This is how the tubers get through the winter

Prepare in late autumn

Indian flower tube, also known as canna, is a South American perennial. When temperatures drop below freezing in late autumn, the flower pulls in its aboveground plant parts. The last flowers wither, leaves wither, shoots turn brown. This process signals that remaining nutrients are shifted into the rhizomes as an energy reserve for the next season. Now is the best time to do this preparatory work:

• In the beginning / middle of November, cut back stems that have been pulled in to 5-10 cm
• Lift the rhizome out of the substrate with a small shovel or flower claw
• Brush off adhering earth
• Rinse off heavily soiled tubers with water
• Cut off damaged, putrid brown root strands and dried-up hair roots with a disinfected knife
• Cuts dust with Rock flour(€ 12.33 at Amazon *) or charcoal ash

A creaking noise can sometimes be heard when digging up canna bulbs. There is nothing to worry about. Carry on working without any worries. The creaking is caused by the numerous branches and daughter rhizomes that have formed during the summer.

Flower tube tubers overwinter in 4 steps

After the preparatory work, there are only 4 steps left to safely overwinter the flower tube. This process has proven itself in practice:

Let the rhizomes dry

Tubular tubers are prone to rot. The rhizomes come out of the earth very moist. Cleaning work and the water shower also increase the level of humidity. Before wintering, you should let the tubers dry for a few days. That is how it goes:

• Place canna bulbs side by side on a wooden shelf or lattice
• Leave to dry for 3 to 5 days in a shady, airy, rain-protected location

Sort out the canna tubers

At the end of the drying phase, carefully inspect each rhizome. Select the best, fleshy, undamaged tubers for winter storage. Specimens with brown, soft spots are wobbly candidates with little prospect of a healthy winter.

Determine winter quarters

All rooms in and around the house are suitable as winter quarters for Blumenrohr with the following framework conditions:

• Light conditions: dark
• Temperature: frost-free up to a maximum of 10 ° Celsius
• Humidity: dry

The narrow choices are: basement, windowless garage or a dark attic.

Store flower tube rhizomes

You should not store flowers cane in the open in winter quarters. The rhizomes could dry out completely and die. Instead, overwinter the tubers, wrapped in a protective medium that allows regular controls. The following options are recommended:

• Wrapping in newsprint
• Embed in a wooden box with unfertilized Coconut soil
• Deposit in a vat with sand, straw or wood shavings

It is important to note that the flower tube rhizomes do not touch. The resulting pressure points cause rot, which destroys any hope of a new bud.