Ensete Banana Questions

Valor_X · 09-05-2021, 01:59 PM

Does anyone have a picture of what a full sized mature plant looks like?
I can't really seem to find any online except information that they are supposed to grow very tall. I'd like to see what it looks like when it's full size.

Also, does this variety not pup at all?
Everything I've found online about this variety basically shows propagation by splitting the existing corm.

If this is true that it does not pup, then what happens if you just let the corm grow?
Eventually the main plant will reach maturity (and flower?)
Once the main plant dies does it pup then? (and does it wait until the original plant rots)?

Hmmmm...

subsonicdrone · 09-05-2021, 09:14 PM

hmelendez posted some pics of ensete ventricosum large seed from a vacation he went on which were pretty beastly
Musa Green Ensete Ventricosum

i have been trying to get this one for a while now.. the past two winters the seed sprouted.. started to get big and then died on their way to going outside for the season or just before going out

here are a couple of my favourite images
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensete...tricosum02.jpg

Ethiopian banana - Costa Rica Photos, Images & Pictures | Costa Rica Photos, Images & Pictures

and here are some other pics from the net:
click the smaller images below to see the one i mean here
https://www.rarepalmseeds.com/ensete-ventricosum

same with this one... click to the second image
https://temperate.house/plant/false-banana/

ensete superbum looks incredible as well... there are 2 types from what i remember... i forget which one is the giant one

Valor_X · 09-06-2021, 10:41 AM

Holy cr*p they really are huge! Now THAT's a giant herb!
The leaves are enormous and the p-stems are massive!! Amazing!

It looks like something you would imagine in prehistoric times

Thanks subsonicdrone for the links w/ pics!

ellenmarie · 09-06-2021, 07:12 PM

Well, I have about 40 Ensete ventricosum seedlings right now. About 12-15 inches high in 2.5 inch pots. I don't know what to do with them all so I will sell if anyone is interested. $10 plus shipping. 2-$15 plus shipping.

I've grown an Ensete Glaucum from seed to flower and I live in 5a. Brought it in many years before it flowered.

sirdoofus · 09-06-2021, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellenmarie

I've grown an Ensete Glaucum from seed to flower and I live in 5a. Brought it in many years before it flowered.

How big was it when it finally flowered?

ellenmarie · 09-06-2021, 08:55 PM

I would say 10-12 ft. That is the plant in my signature.

wstrickland1 · 09-07-2021, 08:22 AM

The tips of the leaves on mine is about 7'. I planted it as a TC the same day Lou was planted. It's done well but I don't think it will ever be like the above pics. That's just crazy.

You should grow one, what the hell

wstrickland1 · 09-07-2021, 08:30 AM

This was in May. It's since well exceeded the 6' fence (leaves) but overall isn't looking super healthy these days. I've gotten a lot of yellowing and black patches on a lot of the leaves and have had to trim many. It's still pushing big leaves though that look good when they open, then seem to succumb to whatever is going on with it. I have a new one in a container and may just go with that for my ensete fix moving forward. That spot in the ground is prime and feel it's being wasted.

sirdoofus · 09-07-2021, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ellenmarie

I would say 10-12 ft. That is the plant in my signature.

Wow, 10-12 ft?!? What size container did you have it in?

sirdoofus · 09-07-2021, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstrickland1

You should grow one, what the hell

I have a Maurellii in a pot now. Had to purchase another one this year as I killed mine from last year by overwatering it at the end of winter. If I don't kill this one this winter I am thinking about dividing it and growing some in the ground as annuals. It does grow fast here as well, for several months anyway, so I thought it might be fun to see how big they might get. If I had a better place to dormant store them, I would also consider digging one out year after year to let it get really big (relatively of course).

Regardless, if I figure out the formula for garage, in-container overwintering, I will continue to grow at least one, as they are beautiful.

ellenmarie · 09-23-2021, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sirdoofus

Wow, 10-12 ft?!? What size container did you have it in?

I had it planted in the ground but dug it every winter. The trunk (not sure what it is called) the winter before it flowered was about 5-6 foot tall. No leaves. It took 2 of us to get it in the house and I just put it in a pot with potting mix and left it alone until I put it out the next Spring. Then a flower and then it died.

It was pretty cool to watch.

sirdoofus · 09-26-2021, 07:41 PM

Oh cool. I have thought about doing that for in ground plants over winter too but wasn't really sure because I don't really have a good area to truly dormant store plants. But you have shown me it works, so i will have to think more seriously about it.

Did you keep it in a cool, dark part of your house or was it hanging out with the family?

ellenmarie · 09-27-2021, 09:48 AM

I kept in where ever I could. The last year it took 2 of us to get it in the house without leaves and it sat in a pot with windows facing North. I didn't water it but it was somewhat warm.

sirdoofus · 09-27-2021, 11:05 AM

Excellent, thank you

Robbertico18 · 10-01-2021, 04:49 PM

Man I thought mine was growing fast but those are huge!

Here is a pic of mine, bought and been in the ground since March 2021

It’s a 6ft fence behind it for reference

wstrickland1 · 10-01-2021, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robbertico18

Man I thought mine was growing fast but those are huge!

Here is a pic of mine, bought and been in the ground since March 2021

It’s a 6ft fence behind it for reference

Dang son that's crazy

Robbertico18 · 10-02-2021, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wstrickland1

Dang son that's crazy

Yeah all that growth in one year

This was the first pic after they were planted in March

Backyard Banana Joe · 10-02-2021, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Valor_X

Holy cr*p they really are huge! Now THAT's a giant herb!
The leaves are enormous and the p-stems are massive!! Amazing!

It looks like something you would imagine in prehistoric times

Thanks subsonicdrone for the links w/ pics!

That is incredible. If I had room for ornamental bananas I would totally get one!

09-05-2021, 01:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Valor_X Location: Texas Zone: 9A Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 701 BananaBucks : 96,503 Feedback: 1 / 67% Said "Thanks" 1,203 Times Was Thanked 1,275 Times in 489 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 44 Times	Ensete Banana Questions Does anyone have a picture of what a full sized mature plant looks like? I can't really seem to find any online except information that they are supposed to grow very tall. I'd like to see what it looks like when it's full size. Also, does this variety not pup at all? Everything I've found online about this variety basically shows propagation by splitting the existing corm. If this is true that it does not pup, then what happens if you just let the corm grow? Eventually the main plant will reach maturity (and flower?) Once the main plant dies does it pup then? (and does it wait until the original plant rots)? Hmmmm... __________________ Varieties I'm Growing From Corm/Pup Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart Plantains Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn From TC Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

09-05-2021, 09:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
subsonicdrone Moderator Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,419 BananaBucks : 39,608 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,807 Times Was Thanked 1,942 Times in 672 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions hmelendez posted some pics of ensete ventricosum large seed from a vacation he went on which were pretty beastly Musa Green Ensete Ventricosum i have been trying to get this one for a while now.. the past two winters the seed sprouted.. started to get big and then died on their way to going outside for the season or just before going out here are a couple of my favourite images https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ensete...tricosum02.jpg Ethiopian banana - Costa Rica Photos, Images & Pictures \| Costa Rica Photos, Images & Pictures and here are some other pics from the net: click the smaller images below to see the one i mean here https://www.rarepalmseeds.com/ensete-ventricosum same with this one... click to the second image https://temperate.house/plant/false-banana/ ensete superbum looks incredible as well... there are 2 types from what i remember... i forget which one is the giant one Last edited by subsonicdrone : 09-06-2021 at 05:44 PM.

09-06-2021, 10:41 AM	#3 (permalink)
Valor_X Location: Texas Zone: 9A Join Date: Mar 2020 Posts: 701 BananaBucks : 96,503 Feedback: 1 / 67% Said "Thanks" 1,203 Times Was Thanked 1,275 Times in 489 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 44 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions Holy crp they really are huge! Now THAT's a giant herb! The leaves are enormous and the p-stems are massive!! Amazing! It looks like something you would imagine in prehistoric times Thanks subsonicdrone for the links w/ pics! __________________ Varieties I'm Growing* From Corm/Pup Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart Plantains Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn From TC Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol Last edited by Valor_X : 09-06-2021 at 11:03 AM.

09-06-2021, 07:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
ellenmarie -ellen Location: Meredith, NH Zone: 5a Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 61 BananaBucks : 10,893 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 158 Times Was Thanked 90 Times in 42 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions Well, I have about 40 Ensete ventricosum seedlings right now. About 12-15 inches high in 2.5 inch pots. I don't know what to do with them all so I will sell if anyone is interested. $10 plus shipping. 2-$15 plus shipping. I've grown an Ensete Glaucum from seed to flower and I live in 5a. Brought it in many years before it flowered. __________________

09-06-2021, 08:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
ellenmarie -ellen Location: Meredith, NH Zone: 5a Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 61 BananaBucks : 10,893 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 158 Times Was Thanked 90 Times in 42 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions I would say 10-12 ft. That is the plant in my signature. __________________

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09-07-2021, 08:22 AM	#7 (permalink)
wstrickland1 Location: Charleston, SC Zone: 8-B Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 967 BananaBucks : 63,552 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 306 Times Was Thanked 1,427 Times in 595 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions The tips of the leaves on mine is about 7'. I planted it as a TC the same day Lou was planted. It's done well but I don't think it will ever be like the above pics. That's just crazy. You should grow one, what the hell

09-07-2021, 08:30 AM	#8 (permalink)
wstrickland1 Location: Charleston, SC Zone: 8-B Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 967 BananaBucks : 63,552 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 306 Times Was Thanked 1,427 Times in 595 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions This was in May. It's since well exceeded the 6' fence (leaves) but overall isn't looking super healthy these days. I've gotten a lot of yellowing and black patches on a lot of the leaves and have had to trim many. It's still pushing big leaves though that look good when they open, then seem to succumb to whatever is going on with it. I have a new one in a container and may just go with that for my ensete fix moving forward. That spot in the ground is prime and feel it's being wasted.

09-26-2021, 07:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
sirdoofus Location: Central Vancouver Island, BC Canada Find me on the map! Zone: AgCan 7b, USDA 6b Name: Mike Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,090 BananaBucks : 32,935 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,225 Times Was Thanked 1,275 Times in 634 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 98 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions Oh cool. I have thought about doing that for in ground plants over winter too but wasn't really sure because I don't really have a good area to truly dormant store plants. But you have shown me it works, so i will have to think more seriously about it. Did you keep it in a cool, dark part of your house or was it hanging out with the family? __________________ Who keeps calling me nuts??

09-27-2021, 09:48 AM	#13 (permalink)
ellenmarie -ellen Location: Meredith, NH Zone: 5a Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 61 BananaBucks : 10,893 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 158 Times Was Thanked 90 Times in 42 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions I kept in where ever I could. The last year it took 2 of us to get it in the house without leaves and it sat in a pot with windows facing North. I didn't water it but it was somewhat warm. __________________

09-27-2021, 11:05 AM	#14 (permalink)
sirdoofus Location: Central Vancouver Island, BC Canada Find me on the map! Zone: AgCan 7b, USDA 6b Name: Mike Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,090 BananaBucks : 32,935 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,225 Times Was Thanked 1,275 Times in 634 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 98 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions Excellent, thank you __________________ Who keeps calling me nuts??

10-01-2021, 04:49 PM	#15 (permalink)
Robbertico18 Location: Savannah Zone: 8b/9a Join Date: Apr 2021 Posts: 197 BananaBucks : 27,302 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 298 Times Was Thanked 281 Times in 109 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Ensete Banana Questions Man I thought mine was growing fast but those are huge! Here is a pic of mine, bought and been in the ground since March 2021 It’s a 6ft fence behind it for reference

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