How to store cannas at home during winter

In search of unique exotic plants for home cultivation You might want to consider cannas. This flower is characterized by its undemanding nature and graceful appearance. However, in harsh conditions with severe winter frosts, the plant can quickly perish. To avoid this, you need to understand how to store cannas at home during the winter.

The digging procedure

Every tropical gardener should know how to preserve cannas indoors during the winter. This plant is unable to withstand sub-zero winter temperatures, so any frost can be fatal—the flowers will die. To successfully protect cannas from the cold, they should be dug up in the fall and stored in suitable conditions until spring.

However, removing the plant from the soil is only necessary for those living in colder regions. In the south, where winter temperatures reach -5 degrees Celsius, the plant can be protected with spruce branches or a layer of pine needles. Before doing this, trim off the foliage and flowering stems.

If winter frosts are more intense and drop below -6 degrees Celsius, digging up the cannas is a must. It's crucial to do this before the first night frosts. Otherwise, the cannas' root system will freeze and rot. In temperate climates, the plants are dug up in the second ten days of September. In the north, this is done as early as late summer. Pre-winter harvesting is one of the key requirements for successfully growing cannas.

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Storage in winter is carried out in the following ways:

1. In wooden structures located in a cellar or basement, the flowers are stored as grown roots.
2. In the refrigerator compartment.
3. In a flower pot on the windowsill.
4. As a houseplant.

This process is carried out in dry, sunny weather, carefully digging up the tubers with a shovel. It's important to exercise extreme caution, otherwise the plant's fragile root system could be damaged.

Storage in the cellar

Every gardener enjoys a lush, blooming canna. Winter storage is a key step in growing this exotic plant. If you're considering storing it in a cellar, it's crucial to take a responsible approach to preparation, which includes the following:

1. Checking the cellar for compliance with certain requirements.
2. Removing tubers from the soil.
3. Moving dug up flowers to a storage location.

You can store colorful flowers not only in the cellar, but also in the basement. In this case, it is important to take care of the following conditions:

1. Stable temperature that does not drop below zero.
2. The humidity level is 90-95 percent.
3. Reliable protection against mold and infections.
4. Cleanliness of the premises.
5. Free access to plants to check their condition.

Failure to follow even one of these guidelines could jeopardize the continued care of these exotic flowers. The most dangerous pest for these luxurious plants is mold. It spreads rapidly, attacking the plant's root system. To get rid of mold, simply follow this plan:

1. All unnecessary things and objects must be removed from the cellar, and then the mold must be thoroughly removed from the walls and floor covering using a scraper.
2. Any rotten boards should be replaced with new ones.
3. The walls should be coated with plaster and anti-fungal paint. Then, wait until the paint has dried thoroughly.
4. To prevent the appearance of new mold, it is necessary to regularly monitor the condition of the cellar and remove any formations using copper sulfate or any other antifungal agent.
5. Preventive measures include regular cleaning of the premises before introducing vegetables and plants, as well as warming them up during severe frosts.

Preparing plants

Cannas should be prepared for the upcoming winter immediately after the first frost, which is usually in late September or early October, depending on the weather conditions in your region. To do this, carefully trim the stems, leaving about 10-15 centimeters. Then, leave the plants in the ground for a few more days, liberally treating the cut areas with a fungicide. This preventative measure will protect the plant from various diseases.

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Next, dig the tuber out of the ground, remove any remaining soil, and place it under a shelter to dry for another 3-4 days. There's no need to remove all the soil; gently shaking off the roots is sufficient. Some gardeners believe it's best to store cannas with their root ball, but this isn't essential.

As the roots dry out, the tubers can be moved to a basement or cellar and placed in a box. For maximum protection, they can be covered with compost, peat, sawdust, or sand. Maintaining a humidity level of 50-60% is recommended.

During storage, constantly monitor the condition of the flowers. Every four weeks, inspect the root system. If the roots are dry, it's best to spray the soil. If there are rotten areas, remove the affected tubers; otherwise, the rot will quickly spread to healthy tubers. If the lesions are minor, they should be cut off completely down to healthy tissue and then treated with iodine or charcoal.

It's also important to inspect nearby tubers, as they may also be affected by the disease. Ultimately, the cause of the rot must be determined. It's often related to a sudden change in temperature or high humidity. By eliminating this problem, you can successfully preserve the flowers until spring.

Maintenance in the apartment

Not all gardeners have a spacious cellar to store their beloved cannas. In this case, winter storage of the tubers can be done directly in the apartment. To do this, use one of the following methods:

1. Storage in pots.
2. Cold storage.
3. Storage as a houseplant.

If the first option is considered, it differs slightly from storing in a cellar. As soon as the first frosts appear, the plant should be cleared of dead leaves and dried flower stalks, and then placed in a pot with soil. This method is suitable for growing the plant in an attic, an enclosed balcony, or even an apartment. In the latter case, find a cool space, preferably near the balcony door, away from radiators. Water the plant once every 1-1.5 months.

When storing cannas in the refrigerator, follow a simple preparation principle. To do this, trim the flowers and stems to 5-10 centimeters, then treat the cut areas with iodine. After digging up the roots and rinsing them under running water, soak them for 24 hours in a solution of potassium permanganate or a special disinfectant solution, available at a garden supply store.

After 24 hours, the flowers can be removed from the container with the solution and dried. Afterward, they should be wrapped in damp newspaper and sealed in a plastic container, which should eventually be placed in the refrigerator. Make sure to poke several ventilation holes in the container.

Once a month, open the container and check the cannas' root system for rot or drying out. This method is suitable for those with multiple refrigerators or a small number of cannas, as storing them requires a lot of space. In early April, the tubers are removed from their containers and prepared for planting.

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Flower pot

If you want to keep your cannas as houseplants, you'll need to prepare pots of the appropriate size. This method allows you to maintain them both in dormant and active growth states. The first option involves moving the plant to a glassed-in balcony, veranda, or loggia. The key is to ensure a stable temperature in this room, ranging from 12 to 15 degrees Celsius. Water the plant no more than once every two weeks. Avoid overwatering the soil, as this can lead to rotting.

If you want to enjoy canna blooms even in winter, place the plant in a spacious pot and prune only dead and dry parts. Fill the bottom of the container with the same fertile garden soil you grew the plant in during the summer. You can also prepare a suitable mixture of sawdust, peat, and sand, mixed in equal parts.

The culture requires abundant sunlight., so it's best to place it on a south- or east-facing window. This way, the flowering period will last until mid-December. When stored this way, the plant needs to be watered once a month and fertilized with appropriate fertilizer.

Spring planting

If your flowers have successfully overwintered in a cellar or apartment, and spring is just around the corner, it's time to begin preparing them for outdoor planting. If they overwintered in a pot, harden them off in early April. To do this, take the plants out onto an open terrace or balcony and then return them indoors at night. If stored in a cellar, basement, or refrigerator, remove the roots and separate them according to the number of new shoots (each root should have two shoots or healthy buds).

The final transplant of cannas to the open ground occurs at the beginning of the summer season. To ensure the flowers successfully establish themselves in the new conditions and provide the gardener with abundant blooms, when choosing a planting site, choose a slightly shaded or sunny spot with good, fertile soil.

Immediately before planting, dig a hole and then add water. Only then can you begin planting the flower. If you follow these basic rules, this colorful exotic plant will begin blooming profusely as early as July or August. The timing of the appearance of the flowers depends on both climate conditions and the variety.

Storing cannas over winter isn't difficult. You can protect these flowers from frost in a cellar, on a glazed balcony, in the attic, in a city apartment, and even in the refrigerator. There are many options and methods for protecting plants from winter frosts. All you need to do is choose the right option and begin preparation. Successful overwintering depends on proper preparation, choosing the right location, and regular inspection. Once all the rules are followed, you can be sure of lush and beautiful blooms when the warmer season returns.