Q: I cut down my beautiful elephant ears and purple cannas yesterday, I
know they have to dry before I store them but my question is what
should I store them in? Some of the elephant ears bulbs were about 9
inches around at the bottom, so they are pretty big. Any suggestions?
How do you store yours and can I store the Elephant Ear and cannas
together?
Hardiness Zone: 6b
Thanks,
Chas from WV
A: Chas,
I store my bulbs (and various other flower seeds) in the drawers of an old dresser in the basement. It's provides plenty of cool, dark space, and keeps things not-too-dry and not-too-moist (and quite tidy). I line the drawers with a little newspaper and fill the "bulb" drawers with an inch or two of slightly moist peat moss to keep bulbs from drying out.
You can keep these bulb types together because they have similar storage requirement and both do well at 45°F to 50°F. If you don't have an old dresser use a shallow under-the-bed plastic storage bin (without the cover), a burlap sack, or a bushel basket. Plastic organizer towers with pull out drawers would work also, providing you make modifications for air circulation. Cover the bulbs with sphagnum moss or sawdust to keep them from drying out. Check them periodically for shriveling and add a little moisture to plump them back up if necessary. Don't store them more than 2 deep, especially if yours are really big, or they will generate enough heat to cause decay.
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I dig mine up, knock the dirt off, let them dry for a few days and store them in a brown paper bag in the closet (somewhere dark and dry will work).Pretty simple. The following spring when they're ready to plant, soak them in warm, not hot water for 24 hrs prior to putting them in the ground. The moisture helps to soften the bulb for roots to sprout. Yes, you can store cannas and el ears together since they are dormant.
I have both. All I do is dig them out, leaving some dirt on them . I put them in my basement in a cardboard box and just leave them alone. Sometimes they will continue to grow leaves for a month or so-I just cut them off. In the spring, I put them in a bucket of water, separate the babies and replant. I have done this for years and it works.
I do not have elephant ears , but I do have Cannas. I just pull them , cut off the leaves, knock off the dirt, and then put them in a cardboard box. Dry them out first , I don't use anything else, for smaller bulbs, I put them in paper bags when dry and put the bags in same box . I have been doing this for years with no problem. I keep mine in the attic.
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