How to Divide Cannas and Store Over Winter

Cannas are a lovely garden plant with big, tropical looking foliage and flamboyant blooms. These showy plants are tender perennials that overwinter well in USDA Hardiness Zones 8 and higher. Most gardeners treat cannas as annuals and end up buying new ones every year, but canna rhizomes are easy to overwinter indoors. Plus, you can divide the rhizomes in spring and grow several new plants for free! Here’s how to do it.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Sharp knife
• Milk crate
• Peat moss
• Potting soil
• Granulated organic fertilizer

1. Cut the canna’s stalk down to 8 inches and dig up the entire rhizome clump after the first frost in fall. Gently remove excess soil from the clump. Place the clump in a well-ventilated box, such as a milk crate, and cover it with slightly damp peat moss.
2. Store the crate in an area that stays about 45 degrees during the winter and has a bit of light (such as an unheated porch). Check on the clump about twice a month during the winter. Don't let it dry out completely, but be cautious of overwatering, which leads to rot and disease problems.
3. About 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date, remove the clump from the crate, and cut it into 4-inch divisions with a sharp knife. Make sure each division has at least three eyes—greenish bumps that new shoots will grow from.
4. Fill an 8-inch pot with a well draining potting soil amended with a granulated organic fertilizer (follow the application rate guidelines on the fertilizer box to figure how much fertilizer to mix in). Place three divisions in each pot, spacing them evenly apart and planting them 1-inch deep.
5. Place the pot in a bright, sunny window. Water the divisions lightly at first to prevent the rhizomes from rotting. As the plants begin to grow you can gradually increase the amount you water. Transplant the canna divisions outside after the danger of frost has passed. Cannas grow best in a site with full sun and rich, well-drained soil. For the best results, dig in an inch of compost and scratch in a little granulated organic fertilizer before planting.