blownz281

I had to put a bunch of nanners outside as I have a soil bug problem. I am going to store them in my storage closet outside. Which is attached to the apartment and we are 15ft off the ground,maybe that will help with warmth? Anyhow as follows - Ice Cream,Brodelon,Sikk,Cavendish which will die,Laterias. Now these have been in the house for three months and were growing great. We are suppose to drop down to the 30's tonight. SO I need to get these guys into my storage unit TODAY. So will I loose these plants from the temp change,living in 70* temps for months then living in cold temps? They sat outside in the upper 40's lastnight. Where we are located is near a large river and the ocean on the other side so we stay warmer by about 5* compared to the weather report. Zone 8 NC

This is my list of plants-
Basjoo
Sikk
Yellow
Laterias
Velutina
Brodelen
Ice Cream
Oricono
Would they over winter better being removed from there pots with the roots not in dirt? Thanks !!

D.C._Palms_N_Sports_Fan

IM sure that there are many more out there who are far more qualified to answer your question than I, but I will take a stab at it.

First, your storage unit, it is above ground? Is it interior, meaning completely inside of a building? Is it climate controlled at all? Secondly, are you storing them in the pots, trying to keep them going? IF you are trying to keep them growing, you will need lots of heat, and lots of light. If you are trying to store them and have them go dormant, then much cooler is ok, so long as its not freezing nor wet.

IF your storage unite is attached to your building, but outside, does it get to freezing (below 32F in there) If so, I would definitely put a heater in there to keep the temps low 40s/ upper 30s at coldest. If you are keeping t hem in the pots, I would make sure that they are well dry before you store them, and water them hardly at all, IF at all for the time you are going to store them. It might even be best to take them out of the pots and just store the corms and stalks. I would also remove all of the leaves except for the newest one that is still rolled up. Bananas go dormant and stop growing in cooler/ cold weather, and can be stored inside in a cool/ cold garage or basement this way, so long as they are not wet, nor freezing. I have known a couple people who have done this successfully, and I know many others do it quite successfully from what I see posted online in varying places. I hope it works for you! Im sure someone who knows much better than I can come along and expand on what little I have offered here. I only know what i know about this second hand and through others doing it. I personally have never attempted to store bananas in this way. Good Luck!

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LilRaverBoi

Honestly, that just seems too cold for all of those in the list except basjoo and maybe orinoco. This just seems to be setting up for a lot of dead bananas and disappointment. Sure, you want to kill the bugs...but is it worth it to kill your bananas to do it? I think not. There are plenty of pesticides, sprays, etc that would kill the bugs without kill your plants....talk to an exterminator if you have to. This 'freeze em out' idea just seems like a bad one to me.

That's my two copper Lincolns, anyway.

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Abnshrek

I have only one thing to add. Since your off the ground I hope the exterior walls are insulated or the really warm temps won't be, and might work the hell out of a small heater, but the lights will help with heat :^) LED's won't cut it.. They can't melt snow on traffic lights..

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D.C._Palms_N_Sports_Fan

It amazez me how many people do not realise what exactly LED's are, and how they work, and why they are usually better than any other light. Ive had to help/ correct a couple of people using LED xmas lights to try and keep something outdoors warm so far this year. LED's definitely will NOT cut it in terms of giving off any usable heat.

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blownz281

D.C. this is a storage closet connected to our apartment. We are 15ft in the air or more on the 3rd floor. It is completely closed up and water proof. We just moved here acouple months ago so I have no idea on the temps. But being connected to the apartment and being closed up so be warmer then outside in the open on the porch. I want they to go dormant,so I figured everyones answer would be to remove them from the pots. We are on a budget right now so don't have the spare cash to hook up a light or heater inside the unit. Forget how long are little heater we have will run and if it ever turns back on or not after it gets cold again. It was only $10.00 so doubt it would turn back on. Thanks!

blownz281

Abnshrek I would highly doubt they would have insulated the walls in it. Its just for keeping like porch furniture,a bike or whatever in. Thanks

blownz281

No my Wife just doesn't want them in the house because of the bugs. I don't want to deal with bugs either though. So instead of spending the money on bug spray and new dirt and worring about them crawling around the house. All of these live all year around here outside without mulch. SO if I stored them dry they should be fine all wrapped up like crazy with blankets. Just wanted some thoughts. Thanks

fishoifc

I have a very similar issue my house is also of the ground ,10 ft and open below. Last year I tossed 3 plants under my friends crawl space, dry, trimmed,and bareroot.Kru,rowe, and d.orinoco.all three made it fine but each one of the plants grew back differently.This year I have built a room below but did not insulate it. I filled it up with plants this week and i am trying to keep it at about 45. I am not sure about this because our weather is so up and down.The temp in the room has been 40 to 64 this week.I think were in the same boat hopefully we will get lucky.

blownz281

weather said 32 but it was 41 inside the storage unit. I could feel the difference. I have read were they should be stored laying down right? As standing up is bad for the tissue? So all will be fine.

Thanks

Abnshrek

I don't think that laying down technique is very good.. unless its a controlled cold store (no chance the plant is going to attempt to grow)

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blownz281

I read somewhere it was not healthy for them to be left standing when stored?