Cannas can make an ordinary garden look tropical all summer, with huge leaves and brightly colored flowers that sometimes continue until frost. The problem arrives when temperatures plunge, because these heat-loving plants aren’t equipped to handle frozen ground in colder climates. Their underground rhizomes can be saved and replanted, however, which means a little fall work can keep you from buying replacements next spring. Successful canna winter storage comes down to protecting those rhizomes from two opposite threats: freezing and drying or rotting during months indoors. If you’ve invested in several cannas—or have a variety you particularly love—knowing how to store them correctly is worth the effort.
