LOL..did I scare ya. The trick is water, but dry by days end...easy in your area.
And in the winter...then don't water it. Some folks even keep them in the house...now that would be a pretty house plant....hmmmmm
Musa AE AE
I wouldn't suggest anyone else try this but a friend who has a large A'e A'e, cuts it to the ground each winter. His tree is over 15 years old and very healthy - I saw it myself. His theory is that people fuss too much with these plants. However, he does advocate that they absolutely must be on their own and planted far away from other nanas.
Yes, I'm finding out there is a big dividing line between fussers, and not.
This is indicitive that it thrives on neglect..mmm hmmm..
But I ask you...if you pay 100.00 to 250.00 for a plant...woudn't ya fuss...sounds like the hackers got theirs for free....lol...
I left mine out until mid January this year..then panicked and tucked it in the green house..
Alice, why did he say that they should be planted far away from other bananas? He's probably right about how fussing too much can be detrimental to the plant.
Rj, with no real leaves and just transplanted and in full shade, the soil isn't drying out that fast. I think I'm going to move mine to part sun now and see how it goes. I don't think I'll see burn in part sun.
Why did you cut off the leaves, Clare?
Clare, He told me they are susceptible to a fungal disease that they get from other bananas. It seems most bananas varieties are not bothered by this fungus but it can take down an A'e A'e and it will rot.
Yes, mine gets sun, in fact it didn't like the shadier area I relocated it from. Waynes is in the cold frame green house in mostly sun all day, some morning and afternoon shade..doing fine. They will get brown spots eventually, but the new leaves seem fine.
The do get quiet a bit of sun. Here is a picture of some in the sun..
My guy said morning sun is good because they have to havwe some light, just not hot afternoon sun.
sounds right..!
Kell, some of the leaves got a little wrinkled in shipping and were drooping a bit anyway after transplanting. The new leaf coming in looks great.
Thanks for that info, Alice. I'll make sure I don't plant near my other bananas if I do plant in the ground.
Rj, yours looks fantastic.
It likes that wood ash...That reminds me I need to get some from my friends chiminea
I just cut my mother Ae Ae down. She was at about 18 feet and had been hitting the greenhouse roof for months. Since the leaves were 8-10 ft long, every leaf would hit the roof and break the midrib. Got to looking real scraggly. I suffered through until the plant bloomed (finally, after about 4 years). Had a nice hand of variegated bananas and several pups at the base. Squirrels started going after the bananas and i was afraid they would damage the pups. So a few days ago I cut the mother down and sacrificed the bananas to let the pups have a chance. Here are a few pics...first the plant over a year ago before it got to the roof
Then the signal leaf and bloom
The bananas I removed
The cut trunk of the mother next to the largest pup (over 5 ft). I had to remove one pup already, it was all white.
Those bananas are too cool.
I wish I'd been able to keep them on til they ripened so we could eat them, but the squirrels can be vicious to my plants sometimes, so I just gave them to the squirrels so they would leave the trees alone
Beautiful plant, GQ!
I don't know what it is about the varigation that always appeals to me, but the kicker is striped fruit. I absolutely can not resist striped fruit.
I dread the day that I have to do that!!! Of course, I pray that mine will make it to that stage!!! I finally watered it Thursday. I hope I don't do the opposite and kill it for the lack of water. I'm still keeping it under the carport. Afraid of the sun too!!!!
Great pics, GQ. Thanks for sharing them. You have a beautiful plant there.
I bet that was tough... I like your green house. do you keep it closed all year?
yes.
If I opened it up the wild boar and all the other nuisance animals would have a field day
and probably some of us wild gardeners!
We layed ours down in the greenhouse this last winter and it was looking real good whenwe took it out. I had 15 pups and still is etting another one as we speak. It's geat and t never gives up. it's 9 years old and 21 ft. tall and is like the energizer bunny she never stops.I have exactly 3 plants left can't sell them fast enough.I am very happy with it and also it is by other bananas and we have no trouble with any kind of bugs.
Can I PLEASE have another? My battery ran down.
Jeri
My Ae Ae that I have been growing in upstairs bath and sitting area since first of December. Loves to be misted as many times a day as you want. Let the soil dry until 1 day before leaves droop and water enough where it does not run out of the pot drainage holes. (I use the pick up the pot and feel how heavy it is test for dryness)
I use 2/3 Miracle grow potting mix and 1/3 medium coarse perlite. Osmocote 14-14-14- as per directions.
Wow, this thread has been going a long time! Are the plants any more reasonable to buy now? Back in '04 it sounds like they were really rare.
I have a protected spot outside that gets warm sun in winter and shade in summer. D'you folks think I'd be able to grow one outside in this nice spot?
I'm a nut for variegated plants, too.
Ooooo all you people with your Ae Ae's, in plain sight for EVERYONE to see! I admit it, I have Ae Ae envy. :)
Looks like I'll be planting Stuttgart cannas this spring. :)
-Joe
Sometimes you can find them via Bananas.Org. I have seen them on E-bay also; usually a 2' tall plant for $65.00 plus shipping. I paid $100.00 plus shipping of approx. $35.00. It has grown about 1/3 since First week of Dec. Total height now with leaves in their bent over state about 3'-8''.
Upstairs in one of the baths. I have a Money Tree, Alocasia Borneo Giant, A. Lutea, A. Sarian, A.Odora Okinawa Silver, A. Lauterbachiana, A. Calidora tuber, A. Blue Portora tuber, A. Portei tuber, A. Odora Variegata, Xanthosoma Variegata, X. Sagittifolium tuber, X. Lime Zinger, plus about 30 aroids and bananas in the garage.
"I gots the sickness",
Drew
Wow, those are some pampered plants ya got there. Grow lamps in the light fixture?
Um, What do you do when you have company and need to make the bathroom available? For uh, people?
It's okay, it's a "healthy" sickness. Gorgeous Musa AeAe
Well dyzzypyxxy, Yes; those are 120 watt Gro Lights in the sinks and on the walls. On the other side of this mirrored wall is a sitting area. The second floor, has a huge floor to ceiling window on the south side of the house (in that sitting area) that is about 6'x8'. That's where they live when the "outlaws" come to town.
Everything in the garage hangs there till spring (4-6weeks). I have two Ceramic heaters in the garage and mist all plants in there twice a day. Inside stuff 8-10 times/day.
I have never grown the AeAe before so am reluctant to put it in the ground. However all my other tropicals I have ever had out in the gardens have done really well. I am zone 7-b. Will post pictures in the Spring and Summer.
Later,
Drew
Ae Ae doing fairly well at about 12' tall with an 8'' trunk, will bring into the house in the living area in about 6-weeks! E.Ventricosum to the right!
gorgeous homer! i love the ae ae.
You thinking about growing?
would absolutely love one, but hard to find even here in miami. i have a beautiful varigated crinum, bromeliads and costus. i am just getting the fever for varigated plants.
Hello, All. I've been away for awhile, but I thought I would give you an update on my variegated bananas. I bought four AeAe's in the summer of 2009, and they all died shortly after arrival. Luckily, the 5th one I bought (from Hawaii) survived. I too paid around $100 each. I have it in the ground where it's been since April, 2010. In January of 2010, I bought some Thai Variegated bananas, which are much less fussy and just as beautiful as the AeAe. I am really pleased with how the Thai ones have performed. The variegation is interesting and beautiful, and the white part of the leaves stays beautiful for much longer in full sun. They also pup quickly, and since the variegation is unstable, you get lots of interesting variegation in the pups. Here's a link to my photo album where I have some pictures: http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l153/Clare_CA/ Check the album that says "Bananas" also for more pictures. I'll upload a series of pictures here for you to see.
This is the AeAe that survived when I first received it. This is March, 2010.
Here it is in April, 2010.
For comparison, this is a Thai variegated banana in April, 2010.
June, 2010, Thai variegated banana.
