palmtree

Hi, Ive been growing bananas for a few years now, but this year I decided to put them into dormancy. I cut all the leaves off my dwarf cavendish in early november, it went through one frost and cool temps which hindered growth, and then it went inside early december (about 2 weeks ago). I put it in a closet that recieves absolutely no light, and actually forgot about it until today. I was amazed at what I saw. There were 2 huge leaves on the mother and 1 large one on each of the pups. Of course the first leaf was a little damaged because of the frost, but the second leaf is comming out almost white in color. It looks pretty cool because the pups have some red spoched still, but Im worried about the health of the plant. Im almost positve its because of the lack of light.
Its heavy thougt and I dont want to bring it up the stairs and make room by a window. I was wondering if I could just turn on the lights in the closet during the day and if that would be enough for the leaves to green up a little. I dont know the name of the light, but its the long lightbulbs. They give a white light, and are abotu 2 1/2 feet long. Very common, just cant think of the name.

Any help is appreciated greatly, and sorry for such a long description

__________________
Location: New York City, zone 7b

Patty in Wisc

If you want them to grow, then they need more light than one flourescent bulb. If you want them to be dormant, I'd move them to a garage or basement. They will need dark & cool temps. That's amazing (to me) that they were still growing in your closet LOL!
Are they still in pots? To make them dormant, you should take all soil off rootball & keep it dry, dark & cool.

__________________
Got a lite?
Patty




____
Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

Abnshrek

Your problem is simular to mine.. I cut all the leaves off mine wrapped in heat-tapes (38-45F operation) put them is dark trash bags filled with straw.. outside. I have 2 growing out of the bags and 2 more about to.. 2 are DC's :^) 2 are Raja Puri's I'm welding up some banana cages tomorrow.. Simular to tomato cages but these will be 2 pieces zip-stripped together. & wrapped in plastic black on the bottom and clear on top :^)

__________________


I'm a Nannerhead :^)

Patty in Wisc

Hi Mike, your plants are inground? I don't understand why the heat tape. Usually when ppl wrap them like you did, they also cut the top off. Maybe yours is too warm & just doesn't want to go to sleep

__________________
Got a lite?
Patty




____
Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

stevelau1911

I don't think they really need dormancy. Mine has also put out 2 leaves after being damaged by frost 1 month ago and it sits by an east facing window +a 70watt cfl light.

[IMG][/IMG]

__________________
I'm in zone 6 upstate NY, specialize in growing temperate cold hardy bamboos(mainly phyllostachys) and starting to get into bananas.

my picture website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31489820@N02/

http://stevespeonygarden.blogspot.com/

Abnshrek

Well when the sun came out down here it heated up the bags to 70-80F maybe hight since one day it got 68F anfter our 21F last saturday.. ? I have to improvise something.. and I did cut the tops off by a foot each or more.. so who knows.. lol I do have to deal with it.. and succeed.. :^)

__________________


I'm a Nannerhead :^)

palmtree

Thanks everyone. I think Im just going to keep the light on in the closet and let them do their thing. They are completely dry, but my banana is still in a pot. My elephant ear is not in a pot, but the bulb is about 2-3 FEET long and weighs 15-20 pounds. That has about 6 inches of new growth.
Temp in that room is about 68-72 so its a bit cooler than most rooms. I guess it wants to keep growing, and since I usually have the opposite problem with my plants in the winter, I think I might let it go upstairs and grow by a window. For now im just going to see how it does in the closet with the light on.

Ill let you know its progress and in the meantime if anyone has more advice, I would really apprecitate it!

__________________
Location: New York City, zone 7b

Patty in Wisc

If the nana is in a pot & still growing, then it will need water.

__________________
Got a lite?
Patty




____
Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

Scott

IMO...I would bring the plant out into the house someplace.
If you're going to leave a light on, then I would think a full spectrum of light would be way more healthy.
Light isn't just light. You kinda need to either make the plant dormant or let er grow. And the tropical look in the middle of winter is nice inside any home.
Since the plant is like celery, then water is needed too as stated above. Not as much, no summer soakings Maybe a cup by the stem then check it the next day. Winter-time home heating systems really take the humidity out of the air. Monitor the soil. She'll dry out quite quickly.
Good luck!

__________________

palmtree

Thanks again. Im already starting to make some room for it with all my other plants by a window. Humidity in my house now is about 60% except for one room which is at about 30% (and the plants in there all have spider mites).

Once my banana starts looking more like itsself ill post some pics!

__________________
Location: New York City, zone 7b