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Main Banana Discussion This is where we discuss our banana collections; tips on growing bananas, tips on harvesting bananas, sharing our banana photos and stories.


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Old 01-27-2018, 08:25 PM   #1 (permalink)
 
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Default Past the halfway mark indoors!

Hi All,

I just wanted to share my indoor banana collection that I have on the dining room floor. These plants have been inside since mid November and have adjusted to natural light and being in pots. I water them weekly - alternating between watering the top soil or bottom pot saucer. I also mist them once or twice a day.

I was trying to keep my two "red velutina" style bananas dormant but they kept growing even in my cool dark basement with a temperature between 58-60F. I gave up and just potted them up. You can see the one is just starting to unroll a new cigar leaf. They certainly must be some cold hardy type because my regular velutina plants are still dormant under the same conditions in my basement.

One thing I learned was my house tap water has a PH between 8.5 and 9. That may explain why my plants usually looked a bit worse after watering them. This was probably why my patupi plant was never happy as well! I have since switched to using spring water for the moment and it seems to be working better. My spring water PH is 6.0.

I will keep experimenting for the next few months. Hopefully these small plants can make it till spring time!

Happy Growing!

Erik G
Pennsylvania

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Old 01-29-2018, 02:39 PM   #2 (permalink)
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Here is what I have in my kitchen this winter.
Veinte cohol, california gold and senorita.

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Old 01-30-2018, 01:08 PM   #3 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Very nice.

Maybe next year I will try to keep a few larger ones since it seems I have enough light to keep a few alive.

E
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Old 02-03-2018, 09:59 AM   #4 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Man, you guys are inspiring me for next year!
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Old 02-07-2018, 08:54 PM   #5 (permalink)
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Erik..

I surmise the plants you are showing in your posts are pups that were taken from plants which you are overwintering outdoors in your yard.

What is your 1/2 mark evaluation of the stuff in the ground....

Great looking plants....

.
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Old 02-09-2018, 12:54 PM   #6 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Thanks! and yes the pups came from larger plants that are outside.

Well my outdoor plants were subject to 2 weeks of continuous below freezing temperature here in SE Pennsylvania. This was a much colder winter than the previous few. With an overnight low of 0F at least once. As soon as the weather warmed up, my two 4' basjoo stalks thawed out and collapsed down into the leaf pile. I had them insulated by a large amount of leaves and some old winter coats.

From what I can tell nothing about ground survived for any of my plants, but hopefully the corms are still alive. Fingers crossed!

I assume you are probably in similar shape?

Erik G
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Old 02-12-2018, 04:44 AM   #7 (permalink)
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Yes, the area had sub zero nights for a week or so with a thin blanket of snow.
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Old 02-12-2018, 02:00 PM   #8 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

I had a thin snow blanket during the cold spell as well. It may have helped the corm but not any pstem.

Some of my cold hardy eastern prickly pear cactus died so I know this was a cold year.
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Old 02-14-2018, 10:47 PM   #9 (permalink)
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Quote:
Originally Posted by geissene View Post
Some of my cold hardy eastern prickly pear cactus died so I know this was a cold year.
Pricks are totally cold hardy...What makes you think they are dead?

They look like smack but in spring they will puff up all green .


Forum members need to brush up on air temperature vs ground temperature(not sure google it) and incorporate it in their gardens to see what will reliably grow in their zone with predictable results.

I think Eric you have figured that out.... however your pricklys are fine
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Old 02-15-2018, 11:11 AM   #10 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Yea, I have to cover my bananas and figs to keep the windchill off. The prickly pear cactus gets no such love...

About 20% of my prickly pads have turned white this winter. White pads are usually dead by spring time... The white ones were the outermost and highest pads in the group. I have grown these pads for about 20 years and usually don't lose a single pad during the winter. Which means I end up killing tons of extra pads in spring to keep them from over growing the area.

This is a bad picture to represent 20% because I removed some already. I also attached a pic of how they look in summer when in bloom.

Erik



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Old 02-15-2018, 11:35 AM   #11 (permalink)
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Those fellas look like mine. Lol
That is a nice patch you have at the mailbox, that is a good idea.
I have not tried the fruit yet have you?


Do you move your banana plants outdoors on warmer days.?
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Old 02-15-2018, 01:08 PM   #12 (permalink)
 
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Thanks! The cactus keeps all of the dogs from peeing on my mailbox! haha

I have tried to eat the small fruits, but its not worth the effort. Even the fruits get these small spines (pricks) and the inside of the pear is all seeds and little pulp. The grocery store sells a bigger version of prickly pear fruit which has taste and is easier to eat. I rarely buy them since there are better fruits available.

I have stopped moving my banana plants in and out on warm days. I've found that the effort required to move them is too much compared with the little bit of extra growth that may happen. If there is a week long stretch of warmth, I may put them outside to rid my house of the spider mite and fungus gnats that seem to get worse once April hits.

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Old 02-16-2018, 08:24 PM   #13 (permalink)
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Default Re: Past the halfway mark indoors!

Quote:
Originally Posted by geissene View Post
Thanks! The cactus keeps all of the dogs from peeing on my mailbox! haha

I have tried to eat the small fruits, but its not worth the effort. Even the fruits get these small spines (pricks) and the inside of the pear is all seeds and little pulp. The grocery store sells a bigger version of prickly pear fruit which has taste and is easier to eat. I rarely buy them since there are better fruits available.

I have stopped moving my banana plants in and out on warm days. I've found that the effort required to move them is too much compared with the little bit of extra growth that may happen. If there is a week long stretch of warmth, I may put them outside to rid my house of the spider mite and fungus gnats that seem to get worse once April hits.

Erik
Agreeeeed......
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