Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

My two banana plants (blue java and manzano) have been outside in pots for 2 months now and the temperature has been pretty chilly the past week ( some days it's been 40 degrees in the afternoon and some it's been 50) and my weather app says it'll get down to 33 degrees one of these nights . Luckily it's only been 60 to 70 degrees for the past 2 days in my part of west Tennessee. It's also been really windy too; so windy it Snapped the biggest leaf on my blue java , like 15-17mph windy .

Also what growlight should I get to accommodate my 1 and 3 foot banana plants ? I don't want them to be dormant for 3-4 months , I want them to still continuously grow at a steady rate over winter. I don't know much about growlights, how to adequately use them or how much it'll cost

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Your best source of information is on the numerous marijuana forums.
cannabis/growlight/indoors

Bananas and cannabis need the same conditions to thrive in your home.

These web pages are incredibly informative.

As you drill down in some of the web pages you will know these folks are serious.......JUst like you.


Also do a forum search Growlights/bananas/overwinter........this is a good place to start also.

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Depends. How much do you want to spend? :D

I use a 1000w metal halide bulb ($90?)in a tent ($500) with other pieces of hardware to help all my growing. You can spend $1000 on lights alone if you want (SPYDRx Plus) but it's really up to how much you want to commit to growing things indoors. Is your goal JUST to keep the bananas going over winter?

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

I originally intended to only spend $20 or less for some type of light fixture but I don't have to since I've decided to just use an old 5ft lamp post that I already had in my house . Yes that's my goal but it might not be a big deal since I figured I might have days where I can get winter sun

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Not sure where you live but winter sun in a climate too far north could just make your plants leggy, which would cause them to fail (break in half) in the spring or summer when some good winds hit. If you want to do some tube florescents make sure they're at 6000 for a color temp, otherwise it's like a winter sun (teases the plant)

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

I live in west Tennessee. You might be right. I don't exactly know if that would really help my plants.

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

I'm sure it wpuld help them and they'd be happier with that 6k color temp bulb :)

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

That's what I need? I've just been using a standard 150 watt soft white incandescent bulb that I use all throughout my house

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

That's enough to tease them, any bulb in a house really is, but if you want them to not get leggy and grow healthy then I'd flip out the 150w for something better. I'm guessing if you looked on the side of the box it came in, which I'm also assuming you don't have anymore, that you'd see a number around 3000-3500k as the color temp. It might actually say that on the side of the bulb too. 150w is usually the equivalent of a super cloudy day, so imagine growing some plant that wants something more under that for a few months.

Not sure what's close to you but here's a Home Depot link
Home Depot link

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Honestly I am using a window and flourescent ceiling lights (3k lumen) and it hardly takes any electricity at all and is so bright.. the leaves on my 2 foot tall basjoo literally quadroupled in size in 1.5 months.. 1 inch wide start and now it's about 5!

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

this was about 3 days after I separated it and got it potted by the window.. roughly 1.5-2 months ago

[IMG]

This was it today.. pseudostem is still 1 foot but it randomly made an enormous leaf instead of the gradual increase in size i have noticed.. guess it likes it [IMG]

Also check out all the mini basjoo leftovers i stuck in there lol [IMG]

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Holy crap that's a lot of basjoos :)

I'm sure with the natural light it will be happy.

Yay plants!

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

here's an update... leaves are consistently getting larger.. just window light and the ceiling lights should be fine :)

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Nice

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Glad to see it thriving

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Thanks! Hopefully I helped somebody out there. My soil is generic Tree/shrub soil from Lowe's or Home Depot (the cheapest.. with bark in it).. "fertilized for 7 months". I water when the top looks dry. This is my last update (unless people want to see more.. I know I'm probably becoming a nuisance and I apologize but I just get excited)

New leaf size is now similar


My mini basjoo forrest finally growing (this is after trimming old leaves)

One i Pulled out of the "forrest" for a friend

One for myself to have growing in a pot by itself (no "forrest" with it.. lol)

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Currently grow lights are on sale...
Dirt cheap...:woohoonaner:

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Wow pretty impressive growth there nealnick5!!! In one month those pups developed several leaves, all from indoor growth? I have 8 banana plantlets that have been in my lanai here in SW Florida up until a week or so ago when we got cold weather when I moved them inside by a north facing window to get light from 7am - 4pm. We are getting 80 degree weather all next week so I will move some outside under a screen to help their growth, but I've had mine for a month now and not much growth to speak of, maybe a few have pushed a leaf but they were half present when I first got them, I don't see the verticle growth of the pseudostem on any of these in a month the way yours have grown (and the verticle growth of your pups too) and most of the month I've had mine they were outside in my lanai getting indirect light and then for a week and a half I moved half of them outside under a screen to get more direct but shaded by the screen sun. Temps were 70s and 80s during the day during that time.

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?
 

Looks like they're doing great,, I think , if possible that just good sunlight is fine. just keep doing what works
I moved these inside in October, all they get is good sunlight and lots of water,, they seem to be doing great also.



I'm thinking that they need a bigger pot, but I'm afraid to bother them while they are growing so good

Re: Should My banana trees go inside? What type of growlight will I need ?