ljos-alfar

Hello! I've just landed here. I've loved banana trees and plants for decades, and about 15 years ago had a Japanese banana I was in love with but lost in a house move.

Now I'm growing some different species from seed - I've successfully germinated two Himalayan, two Snow and an Abyssinian (and bought a Japanese to keep them company). They're about three and a half months from germination now, and here's the fam:



Anyway, I've been surprised by the huge difference in growing rate. The Abyssinian sprouted weeks after the Himalayans but is like 3x the size already.

Quick noob question: is it better to keep them well watered, or let them dry out and then water them? I know some plants thrive better on drying out more before watering.

all43

Congratulations on growing from seed I've had very little success, I've a mix of plants that get lots of water in the summer outside but are kept quite dry with an approximate every two week plunge into a shallow water jacket and an every other day misting,this seems to work in my unheated but sunny spare room.my plants are all quite pot bound with good drainage.

ljos-alfar

Thanks! I tried germinating five species but only three came up. I'm going to try a few others in the spring. I'd like to try growing some that produce edible fruit, because I have a balcony that gets a lot of sun.

cincinnana

Welcome to the Jungle....


Have Fun here....
Great looking plants....

I got a few ....just like you..

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pjkfarm

Everyone pounds on the need not to overwater Musa, and the fact that they go more or less dormant when it gets cold (and Exeter I would consider cold :-), so then really withhold the water. But my experience with the Ensete (Abyssinian) is that they take more water than the Musa, but even there they are used to drought and I would guess can be rotted out if not careful. Because they grow so fast, over watering is harder.

ljos-alfar

They're all indoors for the winter, so they're in a warm room - the Abyssinian definitely takes more water because they grow twice as fast as everyone else. Such a beautiful plant, like a dancer! If posting photos wasn't such hard work on a phone I'd show you what I mean.

Katie Thompson

Hi Exeter,
Welcome to our banana home!
I'm jealous about your seed starting skills. Nice!

This year I have had two banana plants inside, rather out of sight. The first was to 'decorate' a lounge, and I kept forgetting it was there. Thus it went without watering for a month at a time, usually. And it did fantastic. I left it inside for at least 9 months, then 2 older leaves had some minor browning on the edge, so I took it back out. It was 5 feet tall, 16-inch diameter pot. Light was indirect from a small 12-inch window 13 feet off the ground. No room lights were on during the day. It added 3 leaves while inside. Room temp is 75 degrees, air conditioned (thus rather dry).

the second was an orinoco, but this time to see how it would do inside. It is doing terrific, same neglect, better performance. It had only 2 leaves, now has 5 very large ones.

It's excruciating to NOT water. But by some miracle they tolerate it. I don't understand, but I comply.
Good luck!

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What?? I'm bananas??
Thank you.

HMelendez

Welcome to the banana gang!.....

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