Different hues

CANNA (Scitamineae) is an ornamental rhizamatous rooted plant, two to six feet high with a foliage in green, bronze-green or bronze bearing erect large bunches of brightly coloured flowers. It is a member of Canna Indica, a native of India which bears small yellow or scarlet flowers.

The family grows best in large beds and is suited for pots. The main types are the tall and dwarf varieties bearing large trusses of flowers in different hues.

There should be plenty of sunlight and heavily manured soil is essential. The plants can be planted at any time except during the hottest months. The best time is just before the rains. Old clumps should be dug up and the roots cleaned. Each bit should have at least one bud and planted two feet apart and four inches deep. Water once in three days till the shoots take root. Watering should be increased as growth progresses. Flowers appear in about three months. Diluted liquid manure made from neem oil cake can be applied once a fortnight. Cut back the stalks which are at ground level. Propagation is by division of rhizomes. Seeds are collected from large flowering varieties after cross pollination. Hard seeds can be soaked in water for two days before sowing.

Text and picture by

P. B. KRISHNAN

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