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Bulbs/Dwarf Canna

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Expert: Kenneth Joergensen - 6/26/2004


Question
Good Morning,

Not sure if canna is a bulb or tubor, but my question addresses the problem of the ugly remains after the blooms fall off.  It's just a bare stalk with some rounded things on it.  Are they of any value, and how should I treat them as far as trimming them off, etc.?

Thank you!

Nancy

Answer
You can cut the flower stem back to the ground, but let the leaves of the plant stay until they brown on their own in fall.

The rounded things are the seed pods. let them mature on the stem and then harvest them and plant them for more cannas. Not all seeds are viable (some did not get pollen from another canna and thus do not develop) but many are. If you don't want to try grow cannas from seed (which may take a few years to reach flowering size) you can cut the flower stem back as above.

Bulbs

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Kenneth Joergensen

Expertise

Can answer questions about spring and summer bulbs: selection, soil preparation, planting, fertilizing, designing with bulbs. I can also give references where to buy the bulbs and how to store them. Besides the typical bulbs (tulips, daffodils, amaryllis, lilies etc) I can also answer questions about other geophytes, such as tuberous begonia, dahlias, etc. When to start indoors, light requirement, etc. My experience is in cool season areas, but I can answer questions about warm season areas if given time to research matter.

Experience

Have worked with various bulbs (spring and summer bulbs). I am presently an allexpert advicer on the lawn message board also.

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