Dahlias, cannas and gladioluses also take a hit after a couple of heavy frosts. To try saving them for replanting another year, dig up the fleshy underground tubers, rhizomes and corms.

Saving cannas from the coming winter after frost blackens their leaves is an autumn ritual for Midwest gardeners.

The lifting and storing of bulbs becomes an easy annual routine with just a bit of practice. The reward is renewal and expansion of your favorite summer-flowering plants year after year.

Potted canna may be stored right in the container they were growing in. It’s critical for storage temperature to be well above freezing all winter long; aim for not lower than 45 to 50 degrees.

Allow them to dry for several hours. Afterwards, place the cannas in large boxes, wire crates or mesh bags. Store the cannas in a cool (40 to 50 degree Fahrenheit), dry location.

Examples of tender bulb plants include gladiolus, dahlias, lilies (callas), caladium, ranunculus, cannas, elephant ears and tuberous begonias. Not all of these plants are technically bulbs, however.

A few gardeners have reported success allowing the plants to stay dormant and overwintering it in an even cool dark location where you would store cannas and dahlias for winter. The temperatures ...

Tender perennials such as tuberous begonias, gladioli, cannas, dahlias and elephant ears make beautiful displays of color in our gardens, but they don't survive harsh winters. Their bulbs must be ...