Latherdome

Hi all, this is my first post. A week ago bananas weren't on my mind, and I had no idea this site existed. I am a very unlikely banana grower. I have small basement living quarters in a larger shared house. I propose to make my quarters more pleasant with very large lush houseplants, and my winter blues more tolerable with the spill light from the necessary grow lights for the plants.

I love the look of banana plants, more than similar cannas, birds of paradise, etc. If it's possible to get fruit, so much the better. Right now my main concern is whether it's possible to keep dwarf banana plants healthy year-round with negligible natural light. And 6.5' ceilings only.

I've bought one of these lamps to determine first whether the light is pleasant: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._title_o00_s00. If yes, then to see whether I can grow, say, a Veinte Cohol under it in a 15-gallon grow bag.

Temperatures down here are stable around 68F, RH not far off 50%, with help of a humidifier in the heating season (Oregon, zone 8). I can commit to the work of watering, fertilizing, trimming, monitoring soil chemistry etc.

Obviously I have lots to learn yet. But can anybody tell me if I'm completely delusional, before I invest in everything necessary for the attempt? If not Veinte Cohol, should I give up on edible fruit and select some extra-dwarf ornamental sort? Will the lack of real sunlight help assure that I don't get too big a tree in here?

Art_R

Although I have never grown bananas indoors myself, I know that several members do successfully grow and fruit bananas indoors. So no, you are NOT delusional!!! You would probably maximize your chances for fruit if you leave your potted bananas outside during the warm months and bring them indoors for the winter. I will leave it to the indoor banana growers to recommend varieties.

__________________
Here's what I'm growing: Grand Naine, Namwa, Blue Java, Raja Puri, Patupi, & a mystery nanner

Latherdome

Update: it's been a raging success. Beginning of November I had 2 plants,
the smaller of which had 2 little leaves smaller than my hand. 11 weeks
later I have 2 rather large and very beautiful houseplants still growing fast,
and the spill light from the grow lights has made a huge difference to my
usual seasonal depression.

I'm hooked! I'm even growing micro greens in the extra space of one of
the containers, and the larger of the 2 has a pup coming up alongside!
Again, almost no natural light, and the copious watering and tendency
for the plants to weep water has meant I don't need to run the humidifier
even with forced air heat in winter.

Sure, I've seen some nice enough Monsteras and whatnot, but once you
go Bananas, there's no turning back.

One of the plants has a colony of little white mites that seems to be
growing. Should I be concerned? If so, recommendations for a cat-safe,
minimally toxic mitigation strategy? I could probably just wipe them off
to cut their numbers, but unclear how effective that might be.

Also, I hardly have room for the pup to take off like its parent. Hard to
bring myself to kill it though, and the market -- even giveaway -- for
baby bananas in the dead of PNW winter isn't exactly hot. Suggestions?

Pics are big, because so are the plants! First is "Veranda", second is Veinte Cohol.

all43

Looking really good, checkout this thread on spider mites.


Help, are these spider mites??