Mekong Giant vs Basjoo - Page 3

Zalin124 · 06-07-2021, 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snarkie

I'm almost positive the location is the answer. They get varying sun, but the ground is good from years of Pampas grass and "dog dirt" in there, and all of the understory keeps the ground shaded and cooler; like a jungle. The ones on the other side of the driveway aren't more than five feet tall or so. They're in more sun with regular clay soil, and nothing to keep their feet cool. I'll be pulling them out anyway for more palms and yuccas.

What I have are pretty impressive; I was just thinking if I could get twice the height, it would look a little more exotic. Maybe I should just keep what I have and rip out all of the running blackberries that took it over and literally turned it into an impenetrable jungle and thin them out, as they have gotten quite dense; kinda like my ex wife.

I’ve been thinning my stuff out and it really helps the landscape. The MG are beautiful though. Much more beautiful than Basjoo in my opinion. Pstem is multicolored and the undersides of the leaves are maroon all summer long. It might be all of the shade that it gets! Your Basjoo mat looks great too! Ty is right about the size of them. I’m Glad he chimed in!

wstrickland1 · 06-07-2021, 10:00 AM

I must have a Mekong Midget. I got it late last year, it didn't grow much, kept it in the house over the winter. It stayed looking good, just small. I put it in a bigger pot in March and it grew a little. I put it in the ground and it looks good, just putting out pretty small leave. Maybe I have a Dwarf hahaha. It is cute though

cincinnana · 06-07-2021, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstrickland1

I must have a Mekong Midget. I got it late last year, it didn't grow much, kept it in the house over the winter. It stayed looking good, just small. I put it in a bigger pot in March and it grew a little. I put it in the ground and it looks good, just putting out pretty small leave. Maybe I have a Dwarf hahaha. It is cute though

First year it sleeps.
Second year it creeps.
Third year it leaps.....then you grow it like you stole it.

wstrickland1 · 06-07-2021, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

First year it sleeps.
Second year it creeps.
Third year it leaps.....then you grow it like you stole it.

From what I am now seeing/learning I will need to move it. I'm not sure I'm equipped

Zalin124 · 06-07-2021, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstrickland1

I must have a Mekong Midget. I got it late last year, it didn't grow much, kept it in the house over the winter. It stayed looking good, just small. I put it in a bigger pot in March and it grew a little. I put it in the ground and it looks good, just putting out pretty small leave. Maybe I have a Dwarf hahaha. It is cute though

Sooner or later it will get going. The one I have in direct sun all day is growing slow. Slower than the original Mekong that grew in that shade that’s a good size now. On the bright side, you won’t have to dig it up this year unless you really want to.

wstrickland1 · 06-07-2021, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zalin124

Sooner or later it will get going. The one I have in direct sun all day is growing slow. Slower than the original Mekong that grew in that shade that’s a good size now. On the bright side, you won’t have to dig it up this year unless you really want to.

It's pretty much in a temporary spot anyway. I just wanted to get it in the ground to establish itself. Poor bugger's been moved around a bit. heck it had a cross country journey just to get here!

Zalin124 · 06-07-2021, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstrickland1

It's pretty much in a temporary spot anyway. I just wanted to get it in the ground to establish itself. Poor bugger's been moved around a bit. heck it had a cross country journey just to get here!

I bought mine from Brian’s Botanicals in Kentucky three years ago. It’s was so small. About 8” and went straight in the clay and compost. Once they get going you have pups everywhere. I have two that grew under my garden pavers and popped up 7 or 8 feet away.

wstrickland1 · 06-07-2021, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zalin124

I bought mine from Brian’s Botanicals in Kentucky three years ago. It’s was so small. About 8” and went straight in the clay and compost. Once they get going you have pups everywhere. I have two that grew under my garden pavers and popped up 7 or 8 feet away.

I do NOT have the real estate for all that jazz....

Zalin124 · 06-07-2021, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstrickland1

I do NOT have the real estate for all that jazz....

I gotcha!! I’m on a 1/2 acre and I’m running slim on spots lol!

wstrickland1 · 06-07-2021, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zalin124

I gotcha!! I’m on a 1/2 acre and I’m running slim on spots lol!

I'm on .19 acre with a good bit eaten up by a pool. Oh and the front yard is not in play. I have to be selective...

Zalin124 · 06-07-2021, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstrickland1

I'm on .19 acre with a good bit eaten up by a pool. Oh and the front yard is not in play. I have to be selective...

I see! Well, your making due with what room you’ve got!

cincinnana · 11-04-2021, 11:05 AM

Side by side.
Three heavy frosts and still going .....and more to come.
Mekongs seem to be a bit more frost sensitive this time around

Basjoos on left Mekong on right.

.

Mekong giant
by
Hostafarian, on Flickr

Musa.Ingenious · 11-04-2021, 12:52 PM

What is mulch, that you get from the mulch store??

cincinnana · 11-05-2021, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Musa.Ingenious

What is mulch, that you get from the mulch store??

The Big box had it on clearence sale for .20 a bag.
I could not resist
Bags are inexpensive,easy to move and store.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/2CF-Year-...E&gclsrc=aw.ds
.
Another inexpensive/free alternative is to have a tree service dump waste chips for your garden needs. This requires more labor to distribute but it is still worth it.

20 yrds Mulch
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

cincinnana · 12-19-2021, 10:48 AM

For me in zone 5/6 after a few frosts the Mekong was the first to succumb to winter.
The Basjoo lasted a couple more weeks of frosts before a hard frost stopped it completely.

Both are awesome hardy low maintenance landscape plants that add an instant tropical feel for years to come.
Then.

Mekong giant on right
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr
Now.

Basjoo and Mekong
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

wstrickland1 · 12-19-2021, 11:47 AM

Before Thanksgiving we had 3 or 4 nights in the very low 30s (like 29 or 30) and everything went to hell. It's been like late spring ever since

Mekong:

20211218_135700 by William Strickland, on Flickr

Basjoo

20211218_135657 by William Strickland, on Flickr

Zalin124 · 12-19-2021, 01:27 PM

It’s like spring all over again. All my bananas are back pushing. 65 on Christmas. Here’s some photos of my Mekong’s and Saba. Saba is probably the third hardiest banana that I have. I covered up the saba pup and it’s already pushing the cage upwards. Lol

https://share.icloud.com/photos/09fo...7HujSF5wYFT8TQ

cincinnana · 12-19-2021, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zalin124

It’s like spring all over again. All my bananas are back pushing. 65 on Christmas. Here’s some photos of my Mekong’s and Saba. Saba is probably the third hardiest banana that I have. I covered up the saba pup and it’s already pushing the cage upwards. Lol

https://share.icloud.com/photos/09fo...7HujSF5wYFT8TQ

Which beast is the Saba ....the one on the end or the one with the mohawk?

They are all growing like weeds.

Zalin124 · 12-19-2021, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Which beast is the Saba ....the one on the end or the one with the mohawk?

They are all growing like weeds.

Hey! The Saba is the one on the far left side that’s right beside the ac unit. It’s 4’ pup is the one that’s covered up. Mother Saba is 8.5 pstem.

sashaeffer · 05-12-2022, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Thanks Ty for the encouraging update.

I am on the first year of the Mekong which is said to be a cold hardy plant similar to a Basjoo in a heavily mulched situation in colder zones.

I picked up two plants a few months ago to see .....the Giant..... and to see what it does in zone5/6.

My plants (mekongs)will in containers for the first season(now) because the plants did not "fill the containers with roots" as I had liked in the two months that I had them.

The plants will be under cfl's for the winter in a grow area along with other plants.......nothing pro grade.

I am thinking I will have aggressive growth ( lots of runners) just like the Basjoos next year.

Here is a photo of 120 -+ day old Basjoos grown in part sun from pups separated from plant stock in the yard.
I said PART SUN....that means more shade than sun.

Mekong giants are in the forefront in containers....ready for the challenge.....if there is one.

The comparison should be fun to watch...

.

Mekong pups and Basjoo
.
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

These are the same Musa Basjoo plants 150 days ago..April 15.

Ferns are Matteuccia struthiopteris, The King.

This fern is an awesome aggressive plant, I had to trim the 4-5 foot fronds back to allow more light to the banana plants at one point. The plant is an awesome filler plant
.

Basjoos springtime by Hostafarian, on Flickr

Small pups April 15th
by
Hostafarian
,
on Flickr

Question. If bananas love full sun and these ferns prefer full shade or partial sun, how do they both survive and look so good together? It truly looks great.

Scott/Omaha

06-07-2021, 10:00 AM	#42 (permalink)
wstrickland1 Location: Charleston, SC Zone: 8-B Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 898 BananaBucks : 31,019 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 296 Times Was Thanked 1,280 Times in 544 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo I must have a Mekong Midget. I got it late last year, it didn't grow much, kept it in the house over the winter. It stayed looking good, just small. I put it in a bigger pot in March and it grew a little. I put it in the ground and it looks good, just putting out pretty small leave. Maybe I have a Dwarf hahaha. It is cute though

11-04-2021, 11:05 AM	#52 (permalink)
cincinnana Container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,201 BananaBucks : 2,015 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,825 Times Was Thanked 10,975 Times in 4,565 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,799 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo Side by side. Three heavy frosts and still going .....and more to come. Mekongs seem to be a bit more frost sensitive this time around Basjoos on left Mekong on right. . Mekong giant by Hostafarian, on Flickr __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

11-04-2021, 12:52 PM	#53 (permalink)
Musa.Ingenious Join Date: Aug 2021 Posts: 49 BananaBucks : 3,893 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 20 Times Was Thanked 26 Times in 18 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo What is mulch, that you get from the mulch store??

12-19-2021, 10:48 AM	#55 (permalink)
cincinnana Container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,201 BananaBucks : 2,015 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,825 Times Was Thanked 10,975 Times in 4,565 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,799 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo For me in zone 5/6 after a few frosts the Mekong was the first to succumb to winter. The Basjoo lasted a couple more weeks of frosts before a hard frost stopped it completely. Both are awesome hardy low maintenance landscape plants that add an instant tropical feel for years to come. Then. Mekong giant on right by Hostafarian, on Flickr Now. Basjoo and Mekong by Hostafarian, on Flickr __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

12-19-2021, 11:47 AM	#56 (permalink)
wstrickland1 Location: Charleston, SC Zone: 8-B Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 898 BananaBucks : 31,019 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 296 Times Was Thanked 1,280 Times in 544 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo Before Thanksgiving we had 3 or 4 nights in the very low 30s (like 29 or 30) and everything went to hell. It's been like late spring ever since Mekong: 20211218_135700 by William Strickland, on Flickr Basjoo 20211218_135657 by William Strickland, on Flickr

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12-19-2021, 01:27 PM	#57 (permalink)
Zalin124 Location: Acworth, Ga Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Zach Join Date: Feb 2019 Posts: 85 BananaBucks : 4,133 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 50 Times Was Thanked 97 Times in 50 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo It’s like spring all over again. All my bananas are back pushing. 65 on Christmas. Here’s some photos of my Mekong’s and Saba. Saba is probably the third hardiest banana that I have. I covered up the saba pup and it’s already pushing the cage upwards. Lol https://share.icloud.com/photos/09fo...7HujSF5wYFT8TQ __________________ https://flic.kr/p/2mRCU9s

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