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Latherdome · 10-02-2021, 07:32 PM

Hi all, this is my first post. A week ago bananas weren't on my mind, and I had no idea this site existed. I am a very unlikely banana grower. I have small basement living quarters in a larger shared house. I propose to make my quarters more pleasant with very large lush houseplants, and my winter blues more tolerable with the spill light from the necessary grow lights for the plants.

I love the look of banana plants, more than similar cannas, birds of paradise, etc. If it's possible to get fruit, so much the better. Right now my main concern is whether it's possible to keep dwarf banana plants healthy year-round with negligible natural light. And 6.5' ceilings only.

I've bought one of these lamps to determine first whether the light is pleasant: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._title_o00_s00. If yes, then to see whether I can grow, say, a Veinte Cohol under it in a 15-gallon grow bag.

Temperatures down here are stable around 68F, RH not far off 50%, with help of a humidifier in the heating season (Oregon, zone 8). I can commit to the work of watering, fertilizing, trimming, monitoring soil chemistry etc.

Obviously I have lots to learn yet. But can anybody tell me if I'm completely delusional, before I invest in everything necessary for the attempt? If not Veinte Cohol, should I give up on edible fruit and select some extra-dwarf ornamental sort? Will the lack of real sunlight help assure that I don't get too big a tree in here?

10-02-2021, 07:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Latherdome Join Date: Oct 2021 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 1,678 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Naive starter questions Hi all, this is my first post. A week ago bananas weren't on my mind, and I had no idea this site existed. I am a very unlikely banana grower. I have small basement living quarters in a larger shared house. I propose to make my quarters more pleasant with very large lush houseplants, and my winter blues more tolerable with the spill light from the necessary grow lights for the plants. I love the look of banana plants, more than similar cannas, birds of paradise, etc. If it's possible to get fruit, so much the better. Right now my main concern is whether it's possible to keep dwarf banana plants healthy year-round with negligible natural light. And 6.5' ceilings only. I've bought one of these lamps to determine first whether the light is pleasant: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._title_o00_s00. If yes, then to see whether I can grow, say, a Veinte Cohol under it in a 15-gallon grow bag. Temperatures down here are stable around 68F, RH not far off 50%, with help of a humidifier in the heating season (Oregon, zone 8). I can commit to the work of watering, fertilizing, trimming, monitoring soil chemistry etc. Obviously I have lots to learn yet. But can anybody tell me if I'm completely delusional, before I invest in everything necessary for the attempt? If not Veinte Cohol, should I give up on edible fruit and select some extra-dwarf ornamental sort? Will the lack of real sunlight help assure that I don't get too big a tree in here?