View Full Version : Container Red Abyssinian....frost round the corner
rocco
10-11-2012, 09:22 AM
Hello guys,
I am here in Ontario Canada and it looks like frost is round teh corner. How can I make sure I don't lose my 2 bananas over the winter please? I lost one last year when all I did was unpot it in the fall and left it in a bucket of water in the basement.
please advise
cheers
Abnshrek
10-11-2012, 10:27 AM
leave them in the pot and put them in the basement is better off than in a bucket of water. :^)
sandy0225
10-12-2012, 07:30 AM
It depends on the size of your plant. If it's a large banana, and you physically can't get it in the house or get it to fit inside, cut it back. If it's already in a container and you can move the container with friends or a hand truck, bring in the whole container. If it's in a container you can't move, dig it out of there.
If it's small, you have to grow it as a houseplant over winter because it wouldn't be strong enough to go through the whole long winter in storage. So in that case, spray it with a mix of 2 Tablespoons oil and 2 Tablespoons shampoo in a gallon of warm water. Spray it all over to the point of top and bottoms of leaves are thoroughly wet in a shady place or garage or bathtub, let it dry, and then put it close to your sunniest window for winter. Water it sparingly and watch for spider mites. Respray as necessary.
Don't put it in a bucket of water, that's really bad advice. Especially for ensetes, they like it a little more dry than bananas anyway.
I've had larger 6 foot ensetes go through the winter great around here barerooted. They seem to like it dry. but if you keep it in the pot and bring the whole thing in that would be best. Then all you have to do in the spring is repot if necessary, start watering sparingly, put it in the shade if it has leaves, put it in the sun if it doesn't.
rocco
10-12-2012, 01:14 PM
It depends on the size of your plant. If it's a large banana, and you physically can't get it in the house or get it to fit inside, cut it back. If it's already in a container and you can move the container with friends or a hand truck, bring in the whole container. If it's in a container you can't move, dig it out of there.
If it's small, you have to grow it as a houseplant over winter because it wouldn't be strong enough to go through the whole long winter in storage. So in that case, spray it with a mix of 2 Tablespoons oil and 2 Tablespoons shampoo in a gallon of warm water. Spray it all over to the point of top and bottoms of leaves are thoroughly wet in a shady place or garage or bathtub, let it dry, and then put it close to your sunniest window for winter. Water it sparingly and watch for spider mites. Respray as necessary.
Don't put it in a bucket of water, that's really bad advice. Especially for ensetes, they like it a little more dry than bananas anyway.
I've had larger 6 foot ensetes go through the winter great around here barerooted. They seem to like it dry. but if you keep it in the pot and bring the whole thing in that would be best. Then all you have to do in the spring is repot if necessary, start watering sparingly, put it in the shade if it has leaves, put it in the sun if it doesn't.
Thanks for the response everyone. The ensente is in a larger container and have attached picture to show you
rocco
10-28-2012, 02:21 PM
As advised by you guys, I have the bananas indoors by the window and they are throwing out leaves with minimum watering
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