Maurelii
 

Visited McDonald's Garden Center in Chesapeake, VA today. They had these 2 Maurelli's for $99 in the spring when they were still small. I refused to spend that much but now.. wish I had of. Been watching them grow all summer. In the pickup, could have gotten one home but wind would have beat it to death going that 55 miles.

Last year was my first experience with banana's and this is the first time I've seen Maurelii's this large. Is this an average height.. look.. etc? Here's a pic of one of them.

Re: Maurelii
 

Don't know anything about this particular nanner - but can't you just cut off the foliage before transporting? Shouldn't take more than a couple weeks to have a mess of leaves again...

Be well,
Mike

Re: Maurelii
 

*gasps* cut off the leaves???

don't think they do so well over-wintered.. someone will surely post with more experience though.

Re: Maurelii
 

its still a baby as compared to mature ones in the ground. it would be fine if you layed it down in the pick up bed, it doesnt care if its leaves get ripped it will grow new ones very quickly anyways.

Re: Maurelii
 

Gabe, I think what Carolina is trying to say is that they want the leaves to look pretty like they do in in the pics when they get the plant home. You and I both know that's not going to happen without a very special delivery truck that has protection from the wind.

On a side note Gabe, have you been to visit Jon yet? Any chance you could pick up your P.K. here and take it with you? The pups are getting big now. Ahh, I'll just PM you!

Re: Maurelii
 

Wow, that is a beautiful plant!

Re: Maurelii
 

Yep, Mitchel, that's what I'm talking about! *lol*

I've read that alot of people have trouble over-wintering maurelii and was wondering if any of you have had? I'm looking forward to next spring.. and this time I won't wait until every online site is sold out.

BTW.. is that an average price.. 99$ for a plant that size?

Anna.. I don't understand it. My husband, mom, sister, people at work. They just don't get the same twinge of excitement at the beauty of this plant. What's wrong with them?? *lol*

Re: Maurelii
 

Yeah - I get the same reaction from my family and friends. I don't know what's wrong with them!!! LOL

Re: Maurelii
 

$99 may be a bit high, but not out of the acceptable range for a plant that size.

Carolina, e. ventricosum 'Maurelii' stores pretty well under the house during the winter for me. In fact, mine started growing under the house. It was a small plant when stored also. It did lose some pseudostem, but bounced back just fine.

Re: Maurelii
 

Saran wrap ;)

Re: Maurelii
 

Saran wrap !!! Good idea. I'd wrap the leaves with burlap or cloth or something to protect the leaves first. Then saran wrap it to hold things together & protect from the wind. You could probably get it home with just a few bruises.

Re: Maurelii
 

Saran wrap! Next time that suggestion will surely be on my mind. For now, I've quit lusting over the Maurelii. Got a baby from Carlos, aka TropicalKid, and also a superbum. (Carlos, the bonus plant bit the dust! Had hopes that it would make it, but that wasn\'t the case. :(

Re: Maurelii
 

http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Ensete_ventricosum_\'Maurelii\'

my mission to update the popular Maurelii threads with the link to the Maurelii page in the wiki continues...

Re: Maurelii
 

HA HA! Cracks me up to see such a big banana in such a small pot. Gotta love Ensetes. :weightliftingnaner:

Re: Maurelii
 

They are such a beautiful plant. Mine is still under the house. I checked it a few days ago.It has put on 3' of new growth BUT it is blanched from being in the dark.. I don't want to go to the trouble to pot it up and ease it out so I will probably cut it back and let it go.. Come on Spring!!!
Kylie

Re: Maurelii
 

How do they get them to grow so large in such a small pot, that's what i want to know? I have huge pots and small bananas (compared to lots of you guys) I fertilize and water them as I should, but if they are in small pots, they just don't get as big. I wonder if the heat of summers here is stunting them.

Re: Maurelii
 

At my McDonalds Garden in Virginia Beach (Chesapeake is the only other), they grow them in the ground all summer, and then pot them up, and put them in the greenhouse.

Re: Maurelii
 

Hey Scot, mine are that big in pots as well. Maybe it is the heat. Are they moist most of the time or does the heat dry them out? I got a box ready for your plant. I will go to UPS are get a price and then contact you.

Re: Maurelii
 

I check them every day and water accordingly, so I doubt that any have ever dried out. I fertilize every 2 weeks in summer and use Wellspring's Banana fuel which is the perfect balance of N-P-K, so maybe it is a combination of heat and age. All of mine are first year plants and many are less than 6 months old.

Thanks for the Maurelii. too.

Re: Maurelii
 

My 2 IC bought the same time, were both potted up when about 3 ft tall. One pot was a 5-7 gal & one was 15 gal (or more?) The one in the big pot got to be almost twice as big...both got same fert.
All I can say about the one pictured is maybe it was dug up & put in the pot. Or, just think how big it would be if it grew in a bigger pot!