All About the Canna Bloom Cycle

When I started my garden in 2009, Canna cultivars were some of the first “pass-along plants” I received, and I was thrilled!

Cannas are herbaceous perennials with broad, flat leaves that grow out of a stem in a
long, narrow roll and then unfurl.

After 6-9 leaves have opened, a flower stalk grows upwards through the leaf bases…..

…..and flower buds form at the terminal end.

To keep these plants blooming, remove any withering flowers along with the shoots from which those flowers were borne.  Usually, a second flowering shoot, (growing from the node below,) will be halfway in bloom already.   This next image may help you visualize it better:

By working your way down the stem and removing each spent shoot in turn, the canna can channel energy and nutrition to any buds forming on the lower nodes.  Finally, when there are no more shoots to open, cut the stalk at the spot where it first emerged from the leaves. This final “snip” signals  the underground rhizome (roots) to “spread out” and begin the leafing/stemming process anew.

Canna leaves are covered with a waxy substance that repels water. This inhibits most diseases from establishing themselves despite the high humidity and rainfall where these plants typically grow.

We’ve had an extremely muggy, rain-drenched summer and for the first time ever, some of my cannas have developed the unsightly disease known as Canna Rust.  Spore-like, orange spots are visible on some of the leaves and stems.  As the infection progresses, the upper parts of the leaves turn  blackish-brown, dry up, and fall off prematurely.  Here’s an example:

YUCK!  Spraying with copper fungicide and removing the “bad” leaves is the only treatment, both of which I’ve done since taking this photo.

I’d hate to leave you with an image of an unhappy plant, so here’s Canna Cleopatra, earlier this month:

Until next time…….

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Related articles

• Cannas ~ Canna x generalis Plant Care Guide (auntiedogmasgardenspot.wordpress.com)
• Photos Taken on 7-3-13. (themysticalmansionandgarden.wordpress.com)

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