Five mistakes to Avoid When Planting and Growing Canna Lilies

/ walkingtalkinggardener
Canna lilies are a fantastic addition to any tropical-effect, exotic garden but to get the best out of them there are a number of mistakes that you can avoid to get stronger plants and earlier, longer lasting flowers. So check out this video where English horticulturist Simon explains five mistakes you need to avoid when planting and growing Canna lilies.
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[@Paul-kd3ui]

I planted orange cannas and used a high nitrogen fertilizer, and got 8 ft tall plants huge leaves 15 inches across, swampy wet works great

[@Paul-kd3ui]

"Tropicana"

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

You got your Canna tropicanna to grow up to 8ft! Well done, that's impressive. Thanks for sharing your experience on this. Kind regards Simon and Lorna

[@Paul-kd3ui]

@@walkingtalkinggardeners lots of water

[@waheed53gb]

Where do you live?

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

England?

[@sonyaluhman4648]

Very helpful Simon, thanks ❤

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

You are very welcome Sonya. Kind regards Simon

[@ChloeGraciela]

Thank you so much. You just saved me money and time as I was going to buy the bulbs and plant them now that it’s June and I’m in New York as opposed to just going to my local nursery and buying the plant to plant in my garden. It might cost more, but at least I’ll have beautiful flowers to enjoy for the summer.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Chloe, unfortunately suppliers will still sell them this late in the year. Even the ones I bought end of February were too dry and failed. I'm waiting for a reply from the supplier. Hopefully I will get my money back. Simon

[@Raytink09]

This was a very helpful video. The tips about how much water 💦 I will consider now. I have two pots I started in April and one tuber started growing out of the bag so I quickly planted 2 in pots outside Mid April. And then one Tuber I kept inside in a pot now in a sunny window but it’s not sprouting yet.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Ray and thanks for watching. I'm glad you found this video useful. Kind regards, Simon

[@bjbrown6488]

Thank you! I'd like to plant the tubers in a large urn until a bit warmer here in Colorado to get them going.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

You are very welcome, and I wish you all the best in getting a great flowering display of Cannas in the summer. Kind regards, Simon

[@MzPrettygrahJay]

Thank you 😊

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Jay, you are very welcome. Simon

[@NATURALBEEKEEPERSCOLLECTIVE]

Great video, I agree about them not being the same as on the packet when you buy them. Best to buy them in flower just to be sure. You can also easily grow a ton of them from seeds and pic the ones you like when they flower. I was just going to say when you was saying they are drought resistant that they actually grow better in wet conditions. But you beat me to it when you said you have seen them in pond margins. My parents grow them in Koi pond filters and they get to about 7 foot tall. They are constantly fed with pond water and they make the pond water crystal clear.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Ahhh, that's the trouble with youtube videos - the information comes out sporadically. However, I really appreciate you sharing your information on growing them in koi ponds. But now you have to explain why the fish aren't ripping the plants apart, as in their nature! Kind regards Simon

[@NATURALBEEKEEPERSCOLLECTIVE]

@@walkingtalkinggardeners The koi filter is a box shaped filter that sits at the edge of the pond filled with sand and gravel and planted with marginal plants The water is constanlty pumped into the filter box with the growing plants in. The box shaped filter my parents have is 6ft x 10ft and 17 inches deep. The koi pond is about 31 foot in diameter with a mini water fall leading from the filter. My parents also grow water mint, cat tails, reeds and marsh marigolds in the filter aswell. Its basically an out door aquaponics system that they have built. Great for rooting cuttings aswell. Sorry if you thought I meant planting direct in the pond and for any confusion. If you youtube search aquaponics there are some great videos that will give you a better idea of how it looks.

[@faustinae3927]

Thank you 🙏 ❤

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

You are very welcome. Simon

[@yousefosman9051]

How helpful, thanks alot

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Yousef, you are very welcome. Kind regards Simon and Lorna

[@Stephen.Stefano.L]

I find that Stuttgart cannas are the most difficult to get good rhizomes … And they are rarely found in garden centers flowering… And ready for purchase in the US… And most people in my area unless they have sunny, sheltered winter light have to let them freeze over winter or take out the rhizomes … I have large pots and live in the city… So in November, I can just pull those pots into my garage. My favorite are the Tropicana variety.. 😎❤👍

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Stephen I agree. A lot of stuttgard is poor quality or in my case wrongly labled! Luckily for us it doesn't get cold enough to kill off ours in the ground. We had -5 Celsius this and winter and even the tender cultivars like musifolia are coming through. Thanks for your comment. Kind regards Simon

[@cocofluff]

I have ordered Stuttgart from three different companies over the past two years, and have never received it. I always get a different canna. I'm beginning to think Stuttgart doesn't exist. It's insane that these companies cannot guarantee you will receive the plant you ordered. I will only purchase cannas now if I can find them flowering at a local nursery.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Coco, I do see it around occasionally in other gardens, but it does seem to go brown on the white leaf pigmentation so I'm not so sure I want one now. However if I do se a good one I'm having it. Simon

[@lisacimarik7315]

I am in US zone 9a and was wondering if March is an OK time to separate them. I have to move them to a more sunny spot. Thanks to anyone for help😊.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Lisa, yes you usually separate once you see the new buds forming. This should be anytime from now. Kind regards Simon

[@lisacimarik7315]

@@walkingtalkinggardeners thank you so much! Blessings

[@maureenlangerfeld8489]

Yes, cannas take lots of water -AFTER you see top growth! If u water alot before that the rhizome can rot😢

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

That's great advice. Thanks for you comment. Kind regards Simon

[@daverichards4415]

Hi Simon. I have had a yellow canna for about 8 years. I have never had any issues. I live in Gloucester UK , and grow them in pots. I split them every year and give away the excess. This year I have encountered, what I believe to be the Canna leaf roller. It has decimated my beautiful plants. I have been in hospital so didn't see the damage until I came home. What, if anything, can I do? Every single leaf is affected. Many thanks. Dave

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Dave, I get this every year, so I feel your pain. However it's usually only the first couple of leaves that are effective, and any subsequent growth comes through unaffected. However, you can treat Bacillus thuringiensis. Kind regards, Simon

[@elizabethr2908]

Mine are growing in my waterfall bog filter along with elephant ears in my koi pond. They grow in nothing but pea gravel and pond water. The fish waste fertilizes the cannas and the elephant ears. Works like nature intended ❤

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Elizabeth it sounds like you have achieved gardening balance and harmony. Well done. Simon

[@raadiodaysyt]

What type of fertilizer is best for cannas? I looked online (quickly) and saw that 10-10-10 was recommended. Then later, after purchasing, I read that that is the worst? What are your thoughts? Thanks so much!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hello Radio, I couldn't say which is best, but all of mine are grown in the ground, so they have access to the available micronutrients. I also give them a fortnightly feed of miracle grow over the spring and summer. I would say that too much shade and not enough water over the growing season was more of a limiting factor to strong growth and flowering than your choice of a specific fertiliser formula. Any decent general purpose fertiliser will be fine. You will be able to see the results of my cannas in next month's garden tour video to judge whether I am correct or not. Kind regards, Simon

[@lizbarrow1696]

I have taken some seed from my cannas. I see that i need to sand the seeds and also need to soak them in water to get them to shoot. I have seen people soaking them in hot water and also cold water. Could you please tell me if it needs to be hot water or just room temp. TIA :)

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Liz, as a rule I usually try and match the conditions of its native environment. So I would use warm water around 25 degrees Celsius. Certainly not hot but anything mildly warm to the touch should be fine. If you can maintain that temp in perhaps a warm airing cupboard, then that would be perfect. Simon

[@lizbarrow1696]

@@walkingtalkinggardenersHey Simon, Thanks so much for letting me know what how to proceed with this. I am going to enjoy watching these sprout. :) I have only just recently discovered the seed collecting bug. Recently I collected some seeds from my tomatoes. Yay free plants. Thank you again. 🪴

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Good luck with your seed propagation. You know I love those free plants. Simon 🙂

[@jrrj-vf4jb]

Hello There, are they deer resistant? Thank Yoy

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi there, and thanks for the question. Yes, in general, deer will leave these alone in favour of other plant species. Simon 🙂

[@human7656]

You should plant them after you buy them, so they don't dry or rot. (I did not know so all of my cannas died last year.😢 [also the same with the year before])

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Human. Yes, that is exactly right. Buy them as soon as they are available and plant immediately for the best results. Kind regards, Simon

[@lalaabril6452]

Am I the only one tripping off the birds getting shot right out of the sky behind him ?????

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

That's a firework sound effect from youtube audio library! Simon 🙂

[@dawnsstar5918]

You couldn't be more right about prepacked tubers.... or bare roots. It is a 1 out of 20 chance in my case anyway. I had bought what I thought were astilbes, I got about six of them, four had perished, probably because I treated them like I would astilbes. Well, the other two grew with the leaves just like astilbes, feathery and beautiful, I expected a flower the second year.... nope. Both are about 5 ft (1.5meters) .... these are no astilbes. They are China berry TREES! And it's too late now after four years, I love them with their rounded umbrella like canopy, and good thing there is enough room for them, too.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

I'm so sorry to hear that Dawn. I can't believe how often this happens. I have had a run of it myself with mail order stock, but I probably wouldn't buy except that my local garden centre all have a really low range of plants. I'm struggling to get anything I like locally. Simon

[@cindiblazer8621]

We had a cold snap last year. They died. The tubers had turned to mush.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

That's a shame. I am a big fan of Cannas. The tubers do naturally gravitate to just below the surface, but you can try planting bear root tubers deeper and dry mulch them over winter. Alternatively, you can lift and repot your own tubers late autumn and keep them in a frost free position over winter as insurance. Simon

[@cindiblazer8621]

@@walkingtalkinggardeners I will get more next spring and dig them up before freezing. I'm doing that with my elephant ears this fall. I live in Tennessee and for the most part we have somewhat mild winters. Thankyou for your reply

[@andrzejjakubowski1893]

Canna viruses?

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Yes, canna virus is definitely a concern to keep an eye out for. Luckily, we don't really have it showing much we we are, but sadly, the same can't be said for everyone. Kind regards Simon

[@drholt2]

Zoom in a bit more please!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Noted.

[@gillyanne4019]

I don’t like the gun noise 😢

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi Gillyanne, my apologies for the gun noise. I hope it doesn't put you off the rest of the video. Kind regards Simon

[@asbosable]

Grow up.

[@lalaabril6452]

Or you can mind your business. The birds getting shot right out of the sky has nothing to do with a lack of maturity. Some people actually have sense and there comments make sense. Yours, does not​@asbosable

[@asbosable]

@@lalaabril6452 hey there! Why don’t you f**k off? Nothing would ever make sense to a cretin like you. You probably don’t even know what sex you are.

[@asbosable]

@@lalaabril6452 grow up.

[@Antarctica2025]

Yikes, not cool!

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

What can I say? The industry is a little corrupt. Simon

[@CathyM-uv1it]

The first mistake is calling them canna lillies. They are not lillies at all but are related to ginger.

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Indeed, and ginger lily's are also not lily's and related to bananas. Common names can be confusing and rarely have a scientific basis which is why it is preferable to use genus, species, cultivar etc names. But I don't think its a mistake to use them as they are far more familiar, pronouncable and accessable to most gardeners. This is why they exist and are commonplace. However you will find in a lot of my videos I will use both and often explain the meaning behind the scientific names. Great comment. Kind regards Simon

[@Stephen.Stefano.L]

I don’t think he was using botanical terms … but every day usage 😂

[@kristinabliss]

Hi, thanks for your helpful video. Godh you get close to camera! 🥸🤓 I have two early bag tubers sending up growth from the little pots they're in till later Spring. I have heard Cannas can be grown in ponds. Do you know how deeply in pond water they can tolerate?

[@walkingtalkinggardeners]

Hi there, yes some cannas can be grown as marginal pond plants but you would have to research the correct species and cultivars. As marginal plants they would be planted at the edge of the pond so the pots are just covered or slightly proud of the waterline. Simon