For anybody wanting to grow canna from seed, here is the method we've tried and tested that works best for us (and the quickest, as I'm rather impatient)!
As cannas have a very hard seed coat it helps to scarify the seed coat before potting it up, as this will enable it to absorb water, speeding up the germination process considerably. To do this simply hold the seed and rub it against a piece of sandpaper or an emery board. Be careful not to over scarify, as you don't want to damage the embryo. As soon as you've penetrated the hard, black seed coat you'll notice a slight change in colour (beige). This is the time to stop scarifying.
Placing the seeds into a jar of warm water will now allow the seeds to absorb water. Place the jar on top of a heated radiator for 2-3 days, changing the water twice a day. After this time you should notice the the white embryo emerging from the top of the seed (and not necessarily from where you scarified it - see picture below). Now it's time to pot up into a moist compost. Placing a glass cover/cling film over the pot will help raise the humidity, but remember to air every few days to prevent any mould building up. Keep them somewhere warm and in a bright location. Job done :)
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