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Apr 10, 2015 12:48 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Wes
Ohio (Zone 6a)
About divisions?

Is there any good reason not to drop this one big chunk (last picture) as is? Over the years I've just considered cannas seasonal and replaceable and I've saved a few that looked alot like my first pic. Last year's Robert Kemps, and seedlings from the previous years RK offered some rather huge clumps of rhizomes. I've potted some other varieties and I know it doesn't take much of a good chunk to make an awesome, enjoyable plant.

See the last pic, and is there any good reason not to plant it "as is"? Last pic is on a 16"x16" cap and I could easily pull or cut pieces off but I have no need to (no shortage of canna by anyone's measure). I am tempted to see what 3-4 commercial bags in one chunk provides but I'd prefer some expert advice before experimenting.

Thanks!
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Apr 10, 2015 1:01 AM CST
Name: Lee-Roy
Bilzen, Belgium (Zone 8a)
Region: Belgium Composter Region: Europe Ferns Hostas Irises
Lilies Lover of wildlife (Black bear badge)
You could plant that big clump in one piece and it'll grow. However, dividing it up brings the (individual) plant(s) back to a younger stage which makes them grow more vigorously and they're less likely to become congested the following years.
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Apr 10, 2015 2:07 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Wes
Ohio (Zone 6a)
I appreciate the reply Arico. I dug similar masses that freed up into smaller chunks very easily as I cleaned them in the fall. This one has no intention of coming apart and I likely will plant it "as is" since I have less than a shortage and new varieties on order. Simple curiosity as to what the clump might look like and produce?

Your reply is pretty much what I expected but considering southern states where folks don't have to dig rhizomes for the winter I figure this huge mass to be rather small? It's not a favorite or named variety, almost positive it's a seedling. I'll dig a big hole or fill a tree pot and experiment.

I've never planted such a chunk, and again there's no shortage of others. I'm in it for the fun.

I do appreciate your reply!
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Apr 11, 2015 5:37 AM CST
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
I had one Canna I bought from Home Depot. I had to pull it out of a pot to rearrange some things. I ended up cutting it up into 4 different chunks, and now I have four plants growing in the ground that are far healthier looking than the first!
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
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Apr 11, 2015 1:24 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Wes
Ohio (Zone 6a)
I've got at least 25 divisions temporarily potted (roughly 20 more than I really need here) and a few of my larger rhizomes are going in the ground today. Still a few small ones that I'll pot and that big "mass" to deal with. I'm out of "ground" and running short on pots as of this mornings work. Still sticking to the tree pot plan just for fun, if I don't like the result it's no big deal. The way things are going it's looking like I might need to rent a sod cutter and create another bed, lol.

I've always purchased bagged/named variety cannas and got really nice plants from even the smallest rhizomes. I had so many seedlings come up last year the named variety I planted kinda got lost in the mix so I labeled by approximate color rather than type. Nice rhizome growth on those seedlings too.

The only growing plants I've purchased were some of the Tropicanna series last year. What a mess in those pots! It appeared to be a fresh shipment but they must hold those pots until the foliage is really showy? I'm betting this years divisions will be a little more vigorous? Another observation with those cannas is that they deteriorate quickly in the small shipping pots and end up on the bargain rack at 50%. Pruners and a shovel make them good as new. Thumbs up
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Apr 13, 2015 4:36 AM CST
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
Wes, exactly the ones I'm talking about! They look a thousand times better since I divided them up into 4 rhizomes from that one Tropicanna pot. Commercial nurseries have questionable practices sometimes!
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
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Apr 14, 2015 10:53 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
I agree with Kate, Wes. I think if you plant that big clump you will get smaller leaves and maybe not as vigorous bloom.

But by all means have fun experimenting - we want to see pictures!
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Apr 14, 2015 11:34 PM CST
Thread OP
Name: Wes
Ohio (Zone 6a)
dyzzypyxxy said:I agree with Kate, Wes. I think if you plant that big clump you will get smaller leaves and maybe not as vigorous bloom.

But by all means have fun experimenting - we want to see pictures!


I did intend to play out of curiosity but ended up cutting into 5 or 6 multi eye divisions and putting them in the #25 pot (with more leftover). They are quite close together for their respective sizes but I can always pull 1 or 2 so it's still got "experiment factor" I've got several in the ground and another 35-40 temporarily potted for use anywhere but here! The only ones in the bunch I know for sure are the Tropicannas and Robert Kemp and a particular (dwarf so far) yellow lily-iris blooming variety that came from a commercial "mixed" assortment. None have any real value at this point with various seedlings mixed in. Swap meet noids, to a point. The plants mentioned will be obvious at bloom and I twist tied knowns, color and height to their stalks while they were at their peak. This saving thing makes me feel like a hoarder. I like cannas but I have limited space. It's been a lot of extra work saving last years lot...

I've picked up free unmarked named variety daylilies that got out of hand, same for irises that folks had signs for. The irises were marked with ink pen on soda case boxes that got soaked in the rain. I'm going to end up being one of those people with "free plants" at the end of the driveway...

I've got a rural house nearby and I can certainly use them up there, just no time at the moment. I can say last years cannas produced a real bumper crop of potential. Those box store packages always suited me fine with maybe one 3 eye division in the lot, I'll never have to drop 6 bucks on one of those again, lol. Big Grin Already noticing growth on the unattended bare divisions sitting in the garage minus root production.

My storage method was highly unconventional but it worked. Loss was perhaps 10 divisions? More on that another time, it's late and I've got tree mail to tend to. Smiling
Last edited by Wes Apr 14, 2015 11:45 PM Icon for preview
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Apr 15, 2015 8:50 AM CST
Name: Elaine
Sarasota, Fl
The one constant in life is change
Amaryllis Tropicals Multi-Region Gardener Orchids Master Gardener: Florida Irises
Herbs Region: Florida Vegetable Grower Daylilies Birds Cat Lover
Wes, just a suggestion for your 'feel like a hoarder' problem - just save the biggest divisions of the ones you like best, and leave the not so great ones out in the garden to fend for themselves?

Or . . . put them out at the end of the driveway - my neighbors love me because I do this.
Elaine

"Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." –Winston Churchill
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Apr 15, 2015 9:50 AM CST
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
Elaine has a great idea with the "Curb Alert Cannas"!!!! Hurray!
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
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Apr 16, 2015 12:10 AM CST
Thread OP
Name: Wes
Ohio (Zone 6a)
I've partaken in Craigslist curb alerts on both sides.

Believe me, anything I can't use will be gifted one way or another. I'm an adopted kid myself, unknowns and seedlings deserve a chance too. lol! Smiling

My lot is larger than a half acre sounds. More usable than the last full acre+ I tended to but the previous did have a more enjoyable natural water feature. Stream that cuts your property in half can be a burden but it was always worth it. I have a dedicated daylily bed, hosta spot (my entire front yard could be a small commercial hosta operation), and various daylilies and irises about the place. Bought two galvanized trash cans for large (canna) planters today. I've got a big garage. Big planters cost a fortune. $15 and change per for the shorty trash cans. Bad day at the doctor, good day at the box store. 31 gallon planters made of clay, ceramic, or concrete would be $100/ea or more. Plus I'll have blooms above the roofline and I won't be on my knees to dig rhizomes. And obviously room for annuals, succulents, even daylilies in the unclaimed space.

Trashcan chic.

I've been working lawn care/landscape/ & nursery work most of my life. I'm not an expert on anything and never will be. I hate to see a wasted plant. Last nursery I worked was a short term gig. I loved it. High end joint, neighbors since my birth. Fantastic owners, great stock and staff. Worst chore ever was sending dwarf trees and shrubs to the burn/bulldoze pile. It seemed unfair to save a plant to a high dollar value and burn it alive because it hadn't been purchased. There are certainly worthy places/institutions to donate such things? Farther away now but nothing changes. I went to cancer clinic with a crap landscape and high turnover company. I could have run the whole place and made it nice for a fraction of what they've paid out. Death is good business, doc named the place after his dead dad (or himself) I lean towards the latter. I don't go anymore. Doctors and those types of places that work in those certainly care. When you dedicate to a career, it's kinda forever. I worked 2 nursing home jobs in my youth, between greenery work. It was terribly depressing but you learn a lot real fast. A simple stroke and I could be tube fed tomorrow. But my plan for the "alleged home of healing" would have included a no-touch walk through garden, a (limited) cutting garden as well as a (limited) fresh-cut veggie garden for the patients.

I hand delivered fresh-cut garden grown lilies, glads, and zinnias to the receptionists. They know and remember me. I've never seen a doctor at a funeral. They have divorce to keep them alive. I kinda get that, mourning every loss would break a person. Just like us every lost patient is a reminder of their mortality. The last thing I want to do is die, and I don't want to! Neither do they.

Doctor stuff is big business. When they build these facilities. Wouldn't it be nice if they actually considered the patient and those that tend to them?

Maybe someone else can take my plan and run. Make it happen. Patients facing death, near death, or risky procedures deserve the power of the plant. I feel there's something to this. I have an uncle of 90 years of age, a great man I've known all my life. Went to his birthday party, he was man of the hour and very little conversation but he came by last week and he mentioned planting a couple of hundred tulips last year. I never saw him plant a flower in all these (nearly 50) years. He had a variety he was seeking and I internetted up some prices and phone numbers. Beyond the simple joy of the end result, there is more to this hobby.

Bit of a rant and more. Delete if need be.
Last edited by Wes Apr 16, 2015 1:01 AM Icon for preview
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Apr 16, 2015 5:28 AM CST
Name: Kate
Holmes Beach, FL (Zone 10a)
Not all those who wander are lost.
Bromeliad Cactus and Succulents Region: Florida Foliage Fan Orchids Organic Gardener
Plant and/or Seed Trader Tropicals Xeriscape
DO not delete this!!!!!! If anything, it should be moved to a better, more visible thread!!!! Why don't more people think like you?? I am inspired by this. I feel the same way about plants--that people respond to them AND they respond to people. They are deeply spiritual and therapeutic. I would love to find a way to deploy your ideas and make this happen around here! Somehow!
"A garden isn't meant to be useful. It's for joy." - Rumer Godden
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