perennial > CANNA > SOWING

IN THIS usher

CANNA GUIDES

many canna seedlings in small plastic pots

Container GrowingDivisionGrowing From SeedOverwinteringPruning

Cannas , often phone ‘ Canna lily ’ , are tropic flora with brainy dark-green foliage that can only be discover as profuse and plush .

Though seeker of rich green shapely foliage would be beguile of Cannas , so too would those who prize large peak – which have curved and curl petals and are frequently found in vivacious subtlety of the warm spectrum from yellow-bellied through Bolshevik , and are often bi - coloured .

black seeds of canna lily shown lying on a potting bench

Cannas are almost always sold as rhizomes or potted plants .

Seeds will be unvoiced to come by because these flora do not raise dependable from come , for which reason , plants develop from seeds have unpredictable flowers that are sometimes evenmorestriking .

However , if you have collected seeds from your garden Cannas or obtained them from a friend , you may certainly grow new plants from seed .

a packet of canna tuerckheimii seeds with the label ‘Indian Shot’ - ‘Half Hardy Perennial’

“ Cannas are good to seed because they are sluttish , look exotic and you usually get a prime in the first class , ” shares Exotic Plant Expert Will Purdom .

Canna semen are smooth , sinister and round , as if shiny peppercorns .

I grew Cannas from seed earlier this year and I must say it does have a couple of drawbacks :

hand shown scarifying seeds on sandpaper

But you’re able to do it – we spell out a aboveboard operation for growing Cannas from germ :

This unconscious process is explain in more depth below –

Canna seeds should be prepped about eight weeks before the last expected frost .

black canna seeds sat in boiling water in a glass

Prepping is necessary , otherwise seeded player will not pullulate .

1) Scarify The Seeds

Using a carpenter ’s deal file or a Swiss Knife file , scarify the seeds by filing their hard coats ( the testa ) on one side until the underlying white part ( endosperm or embryo , count on which side you are file from ) is clearly visible .

I did n’t actually have much circumstances using the sandpaper method so I had to place the germ in a chalk of boiling water ( yes , they arethattough ! ) .

Scarify about twice as many source as you would care to see germinated – about half of mine were too bad , even for roil water !

canna seedling shown in a dark green propagation tray

2) Put Seeds In Water

Drop the scarify seeds into a container of warm water and result them there for about 48 hours .

3) Monitor For Germination

From 48 hour onward , keep checking the seed to see which 1 have evolve .

You cognise a germ has burgeon forth if you see a diminutive whitish thing ( the seed leaf ) come forth from the top .

4) Prepare The Pots

Put potting soil with compost or any ample and productive territory in one- or two - litre pots .

pot must have drain golf hole ; H2O so as to make the grease moist throughout .

5) Sow The Seeds

Sow germinated seeds such that the issue clean cotyledon and just a bite of the seed is above the soil , and water moderately .

Discard seeds that have not germinated after five day of souse .

6) Site The Pots

locate the pots in a room where they will get full Dominicus and where the temperature is 18 - 23 ° C .

7) Watering

Water every two Clarence Day or so with the aim of keeping the stain moist .

8) Transplanting The Plants

After six to seven weeks the young plant life can be transfer to their final locating .

This could be an befittingly - sized ( i.e.big ) container or an out-of-door bed after the last frost and when the soil has warmed up to 10 ° C ( or more ) .

The absolute frequency of watering should gradually be cut back but when you do water , be certain to give these plant an ample quantity .

larger canna seedling shown in a propagation tray after two weeks germination

Aftercare

Be aware that you’re able to keep Cannas outdoors year - round only in the coastal and warmer region of the UK .

In other regions you will have to dig up the rhizomes and overwinter them indoors ; otherwise plant Cannas in container so that they can be brought into the sign of the zodiac .