Canna 2012

..lol....yes i was thinking that I`ve never sent you any lathyrus....sorry ...that what i get by working so much .
have you got any picture of you canna seedling ?

 

Test results:

After the boiling water/soak period approx 50% of the seeds (at top of pic) had swollen to the same size of one that had been filed (in centre)



Out of 8 seeds sown the 7th one has just shown, so they take longer than ones with the seed coating filed off (all up a while ago).

 

It does make scarification easier though Scrungee.......

Being a Canna virgin this year, I did the hot water soak and scarified.

 

Sal - I note that you are growing both altensteinii and tuerckheimii. I wuld love to know later on if there is any difference between them.

They are said to be the same, but Bilbo altensteinii were definately taller than my tuerckheimii - so I would love to know if that is a real effect of perhaps its just that he is warmer than me.

 

Apparently the leaves are different and the tuerckheimii almost impossible to flower in UK , while the altensteinii should flower in the first year with no problem , same story with the musagrande and the edilus both tall cannas , really looking forward for wich one will look better and perform .

 

I've grown altensteinii for a number of years and always got it to flower in its first year from seed whilst attaining heights of between 6 & 10ft..

I've not grown tuerckheimii so can't compare, so I will be interested in your results Sal

 

Sal - thank you - most interesting. Tuerckheimii and altensteinii are usually quoted as alternative names for the same plant. But last year my tuerckheimii had a good early start in a light box and was fed very hard. The culms were enormous but it never went above about 5 feet and never flowered. So it does sound as if there is a difference.

 

Those are looking great Armandii though I had doubts seeing the first Images...

Harry, those look good strong plants...nice one!!

OMG, the red Canna, I hope mine is as red...beauties Sal, thanks to all for sharing their Images!

Hydrophonics.......

........Hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture and is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions, in water, without soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel, mineral wool, expanded clay or coconut husk.

 

The Cannas I grew from rhizomes are all doing well . I planted them as Kristen recommended in the clumps I had dug up in November. They are all showing about 10 shoots now after 3 weeks. The one I left in a container is now over 2 feet tall with 14 shoots , it will look great this summer
Now I was very careful with them last year , but I think they are a little hardier than I thought . After this cold spell will it be safe to move them to my potting shed - loads of light - and I have a paraffin heater in it to keep temp above 5°c Also when will it be safe to put them outside before planting ?

TIA

 

I would put them outside, in a sheltered area, on mild days, if you can. The light will be better than in your shed (however light it is ). After a week leave them out on mild nights too (if temperature is forecast say 6C or higher, that will allow a couple of degrees error in the forecast, put some fleece over them if you are uncertain). After that only bring them in on cold nights. Having them outside will harden them up, and make more stocky plants.

 

Thanks Kristen , there is a cold spell forecast for end of next week . I'll put them out after that - and keep an eye on the night temp !

 

What temperature should my Canna plants (grown from seed this year) be kept at? The greenhouse is kept at 12 C minimum, but is getting extremely cramped and I wondered if the could go into a poly tunnel that is kept frost free by a paraffin heater.

Next question is regarding potting up. I've recently moved them from 70 x 70mm into 80mm dia. pots so I'm now wondering about what sort of size pots they will need throughout the remainder of the growing season (I have no borders - only containers at home).

And finally when/what/how should I be feeding them?

 

Hi Scrungee, I've always potted mine on as soon as the roots begin to spiral if that makes sense, I don't let them become too root bound, I carry on this process until I have individual plants in 1 litre pots (although this would depend on how vigorous the variety is) by the time it comes for them to be planted out or potted into large pots; which for me is when they are hardened off and there is no risk of frost during May.

I would try and keep them at a minimum of 10 degrees until you start hardening them off, then they will take slightly lower nightime temps.

I only start to feed mine liquid feed once they are hardened off and in 'full' active growth (until then the compost which I add a little extra feed when potting on should provide enough feed) but once I do, I feed more than the usual recommendations, Cannas are greedy and will respond impressivelly (well C.altensteinni did ) to excessive feed.

I've grown a lot of Cannas in pots and the giant altensteinni has done well for me in pots, last year I grew 10ft plants in 10 litre pots (1 plant to a pot) or 3 plants in a 40 litre pot, they will need extra water in pots but grow equally as well, infact they usually get going more quickly as the roots are warmer too from the sun.

Hope this helps a little..

 

Hi Scrungee
Kristen replied to a temp question from me a few posts above . I am keeping mine in the house though as we have some cold nights over the next week.
http://www.weathercast.co.uk/world-...DtvcHRfdHlwZT1jaXR5JmFtcDtzcmVkaXJlY3Q9LTE%3D
I fed mine with Miracle Gro then tomato feed last year ,when ever I felt like it , and they looked pretty good at the end of the season

 

Well no updates on the Cannas from anyone for a month ! Hope all are doing well
I have just moved mine from being in the GH for 10 days to outside , its quite warm at night for the next few days. I plan to plant them in early June after I lift my Tulip bulbs.
The pic below is my youngest grandchildren who were admiring granpas "Jungle" . Its a C. Tropicana that I left in the container over winter , and brought it out mid March. The stems started to show after 3 days ! It must have over 12 shoots this year , really pleased with it. There is no way I am lugging this in and out of the house to harden it off ! End of May out it goes .