This might be an odd question, but I know bulbs don't need water when they are pulled for the winter (right?) I have Dahlias that will come out in the winter. Also, Brugmansia and Canna Lilies, do I take them out with a clump of dirt and keep them watered in the winter? or will the plants survive if the roots stay dry? Somehow that doesn't seem possible, but will see what the experts say...
Specific storage techniques vary with particular kind of plant. Look up culture of each individually to get tips.
Hi Paulina, Brugmansia (Brugs) can be grown indoors for the winter. Scroll down about 1/4 the way for English at this site. http://www.abads.net/brugmansia_winter.htm Dahlia http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopExt/4DMG/Flowers/Bulbs/dahltub.htm http://www.dahlias.net/seabox/savem.htm Cannas http://www.cannas.net/faq.asp Newt
you are right. the tubers need dry but not dry. You are a natural gardener and will have many great experiences with your hobby. air dry the tubers for a couple of days in the winter sun. We aren't really "drying" them ,we are toughening their skins so they won't rot and so they won't dry out for real during the winter. you can leave a little adhering dirt on there and that helps the tubers stay plump but still get tough. After they toughen up, then we store them so as to not lose anymore moisture. check them every now and then for the first couple of years until you have your method done pat. When you check them, you are checking for withering of the tuber (overdrying and dehydration). If you detect withering then add some moist material to the storage area so as to raise the humidity. Perhaps some wetted peat moss between the tubers or nestled in the sand. Iceburg lettuce is a nice thing to use also. Don't put sopping materials there and don't let the pure water actually touch the tubers. The sand that you store the tubers in doesn't need to be wetted before you store the tubers. Put 2in/5cm below the tuber and 3in/7.5cm above. you can bring them out of hibernation a few weeks before growing season so as to get them ready for growing season. They would like to be put on wetted material and put under light. The shoots should start to develop out of the eyes. if they do not, then sprinkle water on them every day. the above is for both the cannas and the dahlias (and all bulbs I know of, although some bulbs do want a trip through the fridge before they get replanted). The brugmansia is called a shrub and not meant to be dug, you can expect some frost damage and uglishness during the winter. AND CAUTION: The brugmansia is also called "datura" and it can be used for poisons sometimes. If you have kids you might want to get rid of it unless you have specific uses for it in mind.
