I was in Lowe’s this spring to buy vegetable plants and seeds and of course I can’t go there without walking through the flowers, but I managed to get out with only purchasing two.
The colors of this canna lily just shouted my name! I love the burgandy foliage and the orangey/coral blooms. I immediately decided they had to come home with me. I knew I wanted to put them in pots by our hot tub, so I also got some creeping jenny to make the pots more interesting. Then I thought one pot might look a little lonely, so I bought 2 of each so I would have enough to do two pots.
I loved the way they looked sitting by the hot tub. And when I get my new deck built, they will be show stoppers! But have you ever noticed how things look better in threes? Yep. I needed another one. So a few weeks later I went back to Lowe’s to get another one and they were sold out. Insert sad face here.
I knew what had to be done. DIVIDE and CONQUER! I put potting soil in my third pot and then inspected the two plants I had to find a likely looking suspect. I was looking for a sprout that was a little removed from the center cluster of leaves. This would make it easier to separate from the pack. I then took my trowel and ruthlessly cut down into the soil between the one I wanted and the ones to remain! You could use a knife and if it weren’t potting soil you would probably need to, but the soil in the pot is so soft, the trowel worked fine. I then plopped my newly separated plant into its new home. I then did the same thing with the creeping jenny.
Now I have three beautiful pots. hmmmmmm When I get that new deck built around the hot tub, I just might need three more!
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It’s been a couple of weeks since I did the plant surgery and LOOK! I have a new sprout in the newest pot!
I love these so much, I really have to control myself not to go overboard and plant more. I’d love to have a greenhouse and/or conservatory to do some major plant starting, dividing and propagation. Do you get new plants from the plants you already have?
Janis Yarbrough says
Nikki, I am enjoying your post. I am looking for motivation. Your posts.are giving me this.
gwingal says
Thanks Janis! I love seeing your pictures. I also draw inspiration from you. 🙂
madamdreamweaver says
I’d like to get Canna’s with burgandy leaves like that. Mind usually get all ratty looking though because of this certain kind of moth that lays eggs deep in the leaf coils and the caterpillars eat them until they look like brown rags.
gwingal says
Hi Madam, I had some like that too that always looked bad. I am keeping my fingers crossed for these. Hoping I can take care of them better since they are in pots. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
Cathy Lawdanski says
Turned out great and I LOVE the colors!
gwingal says
Thanks Cathy! I do love them. I don’t do many pots because I can’t keep them watered in this hot summer heat in Alabama, but these I just couldn’t resist. Thanks for visiting. 🙂
JES says
Love the way that plants are the gift that keeps giving! Thank you for sharing this easy propagation tip with us on the Art of Home-Making Mondays at Strangers & Pilgrims on Earth! 🙂
gwingal says
Thank you Jes for stopping by and commenting! I do love plants that multiply and make it easy on me to spread them all around my yard. 🙂
Grammy Dee | Grammy's Grid says
I like the color of the canna lily plants and also the pots of 3 🙂 I shared your post onto Fb, G+, Pin, and Tw.
Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures says
Gorgeous canna lilies! -Marci @ Stone Cottage Adventures
Nancy Wolff says
I love plants that keep on giving!
gwingal says
Oh me too Nancy! I almost only buy perennials too. I don’t like having to replant every year. 🙂
Renee says
I admire your green thumb. I may be the only person to have killed a Peace Lily.
gwingal says
hahahaha Well, no, you aren’t. I am not really very good with indoor plants. I either drown them or dehydrate them. I kept a peace lily for 5 years but eventually forgot to care for it. 🙂
Cathy plant lover says
I’ve killed several peace lilies so I dont accept those from people I’ve killed jades and many others but cannas are easy.
I love planting canna seeds and discovering new colors.
sizzlesue15 says
Gorgeous colours and these lilies remind me of my Mum. Thanks Nikki! xx
gwingal says
Thanks for visiting with me Sue. 🙂
linda7744 says
Our neighbor (before he passed) a master gardener and a Lily lover.. so many lily’s in his yard.. He cross pollinated some and they were so beautiful. I do not think I ever saw a Canna lily thou.. I have propagated loads of houseplants. Even had a small houseplant business for a few years. Sold it out this winter.. To much to do.
gwingal says
Oh that sounds like fun! I dream of retiring and having a farmers stand in my yard…
Thistle Cove Farm says
Canna lilies are beautiful and enjoyed reading how to divide.
gwingal says
Leaf rollers made me dislike cannas. But I’m finally getting past it…
Dawn says
Love cannas! My dad grew them and I took his when he died and am still growing the same ones (11 years later!) Again, we apparently don’t have as many bugs here as you do there as I’ve never had a problem with more than a few little holes in the leaves here and there. The hummingbirds just go crazy for them in August, which is so much fun!
gwingal says
Oh how neat! I wasn’t aware that the hummingbirds love them. I’ll be planting more!