whichever is warmer is where I would store it. Let the foliage die back but if the temps start to approach 55 at night I'd think about lifting them even if the foliage hasn't completely die back. But I could be wrong. None of mine made it after being lifted.

Thinking about that maybe you should just ignore me completely.

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I'll ask my mom tonight, she has a lot of these and I am going to start planting them next spring. She has more than what she knows to do with! I'll get back to you...we are Minnesota/North Dakota people too! Cold!

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PattyM

I just drag my pots into the basement which is 50-60 degrees in the winter.

Give them half a glass of water about once a month. By March they are coming up. I put them outside at the end of May and by the end of June beginning of July I have flowers.

I know many people dig them up dry them put them in paper bags. I guess my way and the paper bag works. But dirt and some moisture works for me.

If you do not want to bring in the pot a ziplock bag or plastic shoping bag with some soil would work also. I try to simulate the growing conditions vs dried bulbs.

I have some of the cannas I grow in the album below.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/audwoman/

If you want the rainbow you have to put up with the rain!!

So, how do I dry the bulbs?? I don't mean to sound so ignorant, but I want to make sure I do this right.

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All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism.

Oh yah - My mom has the tall red ones. I had never seen them before my mom started them 2 years ago, now I see them everywhere I go! I want the small yellow ones - those are pretty.

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PattyM

quote:

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Originally posted by plantqueen:
So, how do I dry the bulbs?? I don't mean to sound so ignorant, but I want to make sure I do this right.

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I am sorry I did not explain the drying process.

You can leave them outside until the frost kills the leaves. They will turn brown. Cut the leaves off. At this point you have two choices.

1. Rinse the soil off the bulbs and put them in a styrofoam box with some peat.

2. This is my process, Rinse them off put them in small pots with clean soil and bring them in to a cool place 50-60. Water 1/2 glass of water about once a month or every two months. You do not want them wet just enough water so the bulb does not dry out.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/audwoman/

If you want the rainbow you have to put up with the rain!!

PQ - Just talked to my Mom, she said she waits until it starts to get cold and she's cleaning up her flowers for the year, digs up her cannas, knocks the dirt off, puts them in a box or a paper bag and puts them in the basement. That sounds easy!

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PattyM

Yes you do not want them to dry out. Everyone has a different way of storing them.

I started keeping them in the pots in the cool dark basement with little water for two reasons.

1. I have a short growing season. I wanted to see them up and blooming before Aug. We usually get cold by Sept.

2. When I waited until the end of May to get them started they were so small all of June and July it was not giving me the bang I wanted for my garden and pots that I use them for on the Patio.

I try to keep my tropical plants in a semi-sleep. Just as they would be in a zone 7. They do not start to grow inside when they are cool until March-April. It is like they have an internal clock that it is time to wake up. When the pots go out in May they are ready to take off. I have instant plants in 3 wks instead 2 mos.

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http://www.flickr.com/photos/audwoman/

If you want the rainbow you have to put up with the rain!!

Ok what is this semi-sleep ? I got some canna seeds and not sure if I should put them in the ground now or wait till spring.
Diane

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buzz buzz buzz

http://s86.photobucket.com/albums/k103/Di_06/