Since Canna Lilies hail from the tropical regions of South and Central America, they definitely aren’t fans of chilly winters in the garden. However, if you wait until the ground warms up in mid-May to plant your bulbs, you might find yourself waiting forever for those gorgeous blooms to show up. The secret to getting a head start? Pre-growing your Cannas indoors!
Why Pre-Growing is a Game Changer
Getting your Cannas started early isn’t just about seeing flowers sooner (though that’s a huge plus!). Plants started indoors tend to be much sturdier and more resilient. This extra strength helps them shrug off pests and diseases once they finally move outside. Plus, having that lush green foliage growing on your windowsill is a great way to beat the winter blues.
How to Get Started
If you dug up your Canna rhizomes last fall and kept them tucked away in a cool spot with some sand or dry soil over the winter, you’re ready to go. Come January, it’s time to wake them up. Here’s the play-by-play:
- Place the rhizomes in the center of a pot with the “eyes” (the little buds) facing horizontally.
- Cover them with potting soil, filling the container up to the rim.
- Move the pot to a cozy, warm spot—a south-facing windowsill or near a radiator is perfect.
If you keep the temperature between 68°F and 77°F (20-25°C), you should see those first green shoots popping up within two to three weeks.
Propagating Your Canna Lilies
While you’re at it, you can also use this time for propagation. Before you pot them up, you can divide the rhizomes using a clean, sharp spade or knife. Just make sure each piece has no more than three eyes. This is actually a great move for older plants; these smaller sections often have more “get up and go” than one giant, old bulb, leading to much more vigorous growth once they hit the soil.
