The flower cane can not only thrive outdoors in the garden. If you have a large pot, you can plant it there. But what needs to be taken into account when planting and handling?
What should you consider when planting and caring for cannas in pots?
To plant a canna in a container, choose dwarf cannas, a pot at least 40 cm wide, a sunny location and a suitable soil mix. Caring for cannas in pots requires regular watering, fertilizing and overwintering indoors.
Suitable varieties for keeping in containers
Not all canna varieties are suitable for keeping in containers. It is best to choose dwarf cannas. These usually do not grow higher than 90 cm. Recommended varieties include 'Ambassador' and 'City of Portland'.
Planting time for keeping containers
Basically, you can plant canna in a pot all year round. However, it is recommended to plant the plant or its tubers in spring and place them outside, for example on the balcony or terrace. As long as there is still frost at night, Canna has to be settled back in in the evening. This light-requiring tropical plant is less suitable as a houseplant.
What location and soil do cannas need in the pot?
Cannas are considered heat-loving and like to seek out direct sun. Therefore, a full sun to sunny location should be selected for the canna in the pot.
On the balcony, a spot facing south and protected by the balcony overhang is ideal. If Canna is protected from rain, it blooms almost continuously. On the terrace or elsewhere, good locations include in front of house walls or under an eaves.
Canna should ideally be placed in a pot made of clay (€19.00 on Amazon) or terracotta. This should have a minimum width of 40 cm. The plant has the following demands on the soil:
- good drainage
- lots of nutrients
- moderate humus content
- preferably a mixture of clay, sand and peat
- humid environment
How should you care for cannas in a pot?
Cannas in pots don't need much different care than cannas in the garden. Only the frequency of watering and fertilizing increases. To overwinter, all you need to do is cut down the canna before the first frost and place it indoors.
Tips & Tricks
When planting a canna bulb in a container, make sure that the eye of the bulb is facing upwards. Otherwise the plant will have a hard time sprouting.
