View Full Version : Wintering Potted Bananas
kclonn
09-24-2014, 01:13 PM
Hello. I have a banana plant (called Hardy Banana when I bought it 13 years ago) that I have been moving with me in pots. In the winter, I move it to a portable greenhouse as it routinely gets to the teens here in Oregon winters. I live on the water, so I don't have options on land. My problem is that the greenhouse is 8 feet tall and the plant is now over 10 feet. What would be the best way to make it fit? Just cram it in and let the fronds die or cut them down before putting it in? I appreciate any suggestions.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=56816&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=56816&ppuser=19355)
mushtaq86
09-24-2014, 03:02 PM
You could just cut the p-stem. you said you had them for 13 years, how have you managed to overwinter them in that time period.
Jose263
09-24-2014, 06:48 PM
You could just cut the p-stem. you said you had them for 13 years, how have you managed to overwinter them in that time period.
After 13 years of overwintering, you should be instructing us -is it taller this year? have you ever had a bloom?
Pallen
09-24-2014, 07:40 PM
Time to raise the roof on your green house.
cincinnana
09-24-2014, 08:15 PM
Great questions...those are big plants:woohoonaner:
kclonn
09-25-2014, 09:17 AM
This is the first year that they have been this tall. Last spring, I repotted them into a container twice the size of the old one and they responded by growing into it. In the past, they have barely reached the top of the greenhouse and by spring, the fronds were all died off. I have never cut the fronds off before wintering, but if this is acceptable, it is probably the way to go. I did have a bloom last year and that stalk died off. The greenhouse is nothing more than a tent with clear sides and roof. I can't extend it.
Kostas
09-25-2014, 09:21 AM
I would cram it in as it is,without cutting anything. The leafs will die off anyway and growth won't be much. So next year it will be even bigger :)
cincinnana
09-25-2014, 10:14 AM
Many people are in the same space limitations that I/you are in.
Acceptable options are
Cutting all leaves to half their length.
Cutting the plant in half.
Both of those options will reduce the height and footprint of the plant.
In spring the plant will recuperate and start growing again but this time a little shorter.
Just guessing from your previous post that your banana plants are hardy and really you don't need to put them in a greenhouse you could just put them under a tarp they do not need sunlight in the winter time to grow because they are not growing. You could even put them in a garage if you have one.
If you can cut off a leaf and lay it flat on the ground and take a picture of it so we can see it's shape and size maybe we might be able to identify what type of banana plant you have you......might not even have to greenhouse it again if it's a real cold tolerant banana such as a basjoo.
.Photo of some of my plants after I have cut the leaves in half reducing them to 12 ft
This will make them fit better in my basement.
Photo taken last year.
kubali
09-25-2014, 10:36 AM
Many people are in the same space limitations that I/you are in.
Acceptable options are
Cutting all leaves to half their length.
Cutting the plant in half.
Both of those options will reduce the height and footprint of the plant.
In spring the plant will recuperate and start growing again but this time a little shorter.
Just guessing from your previous post that your banana plants are hardy and really you don't need to put them in a greenhouse you could just put them under a tarp they do not need sunlight in the winter time to grow because they are not growing. You could even put them in a garage if you have one.
If you can cut off a leaf and lay it flat on the ground and take a picture of it so we can see it's shape and size maybe we might be able to identify what type of banana plant you have you......might not even have to greenhouse it again if it's a real cold tolerant banana such as a basjoo.
.Photo of some of my plants after I have cut the leaves in half reducing them to 12 ft
This will make them fit better in my basement.
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now that's the labor of love right there! nice looking plants cincinnana.
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