Not had a canna before

I was given a couple of canna lily 'bulbs' and told they could be planted straight away as it is only the shoots that are tender. I gave them a pile of dead leaves each as a mulch against the night frosts, although that was not in my instructions! I didn't have enough leaves handy so I topped up with wood chippings. Will that be alright?
Am I supposed to keep them watered? That sounds like a daft question I know, but we don't water ordinary bulbs at planting time after all. These look like they are actually rhizomes/tubers. It has been fairly dry for quite a while and I'm not sure how damp they need to be.
Finally, looking at the strong winds outside, (again) are they going to want staking?

 

One is Tropicana and the other is Lucifer. The latter is in a nice sheltered spot. They came from a garden in suburban Cheshire but I don't mind if they are slow. (I have added location to my profile now - I thought I had already done that!)

 

I've reverted to only growing cannas in containers, much easier to move under cover for winter, they do survive most winters here in Kent but are slow to get going the following spring, so I overwinter undercover and divide each spring.

The aim is to get something with a decent bit of growth already when putting outside in May.

 

Thank you both for your comments. It is a bit worrying that you both think they will need to be inside for winter, because my greenhouse is unheated and in a frost hollow. They will probably have to take their chances outside. Fingers crossed!

 

I'm down on the south coast and my Cannas stay out all year round, they are in the ground, not in pots. My problem is stopping them spreading out too far, I have to split them and give them away. Mine are Tropicana.