Canna flower: planting and care

The flower garden on the plot is the pride of the hostess. She devotes a lot of time to creating beautiful flower arrangements. Particular attention is paid to the cultivation of flowers that are magnificent in appearance and large in size, which bloom for a long time and serve as an ornament to the garden plot. The canna flower satisfies all requirements, planting and caring for which is not difficult.

A bit of history and geography

Such a beautiful and colorful flower cannot grow without a beautiful accompanying legend. In Latin, the name of the inflorescence is translated as a tube. According to legend, this torch-like plant first grew on the site of a fire. The Indian chief burned the peace treaty and led his people into a bloody war. In the place of that ill-fated fire, a plant appeared, the flowering of which can be compared with flame petals.

Cannes came to the territory of Russia about 400 years ago, became widespread thanks to Peter the Great and his garden office. The homeland of the plant is considered to be countries such as India and China, and the flower also grows widely in America. Here for him ideal natural conditions: a lot of sun, moisture and heat.

Despite the prevailing opinion about the capricious nature, the canna flower does not require anything extra. One has only to worry about compliance with the requirements that are important for him, the plant will grow and bloom in a flower bed without any problems.

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Reasons for popularity or why cannes are so in demand

When choosing which flowers will be the best and undemanding decoration for a flower garden, be sure to take a closer look at the cannes. It is not in vain that when decorating city flower beds, they are the favorites of designers, they are planted as a separate plant, and as part of compositions. In order for these magnificent flowers to show off on your site, there are several reasons:

1. Plants are undemanding and do not need special care. They practically do not get sick. They are not afraid of pests. Easily tolerate a short-term decrease in temperature. They are drought-resistant plants.
2. The flower strikes with the beauty of the inflorescence. Its beautiful large-sized form is sure to become the center of attention of the flower bed and flower garden.
3. Canna has a long flowering period: for about two months it will delight with large flowers beautifully collected in inflorescences.
4. A flower decorates a flower bed not only due to inflorescences. Currently, there are plants with a beautiful decorative form of leaves that look great on a personal plot.
5. The plant itself is distinguished by a thick fleshy stem up to 2 m high. The straight form fits beautifully into the floral ensemble. A strong stem can withstand wind loads.

Kanna: appearance

As noted, the canna is a large plant with a thick, straight stem that does not need to be propped up. An adult healthy flower is capable of throwing three to four arrows. The height can be from half a meter to two. These dimensions allow the flower to be grown both in the ground and in flower pots. There is no significant difference in care. Here are some features of canna:

1. Cannes are perennials. Their thermophilic nature is incompatible with the cold Russian winter. Therefore, when wintering in open spaces, the plant most often dies.
2. Features, and some consider this property a disadvantage, include the absence of smell.
3. The flower blooms four months after the start of the development of the process. Flowering begins in July and lasts about two months, or even until the first frost.
4. Canna is a large flower from 3 to 15 cm in size, reaching 30 cm in inflorescences, painted in any shades of yellow, red, burgundy and orange. 10 mm is considered standard. Most often painted in red, less often there are yellow shades. The snow-white color is unique. It can be both plain and speckled, stripes.
5. On the stem of the canna there are leaves of a large oblong elongated shape, which differ in significant sizes. They can be up to 80 cm.

Cannes are heat-loving plants, so they do not like early planting in open ground. But it is worth considering the fact that the earlier the flower begins its development, the faster it will bloom and begin to decorate the flower bed. Therefore, for planting, they use such a technique as they germinate a flower in advance and due to this they artificially help to start flowering earlier.

Some varieties of canna grow well in containers of water. In this case, they are planted in the summer in an open reservoir on the site, and in the winter they are transferred to the winter garden. With this order of planting, it is additionally necessary to provide artificial lighting for the flower, the winter sun will not be enough for it. The temperature required for plant growth is 15 degrees.

Kanna: the most common varieties

Cannes are among the very popular flowers that are loved by collectors. Currently, the trading network offers a large number of beautiful varieties that differ in the size and color of the flower, the height of the stem, and the decorative features of the leaves. Even the most demanding lover can find a variety that will satisfy his most sophisticated needs.

The most widespread are the following varieties:

1. Indian canna is one of the most common and unpretentious. Easily grown in garden beds. It does not require special care. It belongs to dwarf varieties, its average height is slightly above half a meter. Great for shaping borders. Planted in containers located along the site, it will decorate any suburban space with its excellent view. The leaves at first have shades of pale green, which gradually darkens during the summer. The plant compensates for its low growth with its stunning colors and appearance of inflorescences.
   

   indian eland

2. Under the Durban variety there is a tall canna, which can reach up to 3 m in height. Most appreciated by the coloring of its leaves, they look especially impressive in the autumn flower garden when decorating fences and buildings.
   

   Durban variety with a bright orange flower

3. Canna Pak, which does not tolerate temperature extremes, has an inflorescence of a creamy shade of white. Very beautiful and delicate, reminiscent of an elegant gladiolus.
   

   grade Pak

4. Variety America is popular, height up to 1.5 m. The red flower is striking in its size from 10 cm.
   

   canna america

5. The Salmon Pink variety is distinguished by its short stature of half a meter, the unusual salmon color of the flower and the striped color of the decorative leaves.This helps the plant take center stage in the flower bed.

Cannes: features of growth

With proper planting and well-organized care, the plant is able to please the owner with its flowering from June to late autumn. Before you start growing, you should familiarize yourself with its features:

1. The rhizome in the process of growth develops in width. When planting, you need to leave a distance for the development of the root.
2. The development of the plant begins with a powerful growth of the central stem upwards. In appearance, the stem resembles bamboo. The arrows are guided by the development when planting a plant in the ground.

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Canna flower: planting

Cannes is one of the favorite plants of both urban landscaping specialists and owners of country estates. Depending on the climate, a plant is planted both in open ground and seedlings are pre-grown in a greenhouse.

Before planting a plant, inspect the roots. They are divided into several parts. Pay attention to the fact that one or more strong buds must remain on the part of the rhizome. Nearby kidneys are left together, not separated.

Separation points need to be processed. For disinfection, crushed coal powder or potassium permanganate solution is used.

Canna flower: planting and care in the open field

Plants are planted in open ground in the southern regions. Places are chosen sunny, protected from the north side from the wind. The month of the year is April. There are no special requirements for the soil. It should be loose and prevent stagnant water, drain well, be sufficiently fertilized. First, a groove is dug in the ground. No more than 10 cm deep. Plants are placed at a distance of up to half a meter. Cover with a layer of earth.

Care consists in periodic watering of the plant, abundant watering during flowering is especially important. A few days after watering, the earth needs to be loosened a little, while weeds are removed. Periodically, as the plants fade, arrows and faded inflorescences are removed. This gives the plant a well-groomed appearance and stimulates the flower to produce a new shoot.

Canna flower: planting and caring for seedlings

Growing seedlings is one of the most popular, most widely used methods:

1. To begin with, the rhizomes are sorted out and divided into parts. Places of cuts are processed.
2. Roots dry out a bit.
3. Placed in a container, covered with calcined sand.
4. Watering is done every other day.
5. Best of all, the roots grow on the sunny sides of the apartment, especially if the container is above the radiator, it is constantly in a heated state.
6. With proper planting and care, the plant sprouts in two weeks.
7. After the leaves appear, the plant is transplanted each into a separate container, where it continues to grow as seedlings.

This method of growing through seedlings is the most successful and allows you to get a strong plant capable of long flowering. In a cool climate, when planting a directly unsprouted rhizome into the soil, the plant may not have time to bloom.

Seedlings are planted in the soil no later than the end of May. During this period, the soil should be well warmed up and there should be no threat of frost returning. Seedlings by this time should be significantly grown and strengthened.

Plant the plant in well-drained soil. Organic substances or mineral mixtures are used as fertilizers. In order to accelerate the growth of the plant, various agricultural practices are used.The most widespread method of creating warm conditions.

Growing cannes with natural heating of the soil is carried out in the following sequence:

1. The main requirement is good soil preparation. To create a warming layer, the upper part of the earth is removed. A trench is dug 70 cm deep.
2. The first layer is laid on the bottom of the groove hay or a small layer of rotted manure.
3. Part of the earth is poured. The soil layer must be at least 25 cm.
4. Seedlings are being established. When planting, the stem is not covered with soil, the growth point remains open, on the surface.
5. The planting depth of the rhizome is 15 cm.

Aftercare includes watering once every 10 days. Water the plant with root metol. Fertilizers are added periodically to stimulate growth. During flowering, abundant watering is necessary.

Canna flower: growing from seeds

If during flowering the inflorescence is fertilized, then seeds appear. They can be used to grow a new plant. The effect will not be quick, with such a reproduction option there are difficulties. But this method of cultivation is also used. In order to speed up the process of propagation by seeds, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

1. It is necessary to start planting seeds for seedlings as early as possible, the best time is January or early February.
2. In order to speed up the germination process, the seeds are thoroughly cleaned with sandpaper beforehand. The hard and dense seed coat does not allow it to grow quickly and makes it difficult to germinate.
3. Next, the seeds are immersed in the usual plant growth-stimulating solution for a day.
4. Plant the seeds in fertilized soil. Grow seedlings in normal potting soil.
5. After planting, the container is transferred to a warm place. The plant begins its development from seeds only after the air temperature becomes 25 degrees.
6. With proper planting, seedlings appear in four weeks.
7. After the appearance of the second leaf, the plant dives and is transplanted into a separate container for further development.

There is another way to destroy the integrity of the seed coat before planting in seedlings. For several hours, the seeds are left in the refrigerator, scalded with boiling water and kept for three hours in warm water. Then the seed is lightly pierced or cut.

Planting with seeds is recommended if you want to have flowers that are amazing in color and shape on the site. This is due to the ability of cannas to retain through seeds the features inherent in their species.

Canna flower: planting and care in the apartment

The plant is successfully used to decorate the space of the apartment. Growing in artificial conditions is carried out taking into account such specific requirements:

1. A plant grown in an apartment needs rest. It lasts 2 months. At this time, the tops of the stems are cut off, small cuttings up to 15 cm are left. The temperature should be about 10 degrees.
2. Low-growing plants are well suited for growing at home. Landing is carried out in large pots. The plant does not need to be tied up.
3. In order to get large inflorescences, the first peduncle is removed. At the same time, the root system is strengthened.
4. Germinating at home, canna needs abundant fertilizing with fertilizers.
5. Spraying is not used for a home flower. Before rain, the plant itself releases moisture on the leaves and can be used to predict the weather.

Canna flower: the formation of a flower bed

The flower itself is very large and can decorate any flower garden. Therefore, it can be planted alone. In order for the compositions to look favorably, experts advise observing proportions.Place large plants in large flower beds and, conversely, plant undersized ones in a small space. A flower bed looks beautiful if several varieties are planted nearby, differing in color and height:

1. The decorated space gets a beautiful view if the plants are placed along the fence, against the background of verandas, outbuildings, houses. If a tall variety is used for the design, it can be placed in the center of the composition or in the second row. Ahead, against the background of large leaves, other groups of plants can be placed.
   

   cannes will be an excellent choice for framing the track

2. Cannes are used to frame, highlight or hide from view any parts or plants of the site. In this case, when landing, they are placed densely and receive a landing in the form of a fence.
3. Low-growing varieties can be safely planted in flower pots and used near the house or as decor elements in the backyard. They look very picturesque due to colorful leaves, a thick stem and a large inflorescence, especially considering that flowering lasts a very long time.
   

   cannes as a central element in a flower arrangement

4. Compositions made in a flower garden on several levels look beautiful due to the combination of undersized and tall varieties.
5. Varieties of variegated cannes planted nearby will look beautiful, like multi-colored strokes, not only at the time of flowering. Coloring the leaves of plants planted nearby in a flower garden in different colors will be an additional decoration.

Cannes look good and decorate the flower garden not only in the daytime, the lamp located nearby will emphasize the high colorful shape of the plant at night and the twilight period.

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Cannes: diseases and pests

Despite the fact that cannes practically do not get sick and are too tough for garden pests, as exceptions, such troubles happen with flowers. Most often they are associated with poor soil drainage and the resulting high root moisture. There are such diseases:

1. Bacteriosis is manifested by black spots on flowers and leaves. Most often, a flower lover will not succeed in defeating the disease. It is recommended to remove the diseased flower from the garden.
2. Rust damage causes red spots on the leaves and a gray rotten bloom on the flower. It is enough to remove the affected fragments of the plant and burn to prevent re-infection.
3. In order to get rid of caterpillars, special tools are used. Processing is carried out in the order suggested in the instructions.
4. Yellow leaves indicate excessive fungal activity. In order for the plant to recover, it is sprayed with a light solution of potassium permanganate.

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Canna flower: how to store in winter

The plant is difficult to tolerate winter low temperatures and most often dies with them. In order to preserve the flower, it is immediately dug up after the first frost and prepared for storage. Depending on the existing conditions, choose one of the convenient methods.

Kanna: winter storage in a private home

In a country house, you can save the rhizome of a plant by observing the following sequence of actions:

1. After the plant is dug up, the roots are carefully inspected and left in a ventilated area for several days to dry.
2. For storage, river sand is best suited, which must first be calcined.
3. The roots covered with sand are transferred to a storage room. The basement is best suited for this purpose.
4. The desired temperature for storage is 10 degrees.
5. Periodically water the roots.
6. Several times during the winter, the roots are inspected, with traces of rot removed.

Kanna: how to save a plant in winter in a city apartment

In a city apartment, it is more difficult to create conditions for storage, but it is possible:

1. You can save the roots in a glazed loggia. Buried in the sand at positive temperatures, they do not lose their ability to germinate.
2. Canna lovers leave the roots for storage in the vegetable drawers of the refrigerator. In this case, it is necessary to cover the roots with sand or wood shavings. Several times in winter, carry out an audit and remove with traces of rot.

The plant is responsive to care, quite a bit of effort is needed for the canna flower to grow magnificently in the flower bed, planting and caring for it is not particularly difficult. Using the recommendations proposed in the article, you can plant a plant every year in the open spaces of your suburban area or in an apartment and enjoy large colorful flowers that will delight you with a long flowering period.

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Photo gallery - canna flower planting and care:

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Video: planting cannes from seeds

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