I am in zone 7 and need to take care of our red banana. It grew beautifully in its first year in a big clay pot, to about 6 '. With nights in the 40's and frost not far off, the leaves are yellowing, and I know I have to prepare for winter.
Should I bring it in the garage and let it dry out? Could I keep it in the house, let the old leaves eventually fall, and look for top growth? Or? Any advice will be very appreciated. This is a beautiful tree, and I want to treat it right! Oh - I also have a small greenhouse. It would take a lot of space, but would it be better off going into dormancy at 50 degrees plus for the winter?
Peter
Banana Tree Care
scroll down to learn how to protect ur plant http://www.bananaplants.net/bananaplants.html
Thank you MaVieRose!-
This site has good care instructions, but also lists more bananas than I ever expected to see. Now I have to get more!
But when they say that one can store the plant dry for the winter, with or without the top (some phrase like that), do you take that to mean that I would cut off the stem, or leave the stem and let the leaves dry off, letting the plant start leafing out "at the top" when replanted in the spring?
Peter
This message was edited Nov 9, 2003 11:16 AM
Peter,
when i used to lived in Los Angeles, i take pups off the mother tree. plant the pups in 1 gal. pots, bring them indoors... these grew nicely during the winter months. i did that for security reasons [just in case i lose the mother plant, i am assured i got another plant going.
no, do not keep the plant too dry. musa's thrive on moisture, but do not over water. i water the pots indoors at least once a month or when i see the plant need moisture. they do thrive indoors real well.
do not cut off the stem either, leave it as it is. it will give extra protection for the plant during the cold weather. new leaves will emerge in due time indoors or in GH.
having all these rescent weird weathers we have had lately, i can not honestly say plant the musa in spring time. i do wait till the weather gets warmer... in my area, it would be around May or June. winter in the desert do go down to 10 deg. F. use u're best judgment is the best advice i can give, as i am not familiar with ur area.
i never cut off the main stem, until new pups appear on the sides of the mother plant. pups are ur assurance of replacement of the original plant. i would leave the stems alone for now. good luck.
Thank you, MaVie -
We are about 5 degrees colder than you. I am told that the plants definitely will not make it outside, and since it is already in a pot, I will just put the whole thing inside. But the idea of keeping it inside came from the site you sent me, provided it is in a really cool garage. Indoors I will keep moist, not wet, til warm weather. Make sense?
Peter
u're very welcome Peter :).
do check ur plant once in a while to play it safe. try not to keep it too cold. i do not want u to lose ur plant.
i have some musa planted in pots in a covered patio. it is the 1st time i am growing musa in the cold desert. so far, they are doing good. new leaves are growing off the trunk.
the last few weeks, our night time temp was in the upper 20's. in the event it gets more cooler, i think i will bring them indoors, just to be in the safe side.