Should canna foliage be cut back during the winter? I live in California's Great Central Valley, so our winters are fairly mild. Thank you, in advance, for your advice.
Even in warm zones your Canna's will need some winter care.
Trim the foliage back on the Canna's even if your not going to lift them and divide them.
Add some hardwood mulch to help with temperature fluctuations and keep them from drying out. Only water if the ground becomes to dry.
Do not fertilize in the winter.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/canna/storing-canna-bulbs.htm
I am in TX and do not need to dig up my canna bulbs for winter...when and how far back should I cut the leaves and stalks?
I would cut the spent Canna canes down to the ground. Then allow the other canes to flower.
Cannas do need to be lifted and divided once a year and spring is the best time to do this.
Before lifting the plants, cut them down to about 5 to 6 inches high.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/canna/canna-lily-care.htm
We love our cannas and have 3 different colors of a variety that we really like. Our understanding and what we think has happened before is that if you mix the colors they will bloom what they were the first year but will gradually all go to the dominant color. (usually yellow). Is there any truth to that? We have a nice deep red, a yellow and an orange mix with variegated/striped leaves. I would love to mix them in our long flower box but I'm nervous.
Yes, Canna Lily can make color mutations, this is often how some colors are 'born'.
Not every plant will do so, but if you grow Canna long enough you will see this in your garden.
The planting guide says "well draining soil," but I live in Texas (north of Houston) and these things are growing all over the place. We have clay soil. And they will grow in clay soil. But clay isn't especially well-draining. This seems a contradiction. I planned on planting them along with Rhododendron, hummingbird bush and a few other things, in an area of the yard that is sunny and has irrigation, and I'm wondering if this is even going to work, or will I need to enhance the soil...or come up with a different plan altogether. I'm new to gardening and some of the information I find online is contradictory, so I'm a bit flummoxed. I hope you can steer me in the right direction.
Canna Lily can do well in clay soil. One of the keys is to not plant to deeply, you can plant them about 2" deep.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/canna/canna-lily-care.htm
Do I, at any time, water, spray or mist the bulbs?
No, the bulbs should be kept dry throughout the winter to prevent rot or disease from affecting them.
I have a flower bed on my back fence approx. 100 ft long that contains canna lilys, iron plants, banana plant, small palm and another couple of plants from the lily family I do not now the name. I also have 5 other palms in my landscape near this bed. I would like to extend my garden that is now grass with some colorful(preferably blue or dark purple), low maintenance perennial flower. Any suggestions?
It will help for you to determine your growing zone in your selection of plants.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/planting-zones/
Determine your sunlight and soil conditions.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/info/perennial-garden-plants.htm
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/flowers/fgen/gardening-with-perennials.htm
Visit local garden centers or greenhouses to see what is available locally.
how do i know after winterizing canna bulb if it is viable. Put them in soil about for 2 weeks and I can"t tell if they are still good. I do not see any green coming up
Spring planted Canna bulbs can take 3 to 5 weeks to sprout.
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/bulbs/canna/canna-lily-care.htm