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zade
12-27-2019, 11:08 AM
Looking for advice from those who have actually experience in a greenhouse or conservatory with permanent indoor banana trees.

Beside palm trees, I will be putting one or 2 banana trees directly into the ground so water will drain directly into soil. These plants will be indoors year round with good overhead skylights and side windows. My latitude is 43 degrees north so sunlight is 9 hours on the shortest day and 14 hours on the longest day.

I expect to use an automated in ground drip watering system but my well water is quite alkaline. Question as to how much water must be feed daily to a large banana tree - especially in peak growing times in summer.

That alkalinity also raises questions as to counteracting it or whether I have to instead invest in an expensive RO system.

This room will be multi use so it will also be a recreational room with presumably stained or treated cedar or some other wood to resist the humidity. As this room is in the planning stage, am open to type of wood suggestions that look nice. I expect to keep the room between 67 degrees and 90 - with a lot of air movement and exhausting of air in summer.

I expect to have overhead LEDs that would provide some supplemental lighting in winter but they have to be aesthetically acceptable - not the grow lamps that one would see in a commercial greenhouse.

Would appreciate any comments, suggestions or links on any of these planned features.

cincinnana
12-27-2019, 10:05 PM
Looking for advice from those who have actually experience in a greenhouse or conservatory with permanent indoor banana trees.

Beside palm trees, I will be putting one or 2 banana trees directly into the ground so water will drain directly into soil. These plants will be indoors year round with good overhead skylights and side windows. My latitude is 43 degrees north so sunlight is 9 hours on the shortest day and 14 hours on the longest day.

I expect to use an automated in ground drip watering system but my well water is quite alkaline. Question as to how much water must be feed daily to a large banana tree - especially in peak growing times in summer.

That alkalinity also raises questions as to counteracting it or whether I have to instead invest in an expensive RO system.

This room will be multi use so it will also be a recreational room with presumably stained or treated cedar or some other wood to resist the humidity. As this room is in the planning stage, am open to type of wood suggestions that look nice. I expect to keep the room between 67 degrees and 90 - with a lot of air movement and exhausting of air in summer.

I expect to have overhead LEDs that would provide some supplemental lighting in winter but they have to be aesthetically acceptable - not the grow lamps that one would see in a commercial greenhouse.

Would appreciate any comments, suggestions or links on any of these planned features.


For wood teak/cedar takes on a great patina after several years.

For radiant heat retention in the evening a common darkish concrete paver floor has been used locally in zone 6 .

Not knowing the ceiling height you might check out water cooled leds.
High initial cost and they can be hidden and fast roi.
A number of commercial grows use them.
I have seen them in 4 acre enclosed grows in Michigan and are an acceptable supplement.

Your soil will need to be changed out in your grow area to a better soiless mix which accommodates tropicals better and is pest free.
Depending on your plant list a soil change will need to be footer deep /3ft or shallower.

Not knowing the scope of you job a water feature has been used a few larger features to add a considerable amount of moisture......Important.

Heating can be forced air however I have seen creative use of radiant heat. both ground and ceiling..check that one out.

Irrigation...... a standard high output variable drip will work ...easy to hide and conceal and upgrade....Me I have Irrtitrol.
I plan to convert to wifi enhanced in a year or so just to keep up with the Jones's

I know the first response had cost ranges.......

clarkembers
01-03-2020, 06:43 AM
How often should I water my indoor banana plant?

cincinnana
01-05-2020, 07:57 PM
Great understory plantings could be philodendron and cool tolerant tree ferns.
Tree ferns are one of my favorite plants.
I have no idea of your planting space?

R/o watering should be out of the question for a ph issue in most applications unless your growing organic weed.
However there are solutions in the 500-600 dollar US range which will help.
Do an internet search (dosatron ph balance)

Tap/city water in most instances will absolutely work.

Cincinnati water is some of the best in the country......but it has Flouride.

My plants teeth shine!!!!:woohoonaner: