Watering and fertilizing are the two essential aspects of caring for canna. But even if cutting doesn't play a major role, it can become significant. You can find out when and how it should be carried out here.
Cut the rhizomes
If the rhizomes of Canna are outside the soil, they can be cut up. The purpose of this is to increase canna. All you have to do is take a spade or a knife and cut through the rhizomes. Each piece that is to become a plant should have an eye (shooting point).
Cutting the rhizomes has the side effect that a single plant gains more vigour, as there are no side shoots. The pruning is therefore worthwhile if the flower cane is getting old, has proliferated through runners and is to be rejuvenated.
Cut the stems and leaves
Canna leaves and stems should be trimmed in the fall. But be careful: you shouldn't cut them before they've yellowed or look brown and dried out. Until then, they produce important nutrients for the flowers in the coming year. These nutrients enter the rhizomes and are stored there.
How to proceed:
- Cut back leaves and stems to 5 cm
- Put plant parts on the compost or dispose of them
- Timing for pruning: towards the end of October
- then: dig up rhizomes and overwinter
Cut the flowers
The flowers of Canna do not necessarily have to be cut off. It is enough to pluck off the withered petals during the summer. This has the advantage that new flowers will form on the stem and the flowering period will last until autumn.
Attention: Basically, the flowers of Canna are not very suitable for vase cutting or bouquets. Removed from the plant, they do not last long and wither quickly. It is better to leave them on the plant where they are present for a long time.
tips and tricks
Always use clean equipment or tools to cut the flower cane. If there are sources of disease such as powdery mildew spores, they can infect the previously healthy plant.