I bought 5 canna roots(I think they are called rhizomes) from Walmart. I planted them in containers.One had a green shoot coming out.I planted the one with the shoot on a 8" diameter pot and two each two other containers with potting soil.Also watered them after planting. Do I need to put in any fertilizer? Any other tip for helping them grow? How long does it take for these to bloom? I just hope they grow. I do manage to kill a lot of plants. :-?
Tina, At the bottom of each page of gardenstew forums is a link named Plant Search Tool. You can enter in the name Canna and find many sites with probably more information than you need on them. Personally, I just stick mine in the ground, watch them grow and bloom then divide them every two or three years. I have never grown them in pots.
I grew some Canna's in pots last year. I learned very quickly how fast they multiply! They filled the pots quickly to the point of disfiguring the pots! Make sure you use BIG pots!!! I don't think I ever fertilized them and they did very well.
Cannas pretty much take care of themselves, I don't fertilize either. I use leaf mold and oak leaves as mulch so this does provide some nutrients. I grew a dwarf variety in a pot one year and it did good. I put it in the ground when it outgrew the pot and it didn't do as well. I think it will go back in the pot this year.
Unless it is some kind of real dwarf Canna you are going to need some bigger pots. I grow them a lot in containers and have over wintered them in the semi-heated garage. I also keep a couple in the Conservatory but in mid to late winter I cut them back to the base.
I have Canna's in lots of places never have trouble getting them to grow,Just stick them in the ground ans let them grow.Mine are killed back in the winter but star out in the spring with know help.
