Cannas from seed advice

lee1125

Cannas from seed advice

Post by lee1125 »

I have just bought some canna seeds, i have not tried to grow these from seed before but thought i would give it a go after hearing people on here say how easy they are.

Just after some hints and tips please? :)

They are indian shot canna seeds.

Also do i wait until next spring to sow these or do them now?

Thanks :D
musabasjoos

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by musabasjoos »

Thanks to some generous forum members I’ve started some today.

I’ve done this a few times now.
  • I chip a little of the shell with a knife to expose the inner seed.
  • Then i soak them in water for 48hrs in my propagator, usually after the 48hrs have passed the root is already starting to show.
  • Then I pot them up individually with a 50/50 compost/perlite mix keeping them at around 20°C
They tend to get to about 6" high by November and restart in April.
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The Codfather
Posts: 6436
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Location: Darlington, C.O. Durham

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by The Codfather »

so what happens from November to them ?
AKA - Martin

Wish list - Big Palms or Dicksonia antarctica's but open to anything really.....Cash Waiting !
musabasjoos

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by musabasjoos »

The Codfather wrote:so what happens from November to them ?
they just stay on the windowsill not growing until the spring.
sanatic1234

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by sanatic1234 »

thats true in some ways about the growth stopping although my nans continued to grow through the winter and was flowering all through the winter as well, all that the plant got was the sun in the morning and early afternoon. :)
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Yorkshire Kris
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Location: Rural South Wakefield, Yorkshire Lat 53.64 Long-1.54

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by Yorkshire Kris »

Personally I would wait until Feb-April before sowing the seed. Why sow seeds now that will take up a lot of space and not become that much bigger than seeds sown in early Spring?

I found them dead easy this year from seed and they all germinated with 2-3 days in water. I did the nicking with nail clippers thing too.
dave2166

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by dave2166 »

Similar question really. Why start now. I've done over 100 from seed in the past couple of years and after a bit of experimenting in place each seed in a pair of pliers. Then with my junior hacksaw I score a line about half way round until I see the White part underneath then into water.
I get well over 90% success and have even left them in the water until the had quite a shoot before planting them. No difference whatsoever
Once you've got the knack it's easy
Bit of bottom heat till they've got shoots helps
Vagetarian

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by Vagetarian »

Reiterating everyone else, there is no rush with standard Cannas.

I planted some Canna seeds rather late in mid June of this year, they have been at an advantage by being in the conservatory the whole time but regardless, they all flowered a month or more ago and I've harvested 3 seed pods so far. I am waiting for the second and third stems to come into flower now.
musa_monkey

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by musa_monkey »

Have a look at the guide here;

http://www.cooltropicalplants.com/growi ... -seed.html
lee1125

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by lee1125 »

Thanks for all the advice guys :D
Kristen

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by Kristen »

I grew some from seed last year. Two varieties, 6 seeds each. There was an episode of Gardeners World in September which said to sow them and they would flower in the first year, but they would need a growing light to keep them going through the winter.

They weren't kidding about that "first year" bit ... I went on the Cannabis forums to become an expert in growing lights, ran the light on economy-7 overnight. The Cannas flowered in November :lol: and I collected several hundred seed in December !

I think I may have got some slightly OTT advice on the forums I was reading :D

I used a saw-file (the ones for sharpening saws) that have a filing surface on the edge of the file, and held the seeds in pliers, and then just back-and-forth with the file until the surface was nicked.

I tried a craft knife and nearly took my finger off icon_thumbdown - I don't advise that, its too easy to slip. I couldn't get a grip on the seed's coat with my toenail clippers, so that didn't work for me either.

Soaked them for 24 hours, put them in a ramekin with some moist kitchen paper and a bit of cling film over the top to keep the moisture in, and then planted them once they had chitted.

But 't'was all beginners luck.
grub

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by grub »

Welcome to the madhouse Kristen icon_thumleft. Say hi to everyone here http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... m.php?f=34 and don't forget to add a few piccies :lol: .
Last edited by grub on Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:03 am, edited 1 time in total.
grub

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by grub »

I favour Luciens 'Boiling water' trick, it's quicker and far less labourious http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... it=boiling
Kristen

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by Kristen »

grub wrote:Welcome to the madhouse Kristen icon_thumleft. Say hi to everyone here http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... m.php?f=34 and don't forget to add a few piccies :lol: .
Now done :)
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... 34&t=13816

I'll now start preparation of the daft questions ...
grub

Re: Cannas from seed advice

Post by grub »

Kristen wrote:
grub wrote:Welcome to the madhouse Kristen icon_thumleft. Say hi to everyone here http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... m.php?f=34 and don't forget to add a few piccies :lol: .
Now done :)
http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... 34&t=13816

I'll now start preparation of the daft questions ...
:lol:
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