As a tropical plant, the flower cane can even grow and thrive in our home gardens. But in order to enjoy it again every year and to be able to admire its flowers for a long time, certain aspects have to be remembered.
When and how should you plant and overwinter Canna in the garden?
Canna should be planted in the garden from mid/late May when frost is no longer expected. It prefers a sunny, wind-protected location and a permeable, nutrient-rich substrate. To overwinter, the tubers should be dug up, freed from soil and stored in sand or dry soil.
When can canna be planted in the garden?
Canna should only be planted in the garden when frost is no longer expected. This is usually the case from mid/end of May, when the Ice Saints have passed by.
Canna can be introduced at home beforehand and then slowly acclimatised to the cool outside temperatures, for example on the balcony. But the time for planting outdoors should not be chosen earlier.
Site and Soil Requirements
When planting in the garden, you should keep the requirements of Canna in mind. This plant has the following wishes:
- full sun to sunny location
- Wind-protected location (especially for tall varieties)
- permeable, nutrient-rich substrate
- Planting distance from 30 to 60 cm
- moist soil environment
Can you overwinter Canna in the garden?
Canna is not frost-resistant. Even a few degrees below zero means the end of the tropical plant. Therefore, it makes sense to make the plant winter-proof if you want to witness the wonderful flowers again next year.
Canna overwinter for lazy people
One way to overwinter Canna is to cover it with leaves, brushwood or bark mulch. This method should be chosen with caution and only if the garden is in a warm region such as a wine growing climate.
Overwintering canna at home
A more proven and safer method is to dig up the tubers and overwinter them. When the leaves of the flower tube have turned brown, carefully dig the bulbs out of the soil. Remove the soil from them and place them in sand or dry soil at home to overwinter.
Tips & Tricks
When planting canna in the garden, don't forget to fertilize. Although Canna requires less fertilization outdoors, a regular supply of nutrients is important for long-lasting and intensive flowering. It is enough to supply the plant with compost (€12.00 on Amazon) once a month.
