CANNA 2019

Looking great ..... Reminds me I need to check on my lot ... most probably repot as well in fresh compost

Spruce

 

Here cannas have been growing apace for a few weeks now outside. Recently acquired varieties growing on indoors too are growing well....will pot on again soon

 

To avoid putting on my indoor lights and propagators so early, last year I thought I'd try something different to early seed sowing.

Seeds went in late, and I held back on feeding/potting up so I was left with small plants at the end of the year, and their small rhizomes were saved over winter for re-planting this year, the idea being to produce the Canna equivelant of Onion setts.

Runs an increased risk of virus I suppose (no sign in the plants last year) and no idea what they'll turn out like. I put some more seeds in a few days ago to produce fresh, small rhizomes for next year. A bit of fun trying something different.

The plants from 2018 mini rhizomes today, in 70mm dia. pots:




To be continued ....

 

Hi everyone, just sitting in the greenhouse at the moment watching the rain belt down so maybe a daft question but is it of any benefit to use rain water to water my cannas whilst they're in the greenhouse? They seem to be doing ok without it.

 

No mazambo, unless you’re really bored in there
Or, if they are dry and need watering but rain water isn’t necessary

 

Had the cannas out for a week now.

 

Tropicana Black .....will flower in a few weeks and grow to well over 8 or 9’

 

I am getting increasingly worried my pretoria ( new this year not from Hart canna) has canna virus what do you think ? Its in full sun so that's why they maybe some bleaching in the leaves. Can't remember the nursery I got it from but I have had it since March early April in quarantine and it been fine, I asked the seller if their canna are virus free which they weren't they were sure about just they are tissue grown which is laboratory grown presumably from healthy stock.

Durban looks fine.

 

Hiya Perki, if looks like it could be on your Pretoria The yellowing breaking up the green stripes and the blotching I think the virus develops further in the season too with foliage deteriorating further even rotting away. Does your Pretoria lack vigour? Here they are 5, 6 and 7’ tall. The black and red varieties are 8’ plus .
I will try to post a picture or two of mine here for comparison ......
I only buy cannas from Hartcannas simply because they actually supply virus free stock.
I remember my local nursery stocking cannas that, to me, had virus. This was 3 years or so ago. The owner subsequently removed all her cannas from her sales display.
It’s certainly a worry.....I chucked out any cannas that I had the slightest doubt about a couple of years ago...prob over reaction but better safe than sorry I thought

 

Scientif cell propagation is afast track means of producing more in no time at all. Similar to taking cuttings, where the cuttings will develop to be identical to the parent plant. Cell propagation is much the same except it's all done in a laboratory and a single smear can produes multiples. So the outcome. Like the cloning of Molly the sheep. If each individual new plant was DNA tested etc, all results would be identical. Now the planlets are released into the wide open world. Their DNA remains the same but now they are susceptible to everything the world has to offer, including in the plant kingdom, devastating viruses. Viruses can take on many shapes and forms. May please refer you to Canna viruses / RHS Gardening

I do hope this will help you.

 

Perki, forgive hasty pictures but this is my
Pretoria. Most leaves are better than this but I copy this one as poss suspect but I think it’s fine!!

 

Tropicana Black

 

Thanks @Verdun for the pictures I've removed the Canna and took it round to my mums and put it in her GH for a week or 2 and see how it does before getting rid.

I am thinking of getting one or two other cannas on my wish list and put one back in where canna pretoria was, the virus isn't soil borne so should be safe.

Before I do what do you think of my durban I got from Hart Canna, I think its fine but took a couple of pics of iffy leaves and healthy leaves.

 

Usually growth is slow and flowering non existent on virused plants, your Pretoria does look a bit iffy @Perki.

 

I wouldn't say the growth has been slow on the pretoria or I haven't noticed , it was growing 2-3 weeks before Durban ( bigger plant ) started though and now Durban is taller / more advanced than the pretoria was.