Mekong Giant vs Basjoo - Page 4

cincinnana · 05-13-2022, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sashaeffer

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

The planting gets about 5+ hours of mid afternoon full sun.
Once the basjoos mature at about a month or two they will provide a canopy for the ferns.
Both plants do very well grown out of normal conditions.
This planting is in heavily amended rich soil and is on irrigation.
Thanks for asking

There are basjoos in there somewhere.

The garden
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

Robbertico18 · 05-14-2022, 09:57 PM

Love the fern-banana combo!
I wish I could do king ostrich ferns but everything I see says it gets too hot down here

Petey · 06-08-2022, 01:37 PM

cincinnana did you ever decide on whether you thought basjoos or mekongs were better in your area?

cincinnana · 06-09-2022, 09:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petey

cincinnana did you ever decide on whether you thought basjoos or mekongs were better in your area?

Both are wonderful landscape plants when sited in great growing conditions.

Each plant has predictable characteristics which are interesting to observe.

Recommend both plants however basjoo is my favorite cold hardy landscape plant for this growing zone.

Petey · 06-09-2022, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Both are wonderful landscape plants when sited in great growing conditions.

Each plant has predictable characteristics which are interesting to observe.

Recommend both plants however basjoo is my favorite cold hardy landscape plant for this growing zone.

Is there a thread where you covered the characteristics? I went looking back through 2-3 years of your posts but I'm not sure if I saw anything specifically on that!

wstrickland1 · 06-09-2022, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petey

Is there a thread where you covered the characteristics? I went looking back through 2-3 years of your posts but I'm not sure if I saw anything specifically on that!

I'll tell you this. I just had a pup pop up 7' away so plan accordingly.

cincinnana · 06-10-2022, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petey

Is there a thread where you covered the characteristics? I went looking back through 2-3 years of your posts but I'm not sure if I saw anything specifically on that!

Yes ...you are correct never described a detailed comparison
If you forum search both plants you will get an idea of how the plant grows.

Basjoo is a nice clumping landscape plant.
Mekong giant is a runner like bamboo randomly sending shoots up everywhere or busting out a landscape container.
There are some good threads about each plant on the forum and internet.
Here is one such thread.
Musa itinerans var. itinerans is creeping into the yard.

Side by side 20 feet away the plants look almost the same.
Mekong Giant is just a cool name to market the plant.

Wstrickland is correct....site the plant where it will roam.

Petey · 06-10-2022, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Yes ...you are correct never described a detailed comparison
If you forum search both plants you will get an idea of how the plant grows.

Basjoo is a nice clumping landscape plant.
Mekong giant is a runner like bamboo randomly sending shoots up everywhere or busting out a landscape container.
There are some good threads about each plant on the forum and internet.
Here is one such thread.
Musa itinerans var. itinerans is creeping into the yard.

Side by side 20 feet away the plants look almost the same.
Mekong Giant is just a cool name to market the plant.

Wstrickland is correct....site the plant where it will roam.

Thanks! Where I'm thinking of planting it, I'm not too concerned about the runners — in part maybe because I doubt they will survive if I'm not mulching over them — but that's good to know behaviorwise.

wstrickland1 · 06-10-2022, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Petey

I'm not too concerned about the runners — in part maybe because I doubt they will survive if I'm not mulching over them

I doubt even heavy mulch will stop these things but they're easy enough to cut off

sirdoofus · 06-10-2022, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

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

Maybe I missed it, but I am curious if you left the MG in the ground over the winter and if so, did it survive? Or is it too early to tell yet?

cincinnana · 06-12-2022, 04:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirdoofus

Maybe I missed it, but I am curious if you left the MG in the ground over the winter and if so, did it survive? Or is it too early to tell yet?

On my 5th year in zone 5/6.
My short grow window does not allow this plant to reach full potential in my opinion.

I have observed the plant in warmer zones where it does much better.

cincinnana · 08-13-2022, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirdoofus

Maybe I missed it, but I am curious if you left the MG in the ground over the winter and if so, did it survive? Or is it too early to tell yet?

I do have a MG in a blue half barrel that was indoors for 7 months.
The plant is larger than the MG overwintered under mulch in ground.

Much depends on how the plant is sited in the landscape.
Locally others that are grown in full sun are alittle larger than mine.

Basjoo is still the robust grower ...

cincinnana · 10-07-2022, 08:52 AM

With the cooler days and nights it will soon be time to put the mats down for another season. Other banana plants will be coming in soon once the average temp is in the 60's with some of the newly separated pups already under indoor lighting.

As long as the ground temperature is warmer than the ambient air temperature the basjoo/mekong root systems will continue to be active.

Basjoo
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

cincinnana · 11-16-2022, 07:00 PM

Been this way for almost a week.
Temperature is 32-45+
The snow was a heavy 3 inches and bent the petioles.
Note the unmelted snow on top of the insulating wood mulch at the base of the plants.
The mulch adds a great barrier from the weather.

Basjoo and snow
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

subsonicdrone · 11-16-2022, 08:59 PM

here are my basjoo (left) and mekong giant (right)
the mekong wilted from the cold before the basjoo
i expected that from reading this thread!

cincinnana · 11-17-2022, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subsonicdrone

here are my basjoo (left) and mekong giant (right)
the mekong wilted from the cold before the basjoo
i expected that from reading this thread!

Wow ....it is definitely colder in the GTA.

My plant did the same thing as yours...it gave up the season before the basjoo.

Maybe you noticed but your basjoo was all green until the first hard frost.
Lets see if your plant will try to push that last leaf it has loaded in the pstem.

cincinnana · 12-20-2022, 09:05 PM

Here is a previous thread of interest.

Market Flooded with Mekong Giant

cincinnana · 01-05-2023, 07:14 PM

Here is a discussion from forum members years ago which you might find of interest.
Some of the discussions in other threads these members comment in are interesting also.

Musa yunnanensis update - July 2008

cincinnana · 03-06-2023, 05:41 PM

Soil temps are rising to wake these plants.
Roost are viable under the surface and I am sure the Mekong is growing runners .

Here is a tool( Link )to check your soil temperature for your area..
Add you zip code.

Check out the link.

https://www.greencastonline.com/tools/soil-temperature

cincinnana · 04-05-2023, 06:41 AM

Soil temperature average in the low 50's and early spring ephemerals are breaking the soil line.

Used 46-0-0- and 19-19-19 on a number of Basjoo and Mekong plantings for the spring boost.
Woodland plantings get a 19-19-19 spring feeding .

Soon the first banana leaves will be out of the soil in grow zone 5/6.

05-14-2022, 09:57 PM	#62 (permalink)
Robbertico18 Location: Savannah Zone: 8b/9a Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 196 BananaBucks : 22,453 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 298 Times Was Thanked 280 Times in 108 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo Love the fern-banana combo! I wish I could do king ostrich ferns but everything I see says it gets too hot down here

06-08-2022, 01:37 PM	#63 (permalink)
Petey Location: boston/NH Zone: 6b/5a Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 58 BananaBucks : 14,316 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 13 Times Was Thanked 104 Times in 37 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo cincinnana did you ever decide on whether you thought basjoos or mekongs were better in your area?

10-07-2022, 08:52 AM	#73 (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: 8,782 BananaBucks : 599 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,705 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo With the cooler days and nights it will soon be time to put the mats down for another season. Other banana plants will be coming in soon once the average temp is in the 60's with some of the newly separated pups already under indoor lighting. As long as the ground temperature is warmer than the ambient air temperature the basjoo/mekong root systems will continue to be active. Basjoo by Hostafarian, on Flickr __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

11-16-2022, 07:00 PM	#74 (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: 8,782 BananaBucks : 599 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,705 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo Been this way for almost a week. Temperature is 32-45+ The snow was a heavy 3 inches and bent the petioles. Note the unmelted snow on top of the insulating wood mulch at the base of the plants. The mulch adds a great barrier from the weather. Basjoo and snow by Hostafarian, on Flickr __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

11-16-2022, 08:59 PM	#75 (permalink)
subsonicdrone Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,303 BananaBucks : 14,196 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,652 Times Was Thanked 1,851 Times in 637 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo here are my basjoo (left) and mekong giant (right) the mekong wilted from the cold before the basjoo i expected that from reading this thread!

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12-20-2022, 09:05 PM	#77 (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: 8,782 BananaBucks : 599 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,705 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo Here is a previous thread of interest. Market Flooded with Mekong Giant __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 12-20-2022 at 09:08 PM.

01-05-2023, 07:14 PM	#78 (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: 8,782 BananaBucks : 599 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,705 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo Here is a discussion from forum members years ago which you might find of interest. Some of the discussions in other threads these members comment in are interesting also. Musa yunnanensis update - July 2008 __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 01-05-2023 at 07:20 PM. Reason: t

03-06-2023, 05:41 PM	#79 (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: 8,782 BananaBucks : 599 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,705 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo Soil temps are rising to wake these plants. Roost are viable under the surface and I am sure the Mekong is growing runners . Here is a tool( Link )to check your soil temperature for your area.. Add you zip code. Check out the link. https://www.greencastonline.com/tools/soil-temperature __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

04-05-2023, 06:41 AM	#80 (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: 8,782 BananaBucks : 599 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,865 Times Was Thanked 11,705 Times in 4,870 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,943 Times	Re: Mekong Giant vs Basjoo Soil temperature average in the low 50's and early spring ephemerals are breaking the soil line. Used 46-0-0- and 19-19-19 on a number of Basjoo and Mekong plantings for the spring boost. Woodland plantings get a 19-19-19 spring feeding . Soon the first banana leaves will be out of the soil in grow zone 5/6. __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

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