Gareth

Hi Georges, thanks for asking.

M ingens is still powering ahead for me, despite all my attempts to kill it.

In summer, I worried that it was too hot in the conservatory- so moved it outside into my garden, still in its pot. It went downhill within hours... the wind snapped off some leaves, it looked awful and then within a couple of days, black patches started appearing on the stem.... which grew and grew and went deeper....
I thought it was finished...
However, moving it into my "tropical house" as an intensive care unit (nights 18C, summer days up to 35C), it started to recover and after a couple of duff leaves, resumed its progress skywards.

So, I have learned a few lessons here.

First- it doesn't like the cold (eg the sorts of conditions that M. basjoo or sikkimensis thrive in). Also- it doesn't like wind.

I had hoped it would behave like an Ensete in its requirements, and thrive in uk summers, but my feeling so far is that it's too tender.

Second, it heads upwards at a frightening pace. This is possibly unsurprising.

Each new leaf adds around 15cm to the stem, and it puts out a leaf about every 3 weeks.

So, in every way, this is a completely impractical prospect for anyone in the uk. No idea what I will do with it by the end of next year- if indeed it pulls through winter.