is not very difficult.
If you want your flowers to bloom magnificently, then be sure to pay attention to watering this plant. The soil underneath should always be somewhat moist. Of course, there is no need to create a swamp. This can lead to rotting of the tuber. To prevent moisture from evaporating, it is imperative to mulch the soil around the cannas.
Just like high humidity, cannes desperately need oxygen. To saturate the soil with it, the flowers must be periodically weeded and the soil around them loosened.
This plant needs to be fed two to three times per season. Cannas need phosphorus fertilizers. Fewer fertilizers based on nitrogen can be applied. These flowers are responsive to foliar feeding. Mineral fertilizers can be applied by spraying the leaves with a solution of complex fertilizers, which are sold at any gardening store.
If you are not a fan of “chemistry,” then replace store-bought fertilizers with chicken droppings or slurry. But, at the same time, you need to understand that you will not be able to completely replace balanced mineral fertilizers that are specially designed for flowering plants. As mentioned above, cannas mainly need phosphorus, while these plants can “take” other minerals even from the poorest soil.
Cannas are resistant to most plant diseases and therefore are rarely infected. A big danger for this plant is rotting of the roots due to excessive watering. High humidity can also lead to damage to the buds of this flower. The situation can only be corrected by removing and burning the affected flowers.
Sometimes the leaves of this plant can be infected with rust fungus. At the same time, they become covered with spots of a characteristic color. You can get rid of this problem by spraying the leaves with a solution of potassium permanganate.
If black dots appear on canna buds, this indicates infection with the variegated leaf virus. There is no cure for this disease. The affected parts of the plant must be removed and burned.
If the cannas are attacked by caterpillars, the flowers must be sprayed with special insecticides.

Problems when growing cannas

The flower plant is susceptible to diseases and various types of pests.

Disease/pest	Symptoms	Corrective measures
Viral diseases	Yellow stripes develop along the veins and on the leaf. Then faded spots appear, plant development is delayed, and flowering is delayed.	There is no cure. Plants should be dug up and destroyed.
Fungal diseases: rust and gray mold	Orange spots all over the plant. Brown spots on the flower.	Adjust the humidity of the soil and surrounding air. Increase circulation. Adjust temperature. Spray the leaves: ¼ teaspoon of chlorothalonil per 1 liter of water. Repeat the procedure after 10 days.
Phytoplasma disease	The leaves turn yellow, wrinkle, and grow deformed.	Destroy the diseased plant.
Leaf rollers	The appearance of holes in leaves eaten by insects	Set traps or collect by hand.
Spider mite	Yellow thickenings on the leaves.	Treat with horticultural oil, insecticidal soap or solution. Periodically pick off the old lower leaves. Reduce watering and nitrogen fertilization.
Thrips	Clear or yellow spots.

Classic flower problems and treatment

Like all types of flowers, cannas have a large number of diseases that can lead to a lack of color and complete death of the plant.

Viral diseases

Diseases of the viral type rarely form on the plant, however, in the absence of proper care and low amounts of nutrients, the plant weakens and can be attacked by viruses.

The most common types of viral infections that can occur on a plant are:

Cucumber mosaic. This type of disease is carried by harmful insects. Also, improper care and the presence of weeds contribute to the transmission of the virus. The virus quickly spreads through healthy plants and leads to infection of the entire area. To combat a viral infection, it is necessary to take preventive measures. Once infected, the disease cannot be treated, and the damaged crop is eliminated. In order to prevent the virus from manifesting itself, it is necessary to promptly combat aphids and disinfect all garden tools before processing the crop.
Variegation - the virus appears as black spots that form on the leaves and stems. In the absence of timely treatment, it slows down plant growth and leads to a decrease in the formation of buds. To remove this type of disease, it is necessary to remove damaged leaves and sprinkle the cutting area with charcoal or ash.

Getting rid of fungus

Among fungal diseases it is necessary to highlight the following:

Rust fungus - appears with frequent watering. Appears in the form of spots on brown leaves. The affected plant quickly dries out and dies. To prevent disease, it is necessary to maintain proper watering and regularly loosen the soil.
Gray rot - manifests itself in the form of plaque on the root and stem. The reason for the formation of this type of disease is soil moisture. The infected plant becomes covered with brown spots, the leaves quickly turn yellow and fall off. To reduce fungus, it is necessary to maintain a distance between plants and water directly under the root.

Phytoplasma disease

The disease most often manifests itself after an attack by harmful insects, leafhoppers. It manifests itself as yellowing of leaves and deformation of leaves and inflorescences. Once the disease appears, it cannot be completely cured, but the use of chemicals with chlorothalonil prevents the problem from forming.

Leaf rollers

The pest very often attacks the plant. Small larvae can be observed on canna leaves, which cause holes to appear in the leaves. Pests feed on the leaves and cause them to turn yellow.

The presence of pests is manifested by the following symptoms:

the appearance of black spots on the plant;
the presence of butterflies and small larvae;
the leaves become limp and curl into a tube.

To remove the pest, you can use special chemicals, such as Fitoverm.

Thrips

Pests are small in size and immediately invisible on the plant. Insects and their larvae feed on leaves and stems. When there is a large concentration of pests, the plant withers and dies. To remove thrips, it is necessary to plant marigolds around the perimeter, and also spray the plant with preparations such as Actellik and Vertimek.

Spider mite

The pest feeds on plant sap and affects not only the leaves, but also the stems of the crop. When attacked by a mite, a web appears and the plant becomes weak. Places affected by ticks have a large number of holes and gradually die off. To remove the pest, it is necessary to remove the damaged areas and treat the plant with the following preparations: Fitoverm, Actofit.

Important. To prevent the plant from being exposed to this type of disease, it is necessary to use phosphorus and sulfur fertilizers .

Mr. Summer Resident recommends: canna in the landscape

Cannas are good both in group plantings and planted individually, which is why they are loved by landscape designers. It is good to plant against the background of low-growing plants: marigolds, coleus, cineraria. Combine with kochia, perilla and petunia.

Orchids

When planting with other flowers, provide a central position by placing medium-sized and low flowers around. When planted in groups, they are placed in the form of wide and long ridges.

Summer balconies, loggias and terraces are decorated with flowers, planted in a flowerpot or large tub.

Requirements for growing conditions

In order for the plant to delight with its flowering, it is necessary to properly follow the care and methods of growing the crop.

Illumination

The plant prefers sunny places. With a lack of sun, the plant reduces its development and does not bloom. The crop should not be planted near large buildings that may block sunlight. When planting seedlings on window sills, preference should be given to the south side.

Temperature

The plant does not tolerate low temperatures and may die. The flower begins to develop only after the air temperature reaches 22 degrees.

Required soil composition

The flower prefers nutritious soil. In order for the flower to develop well and bloom profusely, it is necessary to mix two parts of soil with one part of humus, wood ash, peat and sand. This composition will accelerate the development of the root and will saturate the plant with the necessary components throughout the season.

Tuberous propagation

A more reliable way to get a flowering plant. To do this, at the beginning of March, it is necessary to divide the canna tubers into parts with one large or several small buds, and place them in the ground so that the buds are located horizontally. A small layer of sand is poured on top, which needs to be watered regularly. Germination should occur at a temperature of 20-24 degrees.

When the first leaves appear and there is not enough space for them to develop, it is necessary to transplant individual plants into pots and place them in a room with a temperature not exceeding 16 degrees until planting in open ground.

Canna tubers can be planted immediately (without growing in pots) in the garden or flower bed, but then the plant may not bloom this season - it will bloom only next year.

Storing cannas in winter

For proper winter storage of cannas, a room with a constant temperature of 7 to 10 degrees Celsius is required. A dry basement or greenhouse will do. If there is no basement, the roots can be placed on the balcony, keeping them there until stable sub-zero temperatures. With the onset of frost, flowers will have to find the coolest place in the apartment.

The soil in the pots with the roots located there needs to be slightly moistened periodically to avoid loss of moisture by the roots.

Roots stored in boxes or boxes can be viewed from time to time in order to detect rotting areas in time. They also need to be sprayed with a spray bottle so that they do not dry out and wither.

Know! During winter storage, canna roots must be protected from rodents; to do this, keep the roots themselves in plastic boxes, near which bait should be placed or mousetraps placed.

Outdoor care

Such a plant is planted in open ground only in the southern regions. Places are chosen with high illumination and protection from strong winds. Planting occurs in April; there are no special requirements for the soil mixture. The soil should be loose and not allow large amounts of water to stagnate, be well drained and fertilized. A hole is first dug in the ground: the planting depth does not exceed ten centimeters. Plants are placed at a distance of up to 1.5 m and covered with soil on top.

Care involves periodic watering, which is especially important during flowering. Several days after watering, the soil needs to be loosened a little to remove all weeds. As the crop fades, the shoots and inflorescences that arise are eliminated. This will give the crop a more graceful appearance and stimulate the inflorescences to develop new shoots.

Growing seedlings is considered the most popular option. Landing Features:

To begin with, the rhizomes are sorted out and divided into separate parts. The cut areas are well processed.
The roots are dried.
They are placed in a container, and then calcined sand is poured on top.
Watering is carried out every other day.
The roots grow best on a sunny window in an apartment, especially if the container is located above the radiator and is regularly heated.
With proper care and planting, the plant sprouts after just a few weeks.
After the leaves appear, the crop is transplanted into a new container, where it continues to grow as seedlings.

This method of growing seedlings is considered more successful and helps to obtain a stronger crop that can bloom for a long time. In cool climates, when planting unsprouted rhizomes into the soil itself, there is a high chance that the flower simply will not have time to bloom.

Seedlings are planted in the ground at the end of May. At this time, the soil should be warm and you should be sure that frost will not return. By this time, the seedlings should have grown well and become stronger.

It is best to plant the plant in pre-fertilized soil. Organic preparations or minerals are used as fertilizer. To significantly accelerate the growth of a crop, various agricultural techniques are used. The method of creating optimal thermal conditions has become more widespread.

Aftercare will include watering once every ten days. The crop is watered using the root method. Over time, fertilizers are added to the soil to stimulate crop growth.

When the crop blooms, it is very important to ensure good watering.