Ahhh, the horrible leaf roller has struck! I use a BT(Baccilus thuringiensis) spray that controls catepillars and worms but doesn't bother the good insects. Other folks have good results using a systemic insecticide.

Great! Thank you sooooooooo much.

I noticed that my brugs are also showing signs of "wormy" activity, so I am going to spray the cannas and the brugs with BT. The leaf rollers make such a terrible mess of the canna leaves that I usually cut and destroy any with the leaf rollers. The cannas will resprout in no time.

I also read that you can use a ketchup squirt bottle to apply the BT in the the canna leaves that haven't unfolded yet. That sounds like a good way to get the BT (or insecticide) into where the leaf rollers start.

Ah shucks, I just bought some cannas. Was going to ask if I should go ahead and plant or try to winter them over in a cool place? But I only paid $1 for 3 in a pk so think I will go ahead and plant them Probably won't come up and if they do maybe the insects will have eaten their fill and leave mine alone. This is my first year to really get excited about flowers, etc. Thanks to you guys. Just joking. I can't wait to get online and browse. So many great ideas and pictures.

Millie, my cannas here overwinter outside even without mulching. If in doubt, the tubers can be lifted and stored.

By all means, go ahead and plant your cannas now. They grow really quickly once they get started.

Can you buy the BT at places like the Co-Op or Walmart?

I thought I heard that soap water works? They are attcking my canna's and rose's...:((

I haven't seen BT available locally. I order mine from Gardens Alive.

I would be surprised if soap water was enough to deter leaf rollers and catepillars. Let us know if it works.