Canna/Agapanthus - killed by frost?

I have a canna and an agapanthus that I have grown successfully in pots for the last few years, never having bothered to take them in during the winter months.

However, they suffered quite badly in the very cold weather we had at the beginning of the year and there are no signs of life from them as yet. I'm now starting to wonder whether they may have been killed by the frost.

Can anyone tell me - if indeed they are still alive - when I should expect to see new shoots before I consign them to the compost heap?

Thanks

 

I consigned my agapanthus to the compost heap this week - it too had not shown any signs of life...and I needed the pot for something else! It had never bloomed, so I decided to cut losses and start over. Others may tell you to wait and give it a chance - I couldn't be bothered with something that had never flowered.

There's another thread on plants that haven't survived the harsher than usual winter here.

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/especially-cold-winter-20804.html

Don't know about cannas, except I've read you need to overwinter them somewhere out of the frost.

 

There is still time but I would say if there is no sign of life by May then bin and replace them.

 

Mine are in pots but are shooting again already. My pots are pretty large though and the smaller the pot the more likely total freezing will claim your plants. Fingers crossed, I think the aggs are more likely to survive.

 

I have just checked some two year old Agapanthus at work this morning and noticed some tiny shoots coming up so there is still time for recovery.

 

I shall hold on until May! As you say, I have more faith that the Agapanthus will pull through than the canna. Fingers crossed

 

If you are able to pop the canna out of the pot you can check for signs of life. If its still firm and has some 'pink' bits starting then its fine. If its soft and mushy then its rotten. Its worth re-potting cannas (and other potted plants) regularly as they will use up the nurients with the compost and with fresh stuff will give you a better show. Canna's are also easy to divide.

 

I bet you are delighted Marley .... I lost a massive clump of Agapanthus that I brought the original from the IoW eight years ago. There was no sign of hope as it was mush except for three pieces which I have salvaged. Luckily I have another one thriving which a GC member gave me last year which strangely was not affected and was only half a meter away ... neither were the Freesias which have already bloomed this year and are in between the two clumps ....

None of my Cannas suffered and all are in clay pots in the same 'cold band' as I call it in my garden.