A plant that originally comes from the tropics requires different handling than a specimen from home. The flower tube is undemanding in itself. But especially when planting, mistakes can happen that cannot be undone later
When and how should I plant Canna?
Depending on the species, canna should be planted as a rhizome in May or as an early plant in June. Choose a sunny, warm and protected location. Loosen the soil to a depth of 30-40 cm, plant the tubers 5-7 cm deep and ensure a distance of 30-60 cm between the plants. Watering and mulching are recommended.
Planting time – rhizome or plant?
The time when canna should be planted varies. Planting time depends on whether you have a rhizome or an early plant.
In the case of a rhizome: Plant it outdoors or in a pot on the balcony in May. It is important that there is no longer any risk of frost. Otherwise Canna will freeze. The rhizome is welcome to be advanced. You should only plant a pre-grown canna plant from the hardware store or nursery in early summer around mid-June.
Plant in the pot or outdoors
Canna can grow both outdoors and in containers. Canna should not be planted outdoors until mid-May at the earliest. In a pot on the balcony or terrace, the plant can be placed in the sun during the day as early as March if the temperatures are above 10 °C.
Suitable location and procedure for planting
The location that should be offered to the flower tube should ideally be in full sun, warm and protected. The brighter and warmer the better. A place on the balcony protected from wind and rain is advantageous. The flowers last longer there.
The soil is loosened to a depth of 30 to 40 cm before planting. Compost (€12.00 at Amazon) can be added to the substrate from a depth of 10 cm. The tubers of Canna are planted 5 to 7 cm deep in the soil. The eye must point upwards. Then the tubers are covered with a soil with the following characteristics:
- nutrient-rich
- permeable
- loamy
- moist
Tips & Tricks
Don't forget to keep a reasonable distance from neighboring plants. Depending on the variety, a distance of between 30 and 60 cm should be maintained. After planting, heavy watering and mulching is recommended.
