rocco

I just bought this yesterday, and although it's still cold here in Ontario zone 5b, it's currently in the basement getting light from the windows.

I need tip in terms of fertilizer, maintenance planting of this abyssinian red come spring.

I plant to keep it in a large pot, so I can bring it in easily come winter

Chironex

It never ceases to amaze me how much plant can grow out of a dinky pot like that. It is surprising that the corm hasn't broken the clay pot.

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Scot

hammer

let dry outallmost between waterings thats what i do no fertilizer until active growth when i water in cold wheather seem to have root rot i have lost alot bananas like that

stumpy4700

Beautiful plant.

Chironex

Rocco, simply look through these topics by doing a search. These questions have been addressed many times, so they should be easy to find.

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Scot

hammer

In the sping I use a 10-10-10 fertilizer and I also use miricle grow with the 10-10-10. I had two of these banana plants and I kept them in a 20 gallon pots. I am sure that you can use a smaller one if you want it to be easily moved. I think that a 10 gallon would be good. For the soil I used compost, if avalible, and well draining potting soil. I have found that potting soil for cactus and palms work good for bananas. Make sure that the pot drains good. These are just a few of the things that I have found that works good. I hope that it helps you. Please keep me posted on how you and your plants are doing.

rocco

Thanks for the posts fellas and ladies minus the person that mentioned the search option. Why some people bother is beyond me?

Anyhoo...thx again for the tips. That is a plastic container by the way, and I'll be transplanting it into a big one come spring.

Cheers

Michael_Andrew

Rocco, Scot is a great guy with a ton of knowledge. The search feature is a very powerful tool and I would be lost without it. Some topices have been discussed and the tread is so valuable that if we tried to restate it all here shurely we would miss something. If you dislike the search function I took the liberty to do some for you and here are some great threads that discuss your inquiry.

Searching "container size" resulted in this thread that Neil started about problems he was having with his Maurellii:

need help on ensete maurelii

"soil mix" gave a great thread that Patty started that has lots of good advice. Richard our soil guru chimed in and I'm sure you'll find many of your questions answered here:

Tips for growing bananas & anything else. Got any?

Here is a thread Scot started that really gets into soil treatments and container size:

a.k.a. Richard's Realm

Hope these help. I love your "Red" and hope to aquire one soon also.

Cheers

Tog Tan

I am totally with you on this Michael, especially about Scot. If we take the time to go through the old threads by searching or...reading by personal preference, there's alot to be learnt. That is why everything is archived. I still spend my free time reading the old stuff and learn a new thing or two. My two cents here.

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Ueberwinden

Rocco,

Looks like a very nice banana from here, do you have plans to use it as a center piece in your yard?

Michael,

Very nice gesture! Myself I work double shifts at a full time job, plus time with my family, plus nursery time, oh then there is sleep?? So I can understand when some don't think to use a search function. It's hard to determine when someone is being lazy or just short for spare time. Here's to you for going the extra mile, and showing style doing it.



Michael White

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White Horticulture
Rare, Tropical, Unique

lorax

Rocco, don't knock Scot - he's one of the most knowledgable people here, and if you're going to get that nanner to survive in your frigid northern clime, you'll find that you want his advice. The search function is an extremely valuable tool on this site - it will save you from trolling around looking for the answer to your question - especially since what you asked is an extemely common set of questions that all new growers ask. It saves space in this thread to simply point you towards how to find the answers yourself, and it saves the time of the "experts" - like Scot - to tell you where to find what you're looking for, rather than write out the long-winded explanation one more time.

This said, it is a lovely plant, and I wish you the best.

rocco

I didn't mean for my reply to come across as brash, it was not my intention. I apologize to Scot. Thanks for the "search" results also.

It's not like am being lazy like someone already pointed out, things are just a bit hectic around here lately.

Cheers

PS: I want to make sure I do everything right and don't lose the nana.

Yes I do have plans to use it as a center piece on my front lawn, but I don't know how much wind it can take, otherwise I will just put it in a large pot near the garage

Tog Tan

Hey Rocco,

No hard feelings. we are quite a family here. Well, point taken from your side, welcome to the family, mate! And all the best to your Ensete coming from an Ensete Nut!

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Ueberwinden

Rocco,

That should be absolutely beautiful. Please be sure to post picture when it's all in place.

Michael

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White Horticulture
Rare, Tropical, Unique

Kylie2x

GREAT Looking plant!!!
NEVER hesitate to ask a question here ..LOL You will always find someone willing to help..
Kylie

lorax

It will take quite a bit of wind, but the side-effect is that the leaves will shred - check out a few people's member galleries to see evidence of this on unsheltered outdoor nanners. It doesn't really hurt the plant, but some people find it aesthetically unpleasing.

rocco

Anything special I should feed this to make it huge?

Tog Tan

They eat anything and drink lotsa water! With this 2 things in mind, that's all you need. All my Ensetes grown very well like this - simple layman, no tech way. All the best!

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Richard

You can only push the growth to the extent the plant has "solar" energy to utilize the nutrients. So, while it is in your basement I would only feed it micronutrients -- for example, 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water (continuous feeding) of Kelp Extract, Grow More Fert-All, or similar. Once the plant is outdoors with a significant light source, you can consider major nutrient sources. Since you are not pursuing a fruit crop, choose a fertilizer that has N-P-K ratios approximately proportional to 3:1:2. Examples would be 28-8-18, 15-5-10, etc.

Its a gorgeous plant!

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