Basjoo Never Took Off

E Kern · 09-02-2013, 09:12 AM

I Have two basjoo in the ground in two seperate parts of my yard. I watered regularly and fertilized moderately. One basjoo never really grew still only about 8 inches and the other only recently began to grow like a basjoo but is still only about 2 1/2 feet. They were both purchased from the same grower and planted in mid to late May. I was considering digging up both and bringing them inside for the winter. Any suggestions or advice would be great. Thanks

scottu · 09-02-2013, 06:48 PM

Good idea!

Olafhenny · 09-02-2013, 11:22 PM

How long have they been at that spot? Bananas are quite temperamental, when it comes to a
change of environment. Sometimes they continue on without even blinking, other times they sit
there up to two months, before showing new growth. I would hold back with the fertilizer, though, until
they show positive growth.

I live in HZ6 and leave all Basjoos with a PS higher than 18 inches outside. I find, that they
can take the freezing back better, than the disruption of two trans-plantings, or worse
yet, the dry root storage in basement or garage. This year I fully intent to leave my young
E. Maurelii outside. I doubt, that the PS will be much higher than 12 inches, when it will be
time to pack them up, but the PS will be rather thick.

Gordonf · 09-03-2013, 01:06 AM

I have a Basjoo that I bought from a big-box store as an end-of-season mark-down for $10. It's still in a big pot, and I'm wondering if I can just bury the pot in the soil for the winter. I'm on the West Coast in zone 7A. Can I do that or would it be better to take it out of the pot first?

Also, I have a red-leafed Abysinnian that I know is not hardy here, but its stem is a good 8 or 9 inches across, It's also in a pot. I'm planning to store it on its side beneath my mobile home for the winter. Do you think that would work or should I bring it into an unheated shed and wrap it with burlap? Oh - should I remove it from the pot?

Olafhenny · 09-03-2013, 02:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordonf

I have a Basjoo that I bought from a big-box store as an end-of-season mark-down for $10. It's still in a big pot, and I'm wondering if I can just bury the pot in the soil for the winter. I'm on the West Coast in zone 7A. Can I do that or would it be better to take it out of the pot first?

I would take it out of the pot. That way it will have better access to the warmer ambient
temperature of the ground. That will not travel as well through the walls of the pot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gordonf

Also, I have a red-leafed Abysinnian that I know is not hardy here, but its stem is a good 8 or 9 inches across, It's also in a pot. I'm planning to store it on its side beneath my mobile home for the winter. Do you think that would work or should I bring it into an unheated shed and wrap it with burlap? Oh - should I remove it from the pot?

That depends on whether it is warm enough and not too warm and providing, that it does not
come in direct contact with concrete. An unheated shed would definitely not work in HZ7

E Kern · 09-03-2013, 05:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olafhenny

How long have they been at that spot? Bananas are quite temperamental, when it comes to a
change of environment. Sometimes they continue on without even blinking, other times they sit
there up to two months, before showing new growth. I would hold back with the fertilizer, though, until
they show positive growth.

I live in HZ6 and leave all Basjoos with a PS higher than 18 inches outside. I find, that they
can take the freezing back better, than the disruption of two trans-plantings, or worse
yet, the dry root storage in basement or garage. This year I fully intent to leave my young
E. Maurelii outside. I doubt, that the PS will be much higher than 12 inches, when it will be
time to pack them up, but the PS will be rather thick.

I bought them online from wellsprings nursery. They were both put in the ground in mid May. They do sprout new leaves but they have not grown in size or PS thickness literally 1/8 inch increments with each new leaf sprout. As I previously mentioned the one is approx 18 inches and the other 8. They get regular watering and have had two rounds of fertilizer. If i leave them out I feel that they will not survive the winter. Im kinda at a loss as to what to do because the season is unfortunately winding down.

Olafhenny · 09-03-2013, 10:31 PM

Hi E. Kern,

In previous years I have always built a plastic fence around my pads or single basjoos and filled
it up with leaves, never losing any plant. This year I am positive, that I will do a lot better with
my cheap Permanent banana shelter for winter and spring, assembled out of Styrofoam (polystyrene)
and fiberglass insulation, which costs only less than $60 for 3 shelters. They are open to the warm
ground, will be re-useable for years to come as well as easily re-applied in spring, when a late
frost threatens. I will have some more to report about that, when I know more about the result
of my experiment on non-destructive propagation of the E. Maurelii.

orinoko · 09-18-2013, 02:33 AM

There is some polystyrene that literally melts when wet here, Not sure what would happen to yours, maybe nothing as they are painted.

Great Idea though.

09-02-2013, 09:12 AM	#1 (permalink)
E Kern Location: Suburban NY Zone: 7 Join Date: Jun 2012 Posts: 13 BananaBucks : 11,786 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Basjoo Never Took Off I Have two basjoo in the ground in two seperate parts of my yard. I watered regularly and fertilized moderately. One basjoo never really grew still only about 8 inches and the other only recently began to grow like a basjoo but is still only about 2 1/2 feet. They were both purchased from the same grower and planted in mid to late May. I was considering digging up both and bringing them inside for the winter. Any suggestions or advice would be great. Thanks

09-02-2013, 06:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
scottu <div style="font-weight: bold;"><div style="font-weight: bold;">&lt;div style=&quot;font-weight: bold;&quot;&gt;&amp;lt;di v style=&amp;quot;font-weight: bold;&amp;quot;&amp;gt;&a mp;amp;lt;di v sty scottu 's Photo Gallery Location: Bethlehem,Pa. Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: scott Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,192 BananaBucks : 7,441 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,595 Times Was Thanked 857 Times in 368 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,323 Times	Re: Basjoo Never Took Off Good idea! __________________ Viva La Banana

09-02-2013, 11:22 PM	#3 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 245,931 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Basjoo Never Took Off How long have they been at that spot? Bananas are quite temperamental, when it comes to a change of environment. Sometimes they continue on without even blinking, other times they sit there up to two months, before showing new growth. I would hold back with the fertilizer, though, until they show positive growth. I live in HZ6 and leave all Basjoos with a PS higher than 18 inches outside. I find, that they can take the freezing back better, than the disruption of two trans-plantings, or worse yet, the dry root storage in basement or garage. This year I fully intent to leave my young E. Maurelii outside. I doubt, that the PS will be much higher than 12 inches, when it will be time to pack them up, but the PS will be rather thick. __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

09-03-2013, 01:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
Gordonf Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 17 BananaBucks : 2,950 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Basjoo Never Took Off I have a Basjoo that I bought from a big-box store as an end-of-season mark-down for $10. It's still in a big pot, and I'm wondering if I can just bury the pot in the soil for the winter. I'm on the West Coast in zone 7A. Can I do that or would it be better to take it out of the pot first? Also, I have a red-leafed Abysinnian that I know is not hardy here, but its stem is a good 8 or 9 inches across, It's also in a pot. I'm planning to store it on its side beneath my mobile home for the winter. Do you think that would work or should I bring it into an unheated shed and wrap it with burlap? Oh - should I remove it from the pot?

09-03-2013, 10:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 245,931 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Basjoo Never Took Off Hi E. Kern, In previous years I have always built a plastic fence around my pads or single basjoos and filled it up with leaves, never losing any plant. This year I am positive, that I will do a lot better with my cheap Permanent banana shelter for winter and spring, assembled out of Styrofoam (polystyrene) and fiberglass insulation, which costs only less than $60 for 3 shelters. They are open to the warm ground, will be re-useable for years to come as well as easily re-applied in spring, when a late frost threatens. I will have some more to report about that, when I know more about the result of my experiment on non-destructive propagation of the E. Maurelii. __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

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09-18-2013, 02:33 AM	#8 (permalink)
orinoko orinoko's Photo Gallery Join Date: May 2011 Posts: 430 BananaBucks : 22,840 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 633 Times Was Thanked 517 Times in 230 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 26 Times	Re: Basjoo Never Took Off There is some polystyrene that literally melts when wet here, Not sure what would happen to yours, maybe nothing as they are painted. Great Idea though. __________________ [url="http://flowersnpalms.com/lancalass/[/URL]

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