View Full Version : Deep Planted Basjoo Dying?
RafaelNJ
07-21-2014, 10:25 PM
So I purchased two Bananas from Lowes last week (just said Musa but I am pretty sure they are Basjoos) and I planted one the regular way and the other a foot deep (foot from top of the soil line) to see if will live unprotected in 6a. The one that was planted regular seems to be doing ok but the one deep planted seems to be very droopy. The leaves are now pretty much hanging straight down to the ground. The leaves on both were a bit beat up to start with but they were ok. Did I plant this thing too deep? I am also worried the soil might be too heavy and I did not amend it enough (I have read online to deep plant you should just fill the hole with peat and compost or lose soil?). I did not add a great amount of peat moss or compost and manure (I think also very little sand) but I had a palm tree planted in this spot a couple season ago so it was amended then also. I added a picture of it to the gallery but not sure how to link it here. Should I try to amend the soil better? replant it or just leave it alone?
sunfish
07-21-2014, 10:46 PM
So I purchased two Bananas from Lowes last week (just said Musa but I am pretty sure they are Basjoos) and I planted one the regular way and the other a foot deep (foot from top of the soil line) to see if will live unprotected in 6a. The one that was planted regular seems to be doing ok but the one deep planted seems to be very droopy. The leaves are now pretty much hanging straight down to the ground. The leaves on both were a bit beat up to start with but they were ok. Did I plant this thing too deep? I am also worried the soil might be too heavy and I did not amend it enough (I have read online to deep plant you should just fill the hole with peat and compost or lose soil?). I did not add a great amount of peat moss or compost and manure (I think also very little sand) but I had a palm tree planted in this spot a couple season ago so it was amended then also. I added a picture of it to the gallery but not sure how to link it here. Should I try to amend the soil better? replant it or just leave it alone?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56471&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56471):woohoonaner:
RafaelNJ
07-21-2014, 11:07 PM
Thanks Tony, any suggestions as to my situation?
Hammocked Banana
07-22-2014, 04:54 PM
I think the leaves just were weak from the strong sun, and kinked either in the wind or from the transplant. New leaf looks good, so I think it will be fine. That being said, if your soil is very heavy the plant may be suffocating a bit. I think it will be ok, but you know the soil better than me.
RafaelNJ
07-22-2014, 05:28 PM
I think the leaves just were weak from the strong sun, and kinked either in the wind or from the transplant. New leaf looks good, so I think it will be fine. That being said, if your soil is very heavy the plant may be suffocating a bit. I think it will be ok, but you know the soil better than me.
Thanks, I guess I will just let it go and see what happens, I am not really familiar with growing bananas so I Am not really sure as to how much I should amend the soil. I have cut the three leaves off today as I saw they are getting worse and would be all dried up shortly. The new leaf was already there when I bought the plant but I am not sure if its continuing to come out. I cannot remember how it looked when I got the plant. It has dried up brown edges but overall looks ok.
Hammocked Banana
07-22-2014, 06:36 PM
How wet is the soil? How ofter are you watering?
RafaelNJ
07-22-2014, 07:23 PM
How wet is the soil? How ofter are you watering?
I am trying to water every day since I planted them last Tuesday (so a week). I might have missed a day. As to the soil I have no idea how wet it should or should not be :) I just read they like all the water they can get but water is definitely not standing. Problem might be as you said before. I did dig a deep hole to bury it deep so it might be standing on the bottom, I am not sure I dug deep enough, really just deep enough to put the plant in from the pot, might be an inch of amended soil below that and whatever dirt was below the rootball in the container.
Duckfood
07-22-2014, 09:23 PM
Personally, I would cut back of the watering for a while...
Hammocked Banana
07-23-2014, 10:49 PM
Def way too much water.
RafaelNJ
07-23-2014, 10:59 PM
Def way too much water.
That being said the other banana that I planted at normal height is getting the same watering and is putting out a second leaf since I planted it a week ago. :P I am starting to be skeptical about these being Basjoos though, the stems are so thin, my one foot plants from the online order have a thicker stem already and these are 3-4 footers.
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 06:41 PM
Wow, I do not understand this one......
I like everything see in your pics except the hole size that it is planted in.
Bigger and more room is always better....with your plant.
This is a Musa Basjoo.....One of the most forgiving ornamentals ever.
The corm size in the posts that you have read failed to determine what size(they gotta be bigger than a baseball) this includes the informative posts I have made. Sorry for the confusion.
ONLY WHEN THEY ARE AT LEAST FOUR FEET TALL MAY YOU PLANT THEM DEEPER THAN EIGHT INCHES.........IF NOT THE NEW PLANT IN THE SPRING MIGHT NOT PUSH THROUGH TO HEAVY SOIL....
A million dollar hole for a five dollar plant is my rule....
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14529175079" title="Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14529175079_1dfc0bfccb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Untitled"></a>
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14620789833" title="Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/14620789833_5f427b85e9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Untitled"></a>
RafaelNJ
07-25-2014, 06:56 PM
Wow, I do not understand this one......
I like everything see in your pics except the hole size that it is planted in.
What I meant is I only dug the hole deep enough to be able to plant the root ball from the container and have a foot of soil above. So there is not much amended soil below and tougher dirt is beneath. The water might be pooling on the bottom of the hole because of this. The plant is still alive but the leaf has not come out any further then in the pics. Its just stuck in a lingo.
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 07:16 PM
What I meant is I only dug the hole deep enough to be able to plant the root ball from the container and have a foot of soil above. So there is not much amended soil below and tougher dirt is beneath. The water might be pooling on the bottom of the hole because of this. The plant is still alive but the leaf has not come out any further then in the pics. Its just stuck in a lingo.
http://www.bananas.org/f10/hibernating-basjoo-19512.html#post244613
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 07:17 PM
What I meant is I only dug the hole deep enough to be able to plant the root ball from the container and have a foot of soil above. So there is not much amended soil below and tougher dirt is beneath. The water might be pooling on the bottom of the hole because of this. The plant is still alive but the leaf has not come out any further then in the pics. Its just stuck in a lingo.
got it....:08:
You might as well plant your plant in a bucket.....with no drainage.
A common challenge for you and I is our soil is not condusive to great gardening...
If you dig a nice tidy hole which is similar to the bucket I have posted.....you have done just that, dug a bucket with no drainage for your plant...it will drown and die.
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14558623078" title="Banana in a buckrt by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/14558623078_132e3c27c9_c.jpg" width="800" height="598" alt="Banana in a buckrt"></a>
Took the photo moments ago..
Hammocked Banana
07-25-2014, 07:32 PM
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14620789833" title="Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3842/14620789833_5f427b85e9_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Untitled"></a>
Whats with the beans?
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 07:39 PM
Whats with the beans?
Brady..
Planted this basjoo with 19 -19- 19-with the can as a measurement..
3 Weeks ago
Plants are 9 inches deep including the swords......
So far so good..
pics if you need them.:08:
RafaelNJ
07-25-2014, 07:46 PM
got it....:08:
You might as well plant your plant in a bucket.....with no drainage.
A common challenge for you and I is our soil is not condusive to great gardening...
If you dig a nice tidy hole which is similar to the bucket I have posted.....you have done just that, dug a bucket with no drainage for your plant...it will drown and die.
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14558623078" title="Banana in a buckrt by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3869/14558623078_132e3c27c9_c.jpg" width="800" height="598" alt="Banana in a buckrt"></a>
Took the photo moments ago..
would you suggest I digit up and make a deeper hole? my dirt is not really that bad so I am sure there is drainage just not sure if good enough. How far deep below the root ball do you dig to plant your banans a foot deep?
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 08:04 PM
Here is a pic just taken....
Your plants must be the minimum size in the middle of the pics 3-8 feet in order for success planted at 7-12 inches.
If your pants are not that big.....put them in a pot overwinter them in your basement/garage and plant then at the deeper depth in the spring.
Check out my Flikr page....for possible ideas.
This is only my opinion.....
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14558822410" title="Pot sizes to plant by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14558822410_7446143688_c.jpg" width="800" height="598" alt="Pot sizes to plant"></a>
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 08:24 PM
would you suggest I digit up and make a deeper hole? my dirt is not really that bad so I am sure there is drainage just not sure if good enough. How far deep below the root ball do you dig to plant your banans a foot deep?
Plant at 8 inches ......next year when it goes dormant go deeper .
But if you do not have the size needed, wait another year for the size I have perviously stated. This is very important.
You will never have to do anything but to mulch them thereafter, forever.
Once they are deep .....they are yours to keep.
Plant in loose well drained soil, if not they turn to snot.
RafaelNJ
07-25-2014, 09:23 PM
Here is a pic just taken....
Your plants must be the size in the middle of the pics 3-5 feet in order for success planted at 7-12 inches.
If your pants are not that big.....put them in a pot overwinter them in your basement/garage and plant then at the deeper depth in the spring.
Check out my Flikr page....for possible ideas.
This is only my opinion.....
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14558822410" title="Pot sizes to plant by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14558822410_7446143688_c.jpg" width="800" height="598" alt="Pot sizes to plant"></a>
its hard to say but based on trunk width it looks like mine are about the size of the plant in white container, maybe the brown one. I am going to try overwinter one in the basement, the smaller ones i think I will try to bring in the house and let them grown slowly. The one i planted a food deep I should dig up and replant shallower? its about 3 1/2 feet tall but i am afraid its already in shock so will digging it up make it worse?
Duckfood
07-25-2014, 09:24 PM
pics if you need them.:08:
Of course!!!
RafaelNJ
07-25-2014, 09:35 PM
Here is a pic just taken....
Your plants must be the size in the middle of the pics 3-5 feet in order for success planted at 7-12 inches.
If your pants are not that big.....put them in a pot overwinter them in your basement/garage and plant then at the deeper depth in the spring.
Check out my Flikr page....for possible ideas.
This is only my opinion.....
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14558822410" title="Pot sizes to plant by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3898/14558822410_7446143688_c.jpg" width="800" height="598" alt="Pot sizes to plant"></a>
for basement storage, I think my garage is too cold, do you suggest just dropping them in a pot or fill with peat moss or dirt? There will be no light in the basement.
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 09:38 PM
The one i planted a food deep I should dig up and replant shallower? its about 3 1/2 feet tall but i am afraid its already in shock so will digging it up make it worse?
If you have more than 1 try it out.....
Keep it in the ground....it will grow till frost and then some.
The corm is the only thing you want to grow/ protect at this point.
I will not transplant after July/ August because my plants will not recover( grow awesome root structure) for the winter dormancy in the basement.
RafaelNJ
07-25-2014, 09:43 PM
If you have more than 1 try it out.....
Keep it in the ground....it will grow till frost and then some.
The corm is the only thing you want to grow/ protect at this point.
I will not transplant after July/ August because my plants will not recover( grow awesome root structure) for the winter dormancy in the basement.
I am a bit confused by this, you grow a root structure for dormancy? I thought when dormant that doesnt matter, I see people cut all the roots off to store in dormancy on some youtube videos and store out of soil. How exactly do you overwinter them in basement if you dont mind me asking?
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 09:44 PM
Of course!!!
Argh:woohoonaner:.....
I will get right on that.......
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 09:54 PM
Of course!!!
Photo just taken.
Small Basjoo in new home.
Pretty dark out:ha:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14765805093" title="Photo is my ae ae mat by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/14765805093_4e1c7e5e42_c.jpg" width="800" height="598" alt="Photo is my ae ae mat"></a>
cincinnana
07-25-2014, 10:00 PM
for basement storage, I think my garage is too cold, do you suggest just dropping them in a pot or fill with peat moss or dirt? There will be no light in the basement.
I do store them in containers in the basement with pretty good results so far.
RafaelNJ
07-25-2014, 10:26 PM
I do....
:08http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55275&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55275)
u do what ? lol
man I wish you were close by so I could come buy a few off of you.....
RafaelNJ
07-26-2014, 09:42 AM
I do store them in containers in the basement with pretty good results so far.
:08http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55275&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55275)
How do you store them in containers? free of soil or with soild just like outside in summer? or perhaps peat moss like many store their tropical plant bulbs like colocasias? do you use grow lights or just in the dark.
cincinnana
07-26-2014, 10:29 AM
How do you store them in containers? free of soil or with soild just like outside in summer? or perhaps peat moss like many store their tropical plant bulbs like colocasias? do you use grow lights or just in the dark.
The photo shown is when I line them up and spray for insects before I bring them in the basement, photo is from last fall.
I do nothing except spray for insects and I leave all containers intact.The plants just stop all growing activity The containers are stored side by side in a dark basement with BARE MINIMUM LIGHT AND WATER.
I only use grow lights on a few special plants which are kept in a heated area.
There are many threads on this subject that go into detail and are pretty informative, just pick which method that suits you best,
there is no wrong way to do it.
Once you get the hang of it and you get a few seasons under your belt, storing them becomes routine. I am still learning new stuff every year.
RafaelNJ
07-26-2014, 03:50 PM
The photo shown is when I line them up and spray for insects before I bring them in the basement, photo is from last fall.
I do nothing except spray for insects and I leave all containers intact.The plants just stop all growing activity The containers are stored side by side in a dark basement with BARE MINIMUM LIGHT AND WATER.
I only use grow lights on a few special plants which are kept in a heated area.
There are many threads on this subject that go into detail and are pretty informative, just pick which method that suits you best.
Once you get the hang of it and you get a few seasons under your belt storing them becomes routine. I am still learning new stuff every year.
Yes there is so many different techniques it can get a bit hard figuring out which is best, it seems like you have it figured out so I would like to try your method my first year. Will just bringing containers into an unheated basement work for me? I am still not certain of the temperature there but I imagine its somewhere between 50-60, the furnace is there. However, I have no light at all so it is pitch black, unless someone comes down to do laundry or to use the computer (which will be moved upstairs before this winter). I am afraid if I leave foliage and soil like you they might rot/die with no light at all and moisture in the soild? I am wondering why are you storing such big bananas inside if you are doing so well with deep planting? is it just because you want large plants early in the season?
Duckfood
07-26-2014, 06:15 PM
Photo just taken.
Small Basjoo in new home.
Pretty dark out:ha:
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14765805093" title="Photo is my ae ae mat by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3877/14765805093_4e1c7e5e42_c.jpg" width="800" height="598" alt="Photo is my ae ae mat"></a>
You weren't kidding when you said "BARE MINIMUM LIGHT," were you???
cincinnana
07-26-2014, 09:18 PM
I am wondering why are you storing such big bananas inside if you are doing so well with deep planting? is it just because you want large plants early in the season?
Most of my basjoos will stay outside and the majority of my other plants (bananas/ferns) are not cool/cold tolerant so they must come inside once the season ends. I have more room in the basement for storing plants.
If your plants are on the small side just put them close to an upstairs window they will adjust to their new home.
I grow the banana plant for the tropical foliage and since my growing season is so short I will not get fruit.
RafaelNJ
07-27-2014, 11:14 AM
Most of my basjoos will stay outside and the majority of my other plants (bananas/ferns) are not cool/cold tolerant so they must come inside once the season ends. I have more room in the basement for storing plants.
If your plants are on the small side just put them close to an upstairs window they will adjust to their new home.
I grow the banana plant for the tropical foliage and since my growing season is so short I will not get fruit.
Well my basement has no windows (besides one small one that is boarded up and under the outside deck). I cannot bring the bananas inside the house as I have no space and my wife would now allow it ( she wants nothing to do with plants inside :/). I already will be storing some small colocasias/alocasias inside this winter so Basjoos will stay in the basement in complete darkness. That is why I am worried leaving soil in pots like you do if you have any light for yours to grow. I am afraid mine will rot with the moisture and darkness and that is why I Wanted to know exact details of how you do it and if you think I can do the same thing you do without light. Then again I seen people pull the roots out from soil and still rot in the winter. I do not have many plants and still new to this so I am afraid to lose my crop.
RafaelNJ
07-27-2014, 11:16 AM
Most of my basjoos will stay outside and the majority of my other plants (bananas/ferns) are not cool/cold tolerant so they must come inside once the season ends. I have more room in the basement for storing plants.
If your plants are on the small side just put them close to an upstairs window they will adjust to their new home.
I grow the banana plant for the tropical foliage and since my growing season is so short I will not get fruit.
no fruit for you at all? I have seen a guy in new hampshare growing banas for fruit so I would have though you definitely would have had some. its another thing about getting them to ripen.
Hammocked Banana
07-27-2014, 12:12 PM
Pot them up and put them in the basement. Dont water the soil basically at all, maybe just once or twice during the winter, and small amounts.
RafaelNJ
07-28-2014, 01:25 PM
Pot them up and put them in the basement. Dont water the soil basically at all, maybe just once or twice during the winter, and small amounts.
I will try that thanks!
RafaelNJ
08-07-2014, 10:24 AM
So I have been itching to look inside the one leaf that was left on the plant (the leaf that was coming out when I bought the plant and just got stuck half way out once planted) for a couple of days and yesterday finally opened up the leaf to see what is inside. I found a new leaf emerging to my surprise so it looks like the plant survived and its starting to grow again. The trunk was looking a lot worse then the other plant I planted normally (and it was a bit softer) so I thought this plant was a gonner. Now I only hope it survives the winter in the ground as I cannot seeing producing much this season. I was wondering why do you spray the plants for bugs in the winter? I figured it would be cold enough that no bugs would be a problem, should I be doing the same with only a few plants and you do it because of the amount of them you have?
Hammocked Banana
08-07-2014, 11:56 AM
I spray in the fall so I don't bring bugs inside. For outdoor basjoos, I never spray them. Maybe if I got some crazy infestation but luckily in Canada the worst damage happens from slugs and grasshoppers.
RafaelNJ
08-07-2014, 01:47 PM
I spray in the fall so I don't bring bugs inside. For outdoor basjoos, I never spray them. Maybe if I got some crazy infestation but luckily in Canada the worst damage happens from slugs and grasshoppers.
What do you spray with? just soap and water?
RafaelNJ
08-07-2014, 02:00 PM
Guys, are you able to say for certain these are Basjoos? They look a bit different then my basjoos I ordered online, especially the trunk seems to be thicker on my online ones and they are mush smaller. Also the ones I got online seem much greener overall including the trunk. I went back to Home Depot and they are labeled Musa Ensete..... but looking at ensete online it doesn't look anything like this.... I am confused.
Hammocked Banana
08-07-2014, 02:32 PM
Pyrethrin. I used safers II
Edit: bc thats all I'm allowed to by in Canada.
Hammocked Banana
08-07-2014, 02:35 PM
Ya musa ensete is not a thing, they are different genus of plants. Related but different. Please post pics off all your nanners and we can get them identified.
cincinnana
08-07-2014, 02:55 PM
Guys, are you able to say for certain these are Basjoos? They look a bit different then my basjoos I ordered online, especially the trunk seems to be thicker on my online ones and they are mush smaller. Also the ones I got online seem much greener overall including the trunk. I went back to Home Depot and they are labeled Musa Ensete..... but looking at ensete online it doesn't look anything like this.... I am confused.
If you bought them from a big box store there is a good possibility that they are not Basjoo .Big box stores normally DO NOT sell them.
Are you able to take a pic of the upc symbol and nursery name of the container that they came in
RafaelNJ
08-07-2014, 04:18 PM
If you bought them from a big box store there is a good possibility that they are not Basjoo .Big box stores normally DO NOT sell them.
Are you able to take a pic of the upc symbol and nursery name of the container that they came in
I will do that when I am at HD next time, maybe tomorrow. I do have the pics of the plant but not sure how to link them here from gallery, one of them someone added in the beginning of this thread, its the one which is deep planted and not doing so well.
edit. so I looked and I think that is the only pic I uploaded, its early in this thread, 2nd or 3rd post. I will take another pic of the other plant and post later if needed. That one I also cut off all the leaves that came from the store (looked poor and mostly broken) but it already put out 5 new leaves since planting it 4 or 5 weeks ago.
cincinnana
08-09-2014, 09:41 AM
This a Basjoo note the leaf structure the color of the midrib and the spear shape of the leaf.
Also check out the hole that it will be planted in, look how big it is for that new plant to fill that area with roots.
Any plant that I plant will have an awesome hole to grow in.
Many times when a hole is dug in clay it( the hole) acts as a bowl which holds water and will kill your Basjoo in the winter. My soil is hard clay in most areas where I want to plant bananas.
Planting your plant in well drained soil will facilitate success.
Bigger the Ho the bigger they grow.:ha:
.<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14243642597" title="Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3835/14243642597_8eafb266eb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Untitled"></a>
.
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/110357684@N02/14529175079" title="Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3857/14529175079_1dfc0bfccb_c.jpg" width="800" height="600" alt="Untitled"></a>
This is your plant note its leaf structure.
Looks a little different.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56471&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56471)
RafaelNJ
08-11-2014, 10:06 AM
Ok so I was able to take some pics of the bigger plants I got at Home Depot and the Basjoos I ordered online from Florida Hill Nursery I believe. Even though there are differences the leaves look similar to me, the bigger plants are more developed so hard to really compare. Would you say none of these are Basjoos then? I will try to post pics here and comment.
Here is the photo of deep planted banana with new growth
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56531&size=1
Here is two photos of the second large plant that I got from HD. There is also a small basjoo there I got online that was in shade and did not grow well early in season.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56529&size=1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56533&size=1
Here is photos of the two other small Basjoos I got online, these are about 2 1/2 feet tall and the one in front has shot out a pup I just noticed yesterday. I am amazing that its so small and already puppying. They look fairly similar to the biggers plants but I am still new at this. Can anyone help with identifying these and the bigger plants?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56535&size=1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56539&size=1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56537&size=1
The two small bananas in the pot here are ice cream, at least that is what I ordered :)
Hammocked Banana
08-11-2014, 10:49 AM
They all look like basjoos to me. Your ice creams are almost certainly namwah
RafaelNJ
08-11-2014, 11:24 AM
They all look like basjoos to me. Your ice creams are almost certainly namwah
is namwah some kind of ice cream banana type? I thought there was just Ice Cream Banana :). I am surprise you are able to tell cuz I can't even tell its a banana from these pics. They are in poor shape, one got pulled out and chewed up by my dog, the other also arrived with broken leaves, but both are pushing out new growth. Almost all leaves are dried up and I will probably cut them all off with exception of the new growth.
I am also glad the rest you think are Basjoos.
edit. I googled and see namwah is some kind of dwarf ice cream banana..... so I did not get what I ordered ? lol should I demand a replacement? I wanted a taste of supposedly best tasting banana.... or do they taste the same? Here I am talking about actually getting fruit in zone 6a, who am I kidding?
RafaelNJ
08-11-2014, 11:29 AM
This a Basjoo note the leaf structure the color of the midrib and the spear shape of the leaf.
Bigger the Ho the bigger they grow.:ha:
Yes that is a problem up here. I have a very rocky ground and digging is a nightmare, I use a pick axe just to loosen the dirt up to get enough space. Also I am not working with a lot of space around my landscape area as you can see so a much bigger hole like urs is almost impossible for me in most areas.
The two Basjoos in the front of the house (the smaller online purchase) have a very well drained soil. I have tried putting in multiple buckets of water there and it just goes right through, no puddling on top at all... I was amazed. The dirt there is soft so they can grow much easier then back yard. However, I mean to move those to the back yard next year when they grow bigger. They were meant for the pool area there and not the front of the house with regular plants.
RafaelNJ
10-21-2014, 11:58 AM
So I potted up all my plants and cut down the one i planted deep. We were supposed to get frost sunday night so i pulled them into the garage. My question is what do I do with them untill it gets cold enough? My garage is still about 60F and hardly any light. Should I be still watering them a bit and bringing outside? Couple seemed to be flopping but most look ok after 2 days in there. I guess cincinnana's opinion would be great appreciated as I am trying his method but anyones suggestions would help.
Hammocked Banana
10-22-2014, 01:15 AM
What are your temps like there? I just brought all my pots in on the weekend, there was a little cold damage on the bananas. Dont water anymore. If night temps are consistently below 10C you should probably bring them in. Make sure there is lots of mulch on the basjoo outside.
As for digging, use a pry bar to loosen up all the rocks and dig as much as you can. Remove as many rocks as you can. Then mound soil/compost on top. My soil is a nightmare as well.
Your plant is most likely namwah because one of the main suppliers of tissue culture plants is supplying all of the nurseries with mislabeled ice cream plugs, which are actually a variety of namwah. Namwah aren't a type of ice cream banana, and I think most members actually prefer the namwah banana anyways. Other people in our zones have got fruit, so can you if you try hard enough ;-)
cincinnana
10-22-2014, 08:48 AM
So I potted up all my plants and cut down the one i planted deep. We were supposed to get frost sunday night so i pulled them into the garage. My question is what do I do with them untill it gets cold enough? My garage is still about 60F and hardly any light. Should I be still watering them a bit and bringing outside? Couple seemed to be flopping but most look ok after 2 days in there. I guess cincinnana's opinion would be great appreciated as I am trying his method but anyones suggestions would help.
Just tossing this in for thought....your Basjoo will take some cold/light frost until you have a hard frost, then the foliage is done.:(
Even though the air temp is for example 33 degrees the ground temp will be in the 55 degree range which is still a viable temp for some last minute root growth.
As the winter progresses and the air temp is 10 degrees the ground temp will still be about 45-55 degrees......BUT the warmer temperature will be 5-10 inches below the soil line/grade.
AS it gets colder yet the depth increases before you hit the warmer soil.
This is why is you plant your large mature corm deeper in the WELL DRAINED warmer zone of the soil. The insulating properties of the soil and distance from the surface will almost guarantee success in our cold zones.:woohoonaner:
You may bring them in and out if you wish but lightly water, they will start to look shocked /bad in a few days .....but that is what they do, just trim dead leaves off as needed.
Or try this ....Your house is a big heat sink right now, it gathers the heat/energy. from the sun in the day and disperses it during the night. NOTICE THIS.....when you have a frost there will be a frost free zone around your home for a few weeks until it gets too cold you may park your plants there... until it gets too cold. I will move many of my plants up next to the house in that zone to get the most out of the good weather. If you have a south facing wall thats even better.
RafaelNJ
10-22-2014, 02:08 PM
Just tossing this in for thought....your Basjoo will take some cold/light frost until you have a hard frost, then the foliage is done.:(
Even though the air temp is for example 33 degrees the ground temp will be in the 55 degree range which is still a viable temp for some last minute root growth.
As the winter progresses and the air temp is 10 degrees the ground temp will still be about 45-55 degrees......BUT the warmer temperature will be 5-10 inches below the soil line/grade.
AS it gets colder yet the depth increases before you hit the warmer soil.
This is why is you plant your large mature corm deeper in the WELL DRAINED warmer zone of the soil. The insulating properties of the soil and distance from the surface will almost guarantee success in our cold zones.:woohoonaner:
You may bring them in and out if you wish but lightly water, they will start to look shocked /bad in a few days .....but that is what they do, just trim dead leaves off as needed.
Or try this ....Your house is a big heat sink right now, it gathers the heat/energy. from the sun in the day and disperses it during the night. NOTICE THIS.....when you have a frost there will be a frost free zone around your home for a few weeks until it gets too cold you may park your plants there... until it gets too cold. I will move many of my plants up next to the house in that zone to get the most out of the good weather. If you have a south facing wall thats even better.
Thanks, will they grow new foliage in the dark? I only left 2-3 leafs max on each plant so I imagine there be none left fairly quickly when I trim them off.
cincinnana
10-22-2014, 05:03 PM
Thanks, will they grow new foliage in the dark? I only left 2-3 leafs max on each plant so I imagine there be none left fairly quickly when I trim them off.
You might get a few very weak leaves that are still pushing from the corm and in February the leaves might stop.
Max363
10-22-2014, 06:03 PM
Rafael - You maybe overthinking or worrying a bit about this whole winter storage issue. I've been aflicted with the banana growing disease for like 11 years now. My experience in Western PA - Pittsburgh should be similar to yours. First over the winter the main goal is to keep the pseudo stem of each banana alive - not really growing. No light is really need for this - cool temps actually are a plus - my integral garage banana/ tropical storage has often gone to 35 or so in mid winter with no real ill effect on the plants stored which include bananas in pots or bag - brugs -oleander - papyrus etc.. etc.. You'll want to occasionally wet/ moisten the root balls monthly or so but if the temps are on the low side do not allow the plants to stand in water or be totally saturated. In my experience this leads to a slow rot which only becomes evident when you try to bring them out of the winter dormancy in March April. I've tried to keep a few bananas or other tropicals upstairs as winter house plants and grown them well there over the winter, but in my opinion it's really not worth it as the winter grown is weak and turns ugly when you try to get them to grow outside in the summer. Save your energy and efforts for the spring - if the season gets started early try to get them off to an earlier start by taking them outside for those early sunny spring days and returning them inside for the cold nights. Good luck!! - looking forward to seeing your progress here!
RafaelNJ
10-27-2014, 06:46 PM
Thanks guys, I will just see how it goes, so far the naners in the garage are not looking great, they are drying up and becoming brown where dry, is this ok or is this rot? mostly on leaves and spots I cut them off. The deep planted banana does not want to go to sleep. I covered it with mulch but it keeps shooting up new leaves ! my dog goes crazy barking at them.
RafaelNJ
11-01-2014, 06:55 PM
So I got some pics, I see on some of them some stuff coming out, looks almost like frost but it is not, I wiped some of it off but it came back, any ideas or suggestions? They came up looking a lot nicer on pics then in reality :)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56996&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56996&ppuser=19051)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56997&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56997&ppuser=19051)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56995&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56995)
Hammocked Banana
11-01-2014, 11:55 PM
Looks like powdery mildew. Wash with soap and water or spray a fungicide.
cincinnana
11-02-2014, 07:57 AM
[QUOTE=RafaelNJ;253701]So I got some pics, I see on some of them some stuff coming out, looks almost like frost but it is not, I wiped some of it off but it came back, any ideas or suggestions? They came up looking a lot nicer on pics then in reality :)
Great pics.....so far so good:08:
You will see a lot of changes in the look and health of your plants once the cooler weather grabs hold and most of it will not be pretty.
Instead of looking at them everyday you can now look at them once a week:ha::ha:
RafaelNJ
03-13-2015, 01:15 PM
So my bananas pretty much remained the same from last pictures over the winter, the powdery mildew went away after a few sprays and me wiping it off. They were in the garage and the temps did drop below freezing a couple of times, at one point I threw some blankets around them just in case. About two weeks ago it said we going to get some cold temps so I moved them into the basement. Now it seems like the two big ones started to push the old leaves through. The basement is probably 50+ degrees most of the times and could push 60 when it gets warmer possibly. What should I do at this point? it is still too cold to take them outside, can I put them back in the garage? I am worried once they started to grow it may not be smart to put them to dormancy again?
RafaelNJ
03-22-2015, 10:55 AM
I actually have to correct myself, the powdery mildew is still present on the dried up leaves, is this ok ?
Hammocked Banana
03-22-2015, 03:01 PM
I would cut off the dried up leaves with PM on them. Leave them in the basement to slowly establish themselves, and then put them out when lows are above freezing
RafaelNJ
03-22-2015, 03:25 PM
I would cut off the dried up leaves with PM on them. Leave them in the basement to slowly establish themselves, and then put them out when lows are above freezing
what do you mean establish? these are pretty big plants from last year, I have no light down there so they will not grow until I move them out in May.
Hammocked Banana
03-26-2015, 06:33 AM
With the heat they will at least be pushing roots. But either way, wait until it warms up now. They don't need the added shock of cold weather after a winter of no growing.
RafaelNJ
03-26-2015, 10:50 AM
With the heat they will at least be pushing roots. But either way, wait until it warms up now. They don't need the added shock of cold weather after a winter of no growing.
They already went back into the garage a few days ago, I guess have to wait and see.
RafaelNJ
04-14-2015, 04:32 PM
So it has been so warm around here I am thinking about planting my basjoos some time soon. I do notice that some are pretty bad looking and have not much green left on them (smaller ones). My question is can I just plant them the way they are or should I try to trim the dry/rotten parts?
I would prefer to keep the work to minimum.
My second question is regarding planting the bigger plants. Since the bigger plants will go a foot under the ground, the small pupps they have will most likely end up completely covered by dirt, is this ok or should I remove them? I doubt they will survive alone after hibernating? I think I left the ones on the mother plant that didn't have roots.
vBulletin® v3.6.8, Copyright ©2000-2020, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.