harveyc

But Gabe posted earlier this year that his boss (supervisor or whatever) thinks she knows how to do it and he's looking to acquire a couple of pups to give it a shot. So it might be possible since Gabe thinks it's worth a try.

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JCDerrick

Thanks, now that makes sense. Mystery solved.

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Malama 'Aina



Normal Jan. Low: 34°F, Normal Jul High: 92°F
Coldest: 16-20°F, Warmest: 98-103°F
Annual Precip: 48 inches

BB73

@GATrops:
Hi, I wonder if your AeAe has survived more winters now or was killed by a frost?
I was thinking of planting mine out this or next year (it's still small now). But I'll keep a pup inside , if I get one. I'm in zone 9 and we also get rare freezes, that usually stay for only a few hours. Winters aren't wet compared to Central and Northern Europe.
My lows in the last three winters were between 25 and 28° F (-3,6 to -2,2°C). There was only one day in these winters with a whole day below freezing and in total between 8 and 12 nights/winter with freezing during night. This data is from my personal weather station located at the roof top of my house. The data is very accurate compared to official station and private stations in my area.

@everybody: By the way, when did all of your AeAe's have their first pup?

niblicksrus

BB73, keep in mind that temperature at ground level is probably colder than on the rooftop, since cold air sinks.

My AeAe produced pups during the first year, when it was about 6 to 8 feet tall. The parent plant blew down in a windstorm this winter when it was about 12 feet tall, but the pups survived.

We had about 6 days of light freezing this winter. I covered the AeAe pups at night when freezing was forecast. They survived and are growing again now.

Here's a photo of the parent plant and pups, taken last fall before the parent blew over:



I hope that your AeAe thrives! They are beautiful plants.

Rick

BB73

Thanks for the info.
I guess, I'll let it stay in the pot for this year and hope to get pups untill next spring. Then I'll try to plant the mother plant or one or two pups in the ground. If the frost kills the AeAE I still have some spare pups.
Hopefully! :-)

Clare_CA

The AeAe in GATrops picture had major protection -- the oak tree directly above it. This makes all the difference for tropical plants to have some sort of overhead protection. That brick house retains heat during the day and radiates it at night. I'm sure that creates a nice little microclimate for the AeAe.

We had a fluke freeze here in Southern California in 2007, I believe, and the tropical plants and trees that had some bigger tree nearby were undamaged whereas those out in the open were killed. My friend lost his AeAe that was planted out in the open, and he's in Zone 10.

A lot of times, it's not the actual air temperature that is reached that causes the damage but rather the consecutive hours at low temperatures or consecutive days at low temperatures if that makes any sense. Brief periods of low temperatures can sometimes not do damage. Light freezes and hard freezes make a difference too, and the temperature and moisture level of the earth around the root system plays a factor too.

I just planted a bunch of variegated bananas, and while it typically doesn't freeze in my area, it does get down to the mid- to high 30's in the wintertime. I throw some blankets over my plumerias in the ground whenever it is predicted to be near freezing, and I'll probably do the same with my variegated bananas. They just cost too much not to try to protect them in my view.

coast crab

When I bought my Ae Ae late last summer it was about 4 ft tall. I went ahead and planted it in the ground is a shady spot under the live oak canopy. (I hate seeing pictures of burned leaves) Then we had the coldest, wettest winter in YEARS. Even some of my toughest plants were completely killed to the ground. I was sure the Ae Ae was a goner - if the freezes didn't kill it the wet certainly did. To my surprise it was one of the first of the survivors to pop up! (deep sigh of relief)

Now it is time to update (reduce) my profile list and start shopping!

Russell

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mushtaq86

Glad to see your Ae Ae made it

cherokee_greg

I hope it grows bigger than ever

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Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA
http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

BB73

How's the AeAe doing now? Did it survive and is growing now?

coast crab

Looking good, about 4 ft. to the top of the leaves.



Russell

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