Winterize or grow inside?

[lisasha3]

Hi guys! Newbie to this forum and looking for some advice. Was refered here by the wonderful Catsite folks. :)
I did a search for the two plants I have in question before I posted here and couldn't find what I was looking for. I apologize ahead of time if this is a repeat question.
My question is on Canna's and Purple Fountain Grass. I know both are two very different plants, but my question is the same for both - is there anyway to bring these plants inside over the winter to grow in the house? Or do I have to winterize the Canna? What if anything can be done with the fountain grass?
Any advice greatly appreciated. (I'm in Zone 5)
Thanks!
Lisa

[Sar]

Hi Lisa! Just saw your thread on TCS and had to pop over to see if you'd posted! :)

I'm sorry, I have no idea what Zone 5 is! :blush: In the UK, we are supposed to put our Cannas in the greenhouse over winter to protect them from the cold and to let them die back. However, we left one of ours out over the winter last year (slightly sheltered by a porch roof) and it did fine!

Do you have a greenhouse? You can get heaters and window temperature guages that will allow the plant to have a regulated temperature throughout the colder months! I think completely indoors may be too hot for them, but I could be wrong! :)

[Karen]

I found some info about the canna :)

http://www.karcheskycanna.com/growingtips.htm

[lisasha3]

I found some info about the canna :)

http://www.karcheskycanna.com/growingtips.htm

Thanks so much Karen! I'll check out the website when I get a chance.
As for greenhouse or stuff like that - nope. Don't have anything. I may just need to winterize it like a bulb for next year. I think I"m more concerned about my fountain grass. I love it and it's huge, but I'll probably lose it.

[neetanddave]

I'm in Zone 7, and we just cut them both back and leave them in the ground over winter. But we rarely see the ground hard enough to freeze, and I'm sure you do.

On tubers (or rhizomes, which the canna is) that I do pull up every year (dahlias, caladiums), I get the big bag of peat moss, slice up a flap on the top of the plastic, dig out about half the peat and put the tubers in there. then cover them with some peat and close the flap. Then store in the garage or utility room where it won't freeze.

The Fountain Grass can probably just be trimmed down (like Pampas Grass) and should come back, but I'd have to do some research on that one.

:SmilieDaisy: WELCOME to VF:SmilieDaisy:

[Sar]

Neet, I was thinking the same with the Fountain Grass. If, however it does get very cold in Zone 5, then you can always wrap it in some horticultural fleece, making sure that the heart of the grass is protected from any frost or snow! :)

[LokisMum]

We're in zone 5 here, and cannas definitely have to be brought in for the winter - treat the rhizomes like you would bulbs. Fountain grass, not sure about - I would just cut it back.

[maggiesgranny]

WOW you people are so smart! I feel honored to be in this forum with you all!!:hearthrob:

[neetanddave]

;) Well you should have known how smart I am already, you've known my like 15 years now... I was smart enough to pick you as my friend! :D

[maggiesgranny]

I picked you? Thought we just kinda migrated. Wasn't that hard to figure out who was on my level of smarts! Of course if these people only knew what the choices were there LMAO:rock:

[lisasha3]

Neet, I was thinking the same with the Fountain Grass. If, however it does get very cold in Zone 5, then you can always wrap it in some horticultural fleece, making sure that the heart of the grass is protected from any frost or snow! :)
Ok - please enlighten me - what the heck is horticultural fleece? I've never heard of this. It does sound promising though.

[LokisMum]

Ok - please enlighten me - what the heck is horticultural fleece? I've never heard of this. It does sound promising though.

Try this link:

http://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profiles0201/fleece.asp

It looks a lot like cheescloth - just something to protect the plants. Anyway, looks like interesting stuff. I use burlap here depending on what it's for. It's great for shrubs and roses, but might smother something more delicately made. Mulch is a good protector for winter as well, but you have to make sure that you don't put it down too soon or you'll end up with little families of mice living under it in the winter!

[Steve]

Lisasha3, welcome to the forum! If you have been to the Social Lounge and introduced yourself, let me say, I have noit, lol. Besides, any welcome is a good welcome, isn't it?

Those Purple Fountain grasses drive me nuts. I love them! Yet, here in Reno, they are more of an annual, unfortunately. A hard winter will definitely do them in. I would dig it up, late fall, before any severe frost, and pot them up. Definitely bring them inside, somewhere, maybe a garage. I would not prune the top until it goes completely brown, however, oddly enough. By uprooting them, you have already shocked it somewhat, especially if it still shows any signs of growing and you will lessen the shcok by, 1, waiting til late and, 2, letting the roots settle a bit in their new container. You will want to water them now and then, too, btw. Don't let them completely dry out. A plant like that does not ever go completely dormant.