If you love the splendor of canna flowers in summer and have already planted several varieties of it, your fingers might at some point be itching to cross these plants with each other. It's fun and provides surprises!
How do you cross Cannas?
To cross cannas, you will need a cotton swab to wipe pollen from one canna flower and gently transfer it to the seed stalk of another canna flower. Crossed canna seeds should be harvested in late fall when the fruits break open and release the ripe seeds.
Why is it worth crossing a Canna?
When cannas are crossed with each other, the result can be completelynew varieties that may not yet exist anywhere in the world.
The new varieties can differ from the parent plants in their shape, color, he alth and growth, for example. This makes crossing an exciting affair, especially if you don't know exactly how the genetic makeup is passed on. With careful observation and appropriate specialist knowledge, you can specifically cross Cannas with each other and get a predicted result.
How to cross Cannas?
There are two methods of crossing cannas. On the one hand, you can leave the playing field to nature. This means that you leave the fertilization of the flowers toinsects such as bumblebees, wasps, bees and flies. To do this, for example, place or plant two cannas right next to each other. The results of this method are relatively uncertain.
On the other hand, you can specifically intervene in the crossing by pollinating the flowersby hand yourself. The seeds can be harvested and sown later
What is the first step if you want to cross Cannas?
If you want to cross a canna yourself, you will need acotton swab. This is used to gently brush thepollen from the stamen of a canna flower. This can usually happen when the canna is blooming between July and September.
How to complete Canna crossing?
Next, doFertilization. Now go to the other canna with the cotton swab that was previously covered with pollen. There you carefully place the pollen particles on the seed stalk of one of the flowers. It is then advisable to mark and label the plants that have been crossed with each other if you have several cannas and do not want to confuse them with each other later.
When and how to harvest the seeds of the crossed canna?
The last step is toharvest theseed podsof the crossed Canna. They contain new genetic material and can give you the pleasure of new Canna varieties grant. The seeds of the Canna fruit usually ripen in late autumn. They should only be used for propagation and sown the following year, as the lighting conditions and temperatures are unfavorable beforehand.
Tip
Wait until the seeds are really ripe after crossing the canna
You should not be too hasty in harvesting the seeds of the crossed canna. Wait for the fruit to break open and release the ripe seeds. Otherwise there is a risk that you will harvest immature seeds and they will not be able to germinate later. Then the crossing was in vain.
