A Pot Full of Cannas (page 3)
In hotter, frost free climates Cannas
are evergreen. In Britain they can be overwintered as dormant
rootstocks, kept almost dry and in reasonably warm conditions.
I let the plant dry out, cut the leaves off and put the pot in
a cupboard under the stairs.
By March I decided to see if I could coax the Canna back into
life. Knocking it out of its pot and teasing apart the very matted
rootball I found four fat, pale pink resting buds at the tips
of dark brown rhizomes. These were separated and repotted into
soil-less compost in a single 7 inch pot, watered and placed on
the kitchen windowsill. Within a couple of weeks they'd sprouted
into fat sheaves of leaves.
Two months later I had a pot full of healthy foliage growth. I
hardened it off for growing outside and transferred the whole
lot into a large, blue glazed pot. This now stands at a corner
of the graveled sitting area next to the small pool I'd constructed
in what used to be my tiny vegetable plot. By mid July the first
of its flowers had unfolded from the bottom buds of the spike.
Large, orange veined, pink confections held well above the impressive
leaves. From the topmost bud to the base of the pot measures exactly
four foot. At the time of writing, it now has three flower spikes,
each one packed with buds yet to open, and there is promise of
more to come as the rootstock has thrust up further sheaves of
healthy leaves. It should remain in flower until the autumn.
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About the Author John Richmond is a keen gardener who lives and works in the South West of England. He has a scientific background as a professional ecologist. He has written occasional articles for gardening and other magazines in Britain since 1984, specializing in garden wildlife issues and hardy plants. Correspondence from other gardeners is always welcome.
