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View Full Version : Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea' IT'S ALIVE!!!


Randy4ut
05-25-2009, 10:57 AM
Well, I had all but given up on my M. balbisiana 'Gigantea'. I had left it out to overwinter with just about 4" of mulch and no other protection. I had taken a pup off to overwinter in the garage, but it didn't make it.
I was out planting a few more plants I had started from seed, and noticed a small pup coming up from the corm!!! A little slow to get started, but will be interesting to see what it does now that it has started growing. Just thought I would share in the info for anyone that is trying this one outside. DON'T GIVE UP ON IT JUST YET!!!

austinl01
05-25-2009, 01:19 PM
Randy, please keep us posted as the hot weather makes them grow.

Taylor
05-25-2009, 02:45 PM
I love hearing all of this great news! Randy, what else has returned for you this year? What else has not?

Just 2 days ago I had 2 little velutina return! Still hoping for others to spring back to life...

ClevelandCATHY
05-25-2009, 11:07 PM
I was looking at mine today. The corm feels firm, but i'm tired of waiting on it, so i planted a pup i took of last year. My ice cream banana hasn't come up yet. They have been winter hardy for me for the last 3 years, but this year must have been too wet and cold. I'll keep looking, they might come up yet.

griphuz
05-26-2009, 04:23 AM
Good news Randy!
Do you recall what your lowest temp was this winter?
Kind regards,
Remko.

Randy4ut
05-26-2009, 04:59 AM
Remko, I hit 7F several times and stayed below freezing for about 48 hours. The cold was not extreme, but the cold with all the rain/freezing rain, is what hurt everything here so bad....

Taylor
05-26-2009, 05:02 AM
Randy, do you have any pictures of your Washies this spring? Did they both make it with protection at 7ºF low?

Mine (one) pulled through very well, originally inspired by you and Austin, and motivated by many other people on the palm forums. It has already opened up 7 fronds this spring!

tophersmith
06-02-2009, 02:07 PM
Rsndy,

Do you have any pics of your surviving Musa balbisiana 'Gigantea'? What kind of soil is it plated in?

Randy4ut
06-03-2009, 04:12 AM
No pics as of yet as it is still very small. The soil is what I use for all my bed which consists of our typical red clay topped dressed with about 6" or so of landscape mix I purchase by the yard. It is a mix of several things including mushroom compost, nitrolized pine fines, perlite, trace elements, etc.