Wintering Ensete

Las Palmas Norte · 02-15-2008, 01:28 PM

Too big and heavy to dig up, I erected an insulated plywood encosure around my Ensete ventricosum 'Maurellii', complete with xmas lights for frosty nights. I cut this back to a stump last fall and it's grown slowly since and I've had to add more height to the structure. Seems to have worked in my zone 8 garden.

Cheers, Barrie.

dablo93 · 02-15-2008, 02:56 PM

looks great!
I have now some ventricosum seedlings and maybe I will also do it like that with one of them.
what are the advantages/disadvantages of doing this?

Las Palmas Norte · 02-16-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dablo93

looks great!
I have now some ventricosum seedlings and maybe I will also do it like that with one of them.
what are the advantages/disadvantages of doing this?

The biggest advantage is not having to dig it up in regions where a typical winter would kill it. It's a laborious and time consuming job, not to mention, hard on the lower back to unearth these as they get larger.

The biggest disadvantage is for someone who's not good with power tools. It's a simple project but it's not for everyone I guess.

Cheers, Barrie.

bikoro child · 02-16-2008, 08:12 PM

hi..is that not expensive with all these lights ? I'm located in Z8 too and my ensete is overwintered like my basjoos in situ with some plastic bags on it...

dablo93 · 02-17-2008, 02:19 AM

Hi bikoro, didn't you had very cold weather around 15 decembre?
here it was between monday and friday below zero, between the 0 and -6 C.
it was the first time in many years that we did Ice skating again

but for the plants it was a terrible period (many died)
will a ensete survive that?

redtail_2006 · 02-17-2008, 04:37 AM

Over here in the uk we generally have to dig them out because like last nights temp was -6/-8 in places.I dig it up ;pot in up;bring in the house.The only thing is;in the house the leaves get smaller instead of bigger!.Here is a pic just before i dug it up.

dablo93 · 02-17-2008, 09:08 AM

yes the same for here but northern france and Vancouver haves around the same temperature as in UK and benelux

bikoro child · 02-17-2008, 10:12 AM

here i had -7°C in that cold time...This protection is enough for temperature like -10°C but never forget to mulch the ground in heavy quantity...(1foot thick)

Las Palmas Norte · 02-17-2008, 08:48 PM

With this protective structure not a hint of trouble with our one night winter low of -3.7c (25.3f) and no mulch.

Cheers, Barrie.

Las Palmas Norte · 06-12-2008, 06:14 PM

A late spring update for my Ensete ventricosum 'Maurellii'.
Dispite a bizzare snow fall in mid April and generally cooler than normal temps, this one pulled through with some leaf damage evident on the oldest lower leaves. The winter protection method seemed to work fine.
Once the warmer weather stablizes this should explode with new growth.

Cheers, Barrie. (Lantzville)

Lagniappe · 06-16-2008, 01:56 PM

That looks great Barrie !
I had considered doing this with mine (Maurelii)to try and get a larger plant this year .
I gotta tell you ,this is my favorite . It has to be the least affected by cold of all my Musa and Ensete . I keep them unprotected with very little in the way of mulch .After the first frost the leaves die back leaving only the unsightly psuedostem .I only remove the leaves after they've gotten completely dry . On some plants I leave them altogether.
This is the first plant to break dormancy here .I had one to reach 9' (tip of the tallest leaf) before my other plants showed any growth . They seem unstoppable once they've broken dormancy stubbornly chugging along despite several light frosts and even a freak snow .

mskitty38583 · 06-16-2008, 03:16 PM

oh thats beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ive only started growing musas...but eventually i would love to try the others...i want a little experience with these first. that is a beautiful plant.

Las Palmas Norte · 06-16-2008, 07:56 PM

Beautiful in time perhaps ... a potential prospect until then. I recall seeing a post on one of the web-sites a few years ago from an enthusiast in Portland (OR) who managed to winter and grow these to quite a substantial size. A very striking and stately sight.

Cheers, Barrie.

pharazon · 06-23-2008, 10:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikoro child

hi..is that not expensive with all these lights ?

I too am wondering about the energy costs incurred by the use of Christmas tree lights. Did you use incandescent lights, or LED?

Las Palmas Norte · 06-24-2008, 11:30 AM

Incandescent lights ... the old style type Xmas bulbs. Initially I thought a string of 25 would be needed but about 20 minutes later the temp inside the enclosure was 80f.
I backed off the bulbs until I could get enough lit that temps remained in the 42- 48 degree range. The final result was three ... yup 3 bulbs. Cheap you bet.

Cheers, Barrie.

Chironex · 06-24-2008, 06:40 PM

When I first joined this forum, I was only interested in growingedible bananas. But, I have to say that after seeing the beautiful inedible ornamentals, I have become a big fan of them. Thanks everyone for expanding my mindset and ridding me of myopia.

02-15-2008, 02:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
dablo93 dablo93 's Photo Gallery Location: Randstad North Find me on the map! Zone: Z8b-Z9a, wet cold winters and mild summers Name: daen Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 909 BananaBucks : 94,862 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 122 Times Was Thanked 262 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 159 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete looks great! I have now some ventricosum seedlings and maybe I will also do it like that with one of them. what are the advantages/disadvantages of doing this? __________________ -=

02-16-2008, 08:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
bikoro child bikoro child's Photo Gallery Location: south-west of France Find me on the map! Zone: zone 8 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,026 BananaBucks : 258,767 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 381 Times Was Thanked 578 Times in 208 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete hi..is that not expensive with all these lights ? I'm located in Z8 too and my ensete is overwintered like my basjoos in situ with some plastic bags on it... __________________ Ivan Last edited by bikoro child : 02-16-2008 at 08:25 PM.

02-17-2008, 02:19 AM	#5 (permalink)
dablo93 dablo93 's Photo Gallery Location: Randstad North Find me on the map! Zone: Z8b-Z9a, wet cold winters and mild summers Name: daen Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 909 BananaBucks : 94,862 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 122 Times Was Thanked 262 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 159 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete Hi bikoro, didn't you had very cold weather around 15 decembre? here it was between monday and friday below zero, between the 0 and -6 C. it was the first time in many years that we did Ice skating again but for the plants it was a terrible period (many died) will a ensete survive that? __________________ -=

02-17-2008, 04:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
redtail_2006 Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 101 BananaBucks : 45,181 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete Over here in the uk we generally have to dig them out because like last nights temp was -6/-8 in places.I dig it up ;pot in up;bring in the house.The only thing is;in the house the leaves get smaller instead of bigger!.Here is a pic just before i dug it up.

02-17-2008, 09:08 AM	#7 (permalink)
dablo93 dablo93 's Photo Gallery Location: Randstad North Find me on the map! Zone: Z8b-Z9a, wet cold winters and mild summers Name: daen Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 909 BananaBucks : 94,862 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 122 Times Was Thanked 262 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 159 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete yes the same for here but northern france and Vancouver haves around the same temperature as in UK and benelux __________________ -=

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

02-17-2008, 10:12 AM	#8 (permalink)
bikoro child bikoro child's Photo Gallery Location: south-west of France Find me on the map! Zone: zone 8 Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 1,026 BananaBucks : 258,767 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 381 Times Was Thanked 578 Times in 208 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete here i had -7°C in that cold time...This protection is enough for temperature like -10°C but never forget to mulch the ground in heavy quantity...(1foot thick) __________________ Ivan

02-17-2008, 08:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
Las Palmas Norte Las Palmas Norte's Photo Gallery Location: Lantzville, Vancouver Island. Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 8b Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 65 BananaBucks : 25,409 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 74 Times in 26 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete With this protective structure not a hint of trouble with our one night winter low of -3.7c (25.3f) and no mulch. Cheers, Barrie.

06-16-2008, 01:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 245,787 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete That looks great Barrie ! I had considered doing this with mine (Maurelii)to try and get a larger plant this year . I gotta tell you ,this is my favorite . It has to be the least affected by cold of all my Musa and Ensete . I keep them unprotected with very little in the way of mulch .After the first frost the leaves die back leaving only the unsightly psuedostem .I only remove the leaves after they've gotten completely dry . On some plants I leave them altogether. This is the first plant to break dormancy here .I had one to reach 9' (tip of the tallest leaf) before my other plants showed any growth . They seem unstoppable once they've broken dormancy stubbornly chugging along despite several light frosts and even a freak snow . Last edited by Lagniappe : 06-16-2008 at 03:40 PM.

06-16-2008, 03:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 189,107 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete oh thats beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ive only started growing musas...but eventually i would love to try the others...i want a little experience with these first. that is a beautiful plant. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

06-16-2008, 07:56 PM	#13 (permalink)
Las Palmas Norte Las Palmas Norte's Photo Gallery Location: Lantzville, Vancouver Island. Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 8b Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 65 BananaBucks : 25,409 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 74 Times in 26 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete Beautiful in time perhaps ... a potential prospect until then. I recall seeing a post on one of the web-sites a few years ago from an enthusiast in Portland (OR) who managed to winter and grow these to quite a substantial size. A very striking and stately sight. Cheers, Barrie.

06-24-2008, 11:30 AM	#15 (permalink)
Las Palmas Norte Las Palmas Norte's Photo Gallery Location: Lantzville, Vancouver Island. Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 8b Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 65 BananaBucks : 25,409 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 11 Times Was Thanked 74 Times in 26 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete Incandescent lights ... the old style type Xmas bulbs. Initially I thought a string of 25 would be needed but about 20 minutes later the temp inside the enclosure was 80f. I backed off the bulbs until I could get enough lit that temps remained in the 42- 48 degree range. The final result was three ... yup 3 bulbs. Cheap you bet. Cheers, Barrie.

06-24-2008, 06:40 PM	#16 (permalink)
Chironex The causasian Asian! Chironex's Photo Gallery Location: Jakarta, Indonesia Find me on the map! Zone: I have no idea Name: Scot Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,788 BananaBucks : 118,290 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,544 Times Was Thanked 1,406 Times in 808 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 609 Times	Re: Wintering Ensete When I first joined this forum, I was only interested in growingedible bananas. But, I have to say that after seeing the beautiful inedible ornamentals, I have become a big fan of them. Thanks everyone for expanding my mindset and ridding me of myopia. __________________ Scot

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Are Ensete superbum/Ensete maureli/Ensete ventricosum the same?	tropicalkid	Species Bananas	14	08-16-2008 01:17 PM
? on over wintering in the house	lwabirds	Main Banana Discussion	48	12-17-2007 03:46 PM
Drying Leaves Over-wintering	MICHIGANANA	Main Banana Discussion	2	12-11-2007 10:22 PM
newbie wintering question	randyh	Cold Hardy Bananas	10	12-06-2006 06:35 PM
Wintering	George	Cold Hardy Bananas	9	10-12-2006 01:26 PM