crusader657

June 18th 2018.

I couldn't believe my eyes a few weeks ago when I saw Musa Ingens for sale on Amazon. You probably know it is a very rare, absolute giant of a plant, reputedly up to 80 feet (about 15m) tall and with an incredibly beautiful grey and green pseudostem. They are apparently quite tricky to grow.

Seeds of this mouthwatering lovely are also extremely rare and expensive.
I couldn't help myself and raced to order one, rushing to make sure the sale went through before their stock ran out.

A couple of days later a fabulous large upright box arrived from Holland (I'm in Hampshire, southern England) and I opened it like a little child at Christmas.

Do you think it really was an Ingens? No, just like the picture in the advertisement it was a Dwarf Cavendish, albeit a very nice example. So I was £30 down and rather disappointed as any banana plant nutcase will understand.

I contacted the company in Holland and a very gentlemanly chap replied quickly with a sincere apology. He contacted the original grower who told him that there had been a mistake with the description.
The chap told me that by way of an apology he would obtain me an Ingens (from another grower with whom they deal, and whom he knew grew the Ingens) and send it to me free of charge, which would be a very happy outcome.

Well, that was ten days ago, and unsurprisingly I've heard nothing from the seller. I doubt this is their only concern, so
I'll email him today (it sounds like a fairly large company rather than a private seller) and let you know of the outcome, but I'm sorry to say this is one of those purchases where one should remember the old adage that 'If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is'. If you're in Europe and think you're about to buy an Ingens via Amazon, trust your instinct.
Happy nanering. Dave.

griphuz

If you're referring to the same amazon seller I'm finding right now, honestly, you could have known
Sloppy however they make such 'mistakes'. I strongly doubt they have the knowledge and network to deliver anyone a true M. ingens, let alone free of charge...

On M. ingens, please stop wanting such a plant. Buying the real thing promotes trade of this species, making it even more rare in it's home land; the only place where it seems to grow!
And there is (in my opinion) no good reason to want it, other than just to want it for the name of the biggest one..
You can't grow it because your summers are to hot, and your winters way to cold, and there is no greenhouse big enough to shelter it (this goes for practically everyone I guess). Might just as well focus on other species, some can get quite large, and if a Musa is 12 or 16 meters tall,.....would that make any difference for anyone?

Kind regards,
Remko.

edwmax

Post the seller's name and web link so others will know he is a fraud.

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