Expert: Long Island Gardener - 10/8/2007

Question
I have canna bulbs and some grass's in large pots on my patio, I want to store them in my basement over the winter.
The basement tempeture is about 60-65  degrees, can I keep them in the pots or do I have to dig them up.
And if I keep them in pots do I cut them off to the top of the pot?  

Answer
The first kiss of frost will blacken your Canna leaves.  If they were actually growing in the ground, you would wait until this point, then dig them up and haul them inside.  Potted, just wait for that frosty morning, then carry them all inside down to the basement and unpot them.

Remove dead or dying leaves and shake off the used potting soil.  The normal routine for Canna storage is to bury them one by one, shallow, in a container in sand, peat moss or vermiculite.  The Canna 'crown' should be just peeking through.  Spray the surface with a spray bottle of water and store in a paper bag - NEVER in plastic - in the Winter.  You'll have to spray them regularly to keep them from drying out - the same as Dahlias overwintering.  Keep them in the chilliest section of your basement.  60-65 degrees F is almost too warm, but that's better than too cold -- the temps should never hit 32 degrees F or your stored Cannas are history.

Watch for new growth and in the late spring, after all possible chance of frost has passed, take them back outside to your garden and plant as usual.

You can try to keep these in the pots, but you have more control if you take them out of the pots.  Both can be done.  Expect to lose a few; this is a learning process, and you'll only get better with time.  Good luck.