Canna help

How long is always.
They can get by in mild winters in pots, but you are risking it should the pot freeze.

 

It is a risk and move the pots nearer to the house, go to see if my Cannas and Dahlias come back. Pete I see you are in mid-Kent not a million miles from me in Bexleyheath, where I hazard to say it maybe a couple of degrees warmer. I know I am truly running the gauntlet, you mentioned Banana plant, which I would dearly love to grow, but also know my limitations.

 

Yes you could well be a bit milder than me, nearer London.
Banana is better in the ground rather than potted. Not impossible in containers but it would need to be big.

 

Homebase were selling of pretty big pot off for quite cheap, which I am tempted, if still available, but one it is in-situ this one would be impossible to move. If it is in the ground, then it cannot be moved to shelter in the winter. I think Monty Don wrapped up one really well in winter 2023 and it came back the next year. I have been tempted to do the same myself, as it is a spectacular plant and looks great, but it does need a lot of Mollie Coddling.

 

The only one I consider reliably hardy is Musa basjoo, mostly of the others are more tender and less likely to survive.

I just wrap the base and give a good thick mulch, a lot depends on how cold it gets each winter and how well established it is, once the stems get to about 3in thick I find they can survive a minus 5c overnight.
Once established they will come back from the roots if all the top growth is killed.

 

Okay my worst nightmare would be having 16 viable Cannas divided by 4 mature plants. I divided one in the Autumn.

So Peter I kind of took you and kind of held off, but was curious so just divided the one for now, I used my expensive B&Q potting knife to no success, then used a cheap Lidl’s hand saw this got the Canna out, had the hose ready as earlier suggested but not needed in the end. I am not really that concerned if these 4 cannas didn’t make it. The other 2 I will do at the end of March, when I’m next on leave!

 

So a bit of an update. Luck has been on my side, the cannas I divided up in February have made it, I take it this has been for no other reason it has been very mild, this could’ve kind so easy the other way. The 3 cannas I did not touch, 1 was completely unviable and had rotted away in the pot, but that would mean it is good news for the other 2 and today chopped these up to make 5 more, so reckon I have 9 of the same canna now. I have 3 on order and 3 to plant on from tubers. A gorgeous plant.