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mike59
11-12-2014, 09:26 AM
Hello all...

First time posting here, but follower for sometime. My wife and I decided to plant a couple Musa Basjoos this year and had some pretty good success with them.

They grew quite quickly from a small sprig to over 6' tall and overwhelmed the less than strategic placement. More thought for next years location definitely.

We decided to dig them up to store inside for the winter here in KC which is zone 6. This happened a couple weeks ago just after a cold night that wilted all the leaves.

The problem is we put them in the basement which is less than ideal for dormancy. Garage is heated as well.

After being out of the ground for 2 weeks now, they are still trying to push out leafs.

What do we need to do? Totally lost. Thanks in advance. mike

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Musa_Basjoo4.jpg

Funkthulhu
11-12-2014, 11:40 AM
Mike,

I'm in the same bucket, except I just dug everything up before the hard freeze on Sunday. I had these in pots last year, but that's really just not an option anymore at the size they're getting

I'm just putting mine in a 60 gallon tote in the corner furthest from the lights and heat, up against a north wall, keep them dry, and hope they decide to hibernate soon.

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h137/funkthulhu/CAM02851_zpsrnxxwfgn.jpg

Only 1 of my half dozen clusters of Elephant Ears actually made a bulb this year, the rest are all roots and stem, so I put them in with the bananas (basjoo and zebrina) in hopes they also go dormant.

Longwoods Tropicals
11-14-2014, 10:29 AM
Hi Mike

First of all I have no experience in putting bananas into dormancy, I've only ever overwintered them in pots in my home. I leave all my basjoos outside, all other types come indoors. Given less than ideal conditions for dormancy I would at the least put the smaller one in a 10 gallon or so pot with some good potting soil and place by a large window (some extra light provided by a 45 watt daylight CFL really helps) . If you don't over water and keep it free of spider mites you are at least assured of one surviving. As for the other one I really don't have much advice to offer other than don't let it dry out too much.

jangoolee
03-27-2015, 06:39 AM
Love the look of lush tropical foliage? Cold hardy banana plants grow well and over winter up to USDA zone 4. Learn more about growing .