Watering and fertilizing are the two essential aspects of canna care. But even if cutting doesn't play a major role, it can become significant. You can find out when and how it should be carried out here.
How do I cut canna effectively?
Canna pruning involves dividing rhizomes for propagation, cutting leaves and stems in the fall once they have yellowed and dried out, and removing spent petals in the summer to encourage new flower production. Be sure to use clean tools.
Cutting the rhizomes
If the rhizomes of Canna are outside the soil, they can be cut. The purpose of this is to increase the canna. All you need to do is take a spade or a knife and cut through the rhizomes. Every piece that is to become a plant should have an eye (sprouting point).
Cutting the rhizomes has the side effect of giving an individual plant more strength because secondary shoots are eliminated. Therefore, the cut is worthwhile if the flower tube is getting old, has multiplied heavily via runners and needs to be rejuvenated.
Cut the stems and leaves
The leaves and stems of Canna should be cut in autumn. But be careful: you should not cut them until they have yellowed or look brown and dried out. Until then, they will produce important nutrients for next year's flowers. These nutrients enter the rhizomes and are stored there.
How to proceed:
- Cut back leaves and stems to 5 cm
- Put plant parts on the compost or dispose of them
- Time for editing: towards the end of October
- then: dig up rhizomes and overwinter
Cutting the flowers
The flowers of Canna do not necessarily have to be cut off. It is enough to pick off the withered petals over the course of the summer. This has the advantage that new flowers then appear on the stem and the flowering period lasts until autumn.
Attention: Basically, the flowers of Canna are not very suitable for cutting in vases or bouquets. If they are removed from the plant, they do not last long and wither quickly. It is better to leave them on the plant where they will be present for a long time.
Tips & Tricks
When cutting the flower tube, always use equipment or tools that have been cleaned. If there are sources of disease such as powdery mildew spores on them, they can infect the previously he althy plant.
