Steve L

I am new to this forum but have been growing tropicals for about 12 years. I'm in Zone 9 in coastal southwest Louisiana, Lake Charles, ground zero for Rita. I have grown Musa Beccarii for 4 years and have a similar experience. Each year, an inflo starts of emerge around late October or early November, but never quite makes it out before winter. It starts to show signs of cold damage below 45. Last year, our low was 24 and it didn't begin to show growth from the corm until June. By that time, my Musa Coccinea has got many blooms on it. We have had a mild winter so far this year with the low being 30. The main stalks have died but some of the shorter ones that are more protected have remained alive. This musa seems to be marginal in my zone although it is advertised to be hardy down to zone 8. I doubt it.

Steve