Minnesota Snow
 

Good morning. Wet snow has been falling in our part of Minnesota since 8 p.m. on Wednesday. I've moved my 4 potted banana plants into the porch expecting to return them outdoors when the temp rises in a day. I do, however, need to consider the long harsh winter. I intend to store three of them inside with the pseudo stems and leaves lopped off in a dormant state until mid-April, most likely in our basement. The fourth can live near a large window near our living room. I'd appreciate tips on how to keep the other three potted banana plants with corms and roots.

Re: Minnesota Snow
 

Welcome to the Jungle...:woohoonaner:

Foremost.....your plant will weep water drops at the leaf tips......alot.
This will probably stain your carpet/wood floors.

Now .....for the ones you cut, keep the soil mix dryer for the next 5+months.
Your plants will want to grow even though you have cut them.
Temps of 60 degrees will usually slow the growth down.

Next year ....refrain from cutting the stems and leaves if possible. Just bring them in the basement as is.
But that is next year!!

In the meantime, there are a lot of great "how to" youtube videos which can help you along the way.

Re: Minnesota Snow
 

Welcome to here. :D I kept a banana plant alive all winter and now its way big. It never worked before but now I know. If the plant doesn't look like its dying then NO water and never any fertilizers. I maybe gave my banana plant 2 cups of water for the whole winter. It worked! But no way ever cut off leaves and stems. I tried that too and no luck.
Well good luck anyway.

Re: Minnesota Snow
 

Welcome to the banana gang!....:08:

Re: Minnesota Snow
 

I live in Ohio. Some of my bananas I leave in pots and put in east windows. My larger bananas and all of my ensete have the leaves and roots removed and they are placed in a cool dark corner of the basement. I check on them to make sure they do not rot and have gone dormant. I only lose about ten percent to complete drying. the plants have no soil around them and are just stems and corm. Placing them back out in the garden in early May gives them about six months before I have to cut them back in October. This has worked well for me. I have large pots of golden lotus musella that will go in the ground next year. The blooms are great.

Re: Minnesota Snow
 

Hi Jeff-

Welcome to the Banana Express! :nanerwaveytrain: