They look inconspicuous with their white, yellowish or sand-like color - the rhizomes of the flower reed. But they are the powerhouse of this tropical plant and form the basis of its he alth. Good reasons to take a closer look at them
How to properly plant and overwinter canna tubers?
Canna tubers should be planted 5 cm deep into the soil in May with the eye facing upwards. In autumn, when the leaves are brown, they are dug up, cleaned and stored in sand or soil at 5 to 10°C. From January/February they can be grown for cultivation in warmed soil.
When and how are they planted?
They are not bulbs like many other perennials, but tubers. In contrast to the commercially available canna plants, they are planted in the garden in mid-May.
The rhizomes are planted with the eye facing upwards. The eye is a pink, elongated, pointed area that is clearly visible. The tubers are buried at least 5 cm deep in the soil.
Dig up in autumn and prepare for overwintering
When the flowering period is over, autumn approaches and with it the time for overwintering. If Canna is outdoors, for example in a garden bed, its tubers should be dug up. But be careful: the tubers should not be dug up before the leaves of the plant have turned brown. They extract important nutrients from the leaves that they need in the coming year.
How to do it:
- Cut canna back to the ground
- Prick with spade at a generous distance around the plant
- take out the tubers
- if applicable Remove any remaining soil (for example with a brush)
Overwinter the tubers
After the tubers have been cleaned, they can be transported to their winter quarters to overwinter. Please note the following:
- cool room with temperatures between 5 and 10 °C (basement, garage,)
- Put tubers in sand or soil
- Do not water the soil
- Bulbs should not dry out; If necessary, spray lightly with water from time to time
When and how can you plant the tubers?
The tubers can be planted as early as January/February. To do this, they are stuck in the ground and placed in a warm place, for example near a heater. Occasionally the soil should be slightly moistened. The first shoots will be visible after one to two weeks.
Tips & Tricks
If you have too many tubers left over, you can try out their culinary side. They are edible and should be cooked for a long time before consumption due to their high fiber content.
