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View Full Version : Plant outside or wait till next year?


AV1611Corbin777
06-20-2009, 05:12 PM
Hi I have a Dwarf Cavendish. I bought this plant about 3 weeks ago.
When I got it, she was extremely root bound in her 6 or maybe 8 inch pot (don't remember). I re-potted into about a 5 gallon pot, and growth has been great so far. P-stem height is about 22", I'm putting out a leaf a week and that pace seems to be picking up to about 4-5 days now.

I want to get the most out of this plant, should I plant outside now? I on the edge of zone 6 and 7. So I would have to be digging her back up in about 3 months. I also figure in a few months I am going to be root bound again. I am going to order some smart pots. I figure the 45 gallons, she will also be under grow lights come the colder months. Would I be causing any shock doing another transplant now? plus one more in a few months?

I know this is long sorry. Thanks in advance to the advice!

john_ny
06-20-2009, 06:14 PM
Knowing that you are going to have to dig it up later, I would think that it would be OK to plant something of that size, with a good amount of roots outside now, but don't delay too much. You want it to get good and established before you dig it again for the larger pot.

hammer
06-20-2009, 07:41 PM
I would put it in the ground it will grow faster in the ground. i would take it up in september. i cant find a pot big they always get rootbound last year i had to take saw to all of my cavendish pots just to get them out of the pots .

AV1611Corbin777
06-21-2009, 03:41 PM
Thanks both, I planted outside and was surprised to see it was already lightly root bound in this new pot. I might just skip the 45 and jump up even bigger who knows!

sirmoebly
06-21-2009, 04:01 PM
Your on the right track (in the ground......):woohoonaner:

andrewmoquin
06-22-2009, 12:24 AM
Bananas grow on the ground so, I'll try to plant it on the ground. I want to harvest more and consume it after.:0517:

AV1611Corbin777
07-13-2009, 03:35 PM
Good luck to you Andrew, let us know how it goes!

A little update =]
I am happy

So after planting in the ground it took about a week for growth to start back up. Since then it has exploded. I am putting out a leaf about every 4-5 days.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2579/3717405463_fc8c6784c8.jpg?v=0
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3656/3717408917_efac830927.jpg?v=0

Two pups have popped and growing fast! I thought these were water pups,
after looking at pics on here. Now after these big leafs have came I think they are swords. Either way I am happy!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3428/3718228038_5d5658c772.jpg?v=0
If I knew two months ago that bananas were this addicting I would have ordered a dozen.
To bad I started mid season. Next year I will have many many more plants! I can't wait.

sirmoebly
07-13-2009, 08:38 PM
Wow, carlos those are looking great.....You have the green thumb....awesome.
thanks for the pictures.

LilRaverBoi
07-13-2009, 09:08 PM
Yeah, I'd say plant it (though at this point I think you already have). Next year, plant it as soon as you don't have to worry about temps getting too cold. As for the pot....I doubt you need anything much larger than 25 gal. for a DC. And you're just overwintering it in the pot, so you'll be fine with 25 or 45. I mean, hell....I've seen pics of 10+ foot tall ensete's in a 10 gallon pot! I will say, though....if you're keeping it in the pot for fruiting, the bigger the better!

AV1611Corbin777
08-20-2009, 02:39 PM
I decided to take my Bearded Dragon out for a photo shoot and decided to snap some pics of my DC as well.
I love this plant.
First the dragon =]
(about 15 month old male 17" overall)
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2512/3837805546_be02a2b15a.jpg

And here she is.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2618/3836999075_bda63b8201.jpg
If it looks slightly uneven thats because me being the straight thinker that I am:waving:, decided to cut off the lower four leafs so my pup could grow freely =]

I like the upper canopy look better anyways, the very next leaf on the pup is of course growing right into another leaf.
No more hacking on her tho I promise.

First pic is from yesterday, these next ones are today =]
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3497/3840735870_11e16de998.jpg

There is another pup about half the size of this one on the reverse side and one just popping his head out on the right.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/3839944257_86778a5474.jpg

Again thanks to those with helping me get this plant out into earth. I know if she was stuck in that pot there is no way she would have grown like this.

Only one in the ground as of now. Next year I plan on planting atleast a half dozen more.

Even if I never get fruit I will not mind. I love this plant!