Question
Picked you because I just moved to NH from South Shore LI. I just bought some cannas from an individual grower online and when I received them, I noticed that they appear to be mostly bulbs, unlike any canna I have purchased before, and they have no root system. Will these bulbs/tubers establish a root system once I put them in the ground? Will it be this year or next year? Should I keep them or ask for a refund? I am used to buying them in the store and seeing what I am buying... This is not something I would have bought in the store...

Answer
I'm not totally sure I have a picture of this order of your Cannas, Kris, but perhaps I can calm your nerves a bit if I point out that Cannas -- which grow from Rhizomes -- grow new roots each summer.

The Rhizomes are in themselves rich, concentrated starch sources that are a cross between a bulb and an ordinary root.  Roots emerge each year from the Rhizomes.  Old roots may be cleaned off if, or when, the Rhizome is put in storage for winter.  Withered, shrunken Rhizomes would exhibit damage you absolutely would want to claim, but the absence of spent roots is not important.

Keep your receipt, however.  More than once I have wanted to go down to Home Depot to get the refund off a plant that never grew.  Have you ever tried to get a refund from a pot of dirt?  I can't keep a receipt AND a pot of dirt that long.  In theory, it is wonderful.  But it does not work for me, not even close.

So... keep that receipt, and see if you can detect some serious growth when you put these in the ground.  Give it a few weeks after planting.  In all likelihood, your fears are premature.  I could be wrong.  I often am.  But my money's on the Cannas.  Wish I could see 'em from my house.  Keep me posted.  Thanks for writing.