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View Full Version : Dwarf Cavendish cannot be stored bare root in winter?


siege2050
06-15-2014, 06:36 AM
I have read in a few places that DC do not store bare root or will not go dormant. I have a green house that never gets below 35 degrees in winter, and usually stays at least 45F or 50F most of the time. What would be the best way to store DC in this greenhouse, potted, bare root, etc., or is it not possible at that temperature? Also, if potted, can you cut the stem down to a couple of feet like you do a Basjoo, to save room? Basically a potted, chopped off pseudostem.

CountryBoy1981
06-15-2014, 09:30 AM
Your dwarf Cavendish will survive in the ground if it does jot get below 35 in a greenhouse. If there is frost, which should not happen in the greenhouse, the leaves will turn brown.

Pancrazio
06-15-2014, 07:37 PM
I have a greenhouse similar to yours apparently, unheated.
I have tried for two years to store dwarf cavendish potted in there. My absolute minimum inside was about 1°C and the winter here has maximum temperature that stay on average, outside, around 10-13C for 3 months. So inside the greenhouse the temperature must be pretty similar.
Well, the first year the DC was in great shape when putted in, lost all the leaves during the winter, and in March the pstem rot. Something says to me that the rotting pstem was already underway during winter and just completed as soon as the temperature raised a bit. All the roots died during the winter too.
Next year thing went ever worse. Not only the pstem died (even the next year, just in spring) but also the corm almost died.

Now what i do think is that DC can survive suck temperature only if they are brief. As long as they can last few weeks you are safe. If the are going to stay for months, DC will rot. It just can stand to stay idle, and it doesn't care if it isn't growing because cold, drought, lack of light.

(On the bright, DC grow very well indoor, it put 4 big leaves form me, from november to april, sitting at 1,5m from a east facing windows which was usually closed in the morning - pretty impressive, in my opinion)

siege2050
06-15-2014, 08:04 PM
Hmmm, not sure if I can keep it in the house, may get too tall. I might have to just save a pup each year, and attempt to overwinter the mother plant in the greenhouse. I had a feeling, I should have skipped the DC lol

Pancrazio
06-15-2014, 08:11 PM
Yeah, it's a bit fussy in a less than ideal environment. On the other hand, I think that it's very beautiful in summer!