HOW TO GROW CANNA LILLY FROM SEED

HOW  TO  GROW  CANNA LILLY   FROM  SEED

Canna Seed Propagation

 Propagation of canna lily by seeds is possible, as many varieties produce viable seeds. Since most of the plants with dazzling flowers are hybrids, starting canna lilies from seed may not give you the same variety.

Nevertheless, if you find it interesting to raise plants from seeds just to find out how they turn out, it is definitely worth a try. Moreover, you are not likely to be disappointed, as the wild varieties of canna lilies are all rather pretty, with striking colors and markings.

 Canna Lily Seed Harvesting

 So when can you harvest canna lily seeds? Once the flowers are spent, a cluster of seed pods develop. The pods are green, spiky, round structures that usually contain one to three seeds. The pods are harmless in spite of their outward appearance.

Canna lily seed harvesting should be done once these seed pods become dry. When pods open up revealing the black seeds inside, you can easily squeeze them out. They are quite big and easy to handle.

 How to Germinate Canna Lily Seeds

 Can you plant canna lily seeds directly in the garden? Canna seed propagation is not as easy as the seed collection. The seeds do not germinate when planted directly in the soil. The tough seed coat is the main obstacle. Canna seeds have to be prepared beforehand by softening the seed coat to encourage germination. Canna seed propagation involves soaking, heating and scarification. Sometimes it takes a few attempts to get it right. You should start the process at least one to two months before you plan to plant it outside. Germination usually takes one to two weeks.

 Soaking –

 Canna seeds should be soaked in water for a minimum of 24 hours. Some recommend using lukewarm water for soaking. Use of a commercial medium such as Jiffy Mix, may be ideal for germinating canna lily seeds. Make small depressions in the medium and put in the seeds. Cover with the mix and water.

After planting the seeds in the medium and watering, the container should be covered in plastic wrap and kept warm indoors. A constant temperature of 70 to 75 F. (21-24 C.) is necessary to initiate germination. You can use a heating pad to maintain the temperature.

 Scarification –

 Another method to encourage canna seed germination is by rubbing off a bit of the seed coat before planting. Use a file or sandpaper to scrape off the seed coat. You should keep rubbing until the whiteness of the endosperm becomes visible.

 Scarified canna seeds can be planted directly in the medium without soaking, as water can easily get across the seed coat now. But the container should be kept warm throughout.

 Canna lily is a monocot, with just one seed leaf emerging first. When the seedlings are over 6 inches in height, they can be transferred into pots. Planting in the garden should be attempted only after all danger of frost is over.

Can I Transplant Cannas?

 Not only can you transplant and divide canna lilies, but you actually should every few years to prevent overcrowding, disease and pests. Pests and disease often occur on weak, unhappy plants and dense, crowded plant structures with poor air circulation and lots of hiding places.

 Canna flowers are not true lilies and their root structures are more like irisesthan lilies. Like iris plants, canna rhizomes multiply quickly and eventually older rhizomes in the center of the mass can be choked out. Dividing perennial grown cannas every 3-5 years will keep them growing in smaller healthier clumps.

Transplanting canna lily plants is a great way not only to continually enjoy them but to create dramatic backdrops, borders or privacy screens in the landscape.

 How and When to Transplant Canna Lilies

 In zones 8-11 where they grow as perennials, dividing and transplanting canna lily plants should be done when they have finished blooming and the foliage begins to die back.

 Of course, knowing how to move a canna lily without causing damage is important too. Carefully dig up the rhizome mass and cut any remaining stems or foliage back to about an inch. Brush off any soil stuck to the rhizomes so you can see the joints where new rhizomes grow from older ones. You can use a sharp, sterile knife to cut these rhizomes apart, but they also usually break apart cleanly and easily. Each section you cut or break off should have at least one eye (similar to potato tubers) and preferably some roots.

 After digging up cannas and dividing their rhizomes, many gardeners will dip them in a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water to kill any infectious diseases or pests.

 In warm climates, divided canna lilies are the transplanted 6 inches deep, and the rhizomes will settle into their new home through winter. In cooler climates, zone 7 or lower, the rhizomes need to be dried out, then stored indoors throughout winter in a location that does not get colder than 45 degrees F. (7 C.). In spring, when all danger of frost has passed, these stored canna lilies can be replanted outdoors in the garden or containers.