Canna Cultivation

Amend the soil in the planting area with 3 inches of manure or compost mixed into the top 8 inches of soil. Use a shovel or gardening fork to ensure that the amendment is mixed well with the soil.

Plant the canna rhizome, either end up, deep enough so it is covered with 2 inches of soil. If you're planting more than one canna, space them 12 inches apart.

Water the planting area and keep the soil moist until the rhizome sprouts. Cannas need consistently moist soil during the growing season, so keep an eye on the soil during hot or windy weather.

Feed the canna plant for the first time just before it flowers. Use 3 lbs. of 5-10-5 fertilizer for every 100 square feet of canna bed once a month throughout the flowering season.

Cut the flower stalk when the flowers fade. This discourages the canna from going to seed and, instead, encourages production of additional flowers.

Allow the foliage to remain on the canna after the flowering season. Wait for it to turn yellow, and then cut it to 1/2 inch above the soil.

Dig up the rhizome and place it in a cool area to dry for three to four hours. When the rhizome is dry, bury it in peat moss, placed in a box. If you will be storing more than one, do not allow them to touch one another.

Store the box in an area that remains between 40 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit until the following spring when you can replant it.