My New Canna Lily Has Little Purple Blooms

Plant Age

• Young, immature canna lilies often produce small, dark blooms. Cannas grow and bloom from spring through summer, then die down for the winter months. The plants produce smaller, weaker blooms in fall for this reason. Maintain the bulbs through winter and into the next summer for better, brighter blooms.

Site and Sun

• Canna lilies are tropical, so they require full, bright sun for growing and blooming. Plant the bulbs with six to eight hours of full sun every day and good air circulation. Give each canna bulb 1 1/2 to 3 feet of space for growing. Cannas in crowded or shady situations produce inferior blooms.

Soil and Nutrition

• All flowering plants produce their best growth and flowers with adequate nutrition. Give canna lilies rich, loose soil with organic compost amendments at planting. Mix organic compost into canna soil every spring and apply 5-10-5 or 5-10-10 fertilizer in the spring. Cannas cannot bear their large, decorative blooms without good soil and nutrition.

Water and Mulch

• Water these tropical plants with 2 to 3 inches of water every week to keep the foliage lush, green and productive. Lack of water leads to wilted foliage and small blooms. Lay 2 inches of organic mulch over the soil to keep it moist and warm for better protection.