Those ever amazing bananas!
 

Yesterday was the first time in months that I've visited the site (my bad!) and forgot how much interest and activity can be here.Have been reading posts and joining in a bit here and there....not my original intention at all. I got an email notification of a welcome (I've been here since 2009, but thanks anyway!) so decided to check the site again, since I was overdue. Before doing so, went out to my workshop for some reason, and happened to notice my Ensete Ventricosum Maurelii that I store in there was unfurling at the p-stem! I keep the workshop just above freezing most of the time,since I use it for over-wintering many plants, plus hobby activities. I had previously assumed the visible current prime leaf would have to be removed before spring. So nice and encouraging to see I was wrong! This is the second year of over-wintering of this plant, so I'm thrilled. I is in a smallish ceramic pot (about 4 gallons), and grew to over 9 ft tall on my deck last summer. Not bad for a $19 discount plant from HomeDepot! Hope everyone else has similar successes as we anticipate spring. :nanadrink:

Re: Those ever amazing bananas!
 

Welcome back!

Re: Those ever amazing bananas!
 

Need to check them plants a lil more often so you have something to share. :^)

Re: Those ever amazing bananas!
 

You are absolutely correct! This is the prelude to the most exciting time of the gardening year as far as I'm concerned. Going from the quiet and green monotone of winter to the explosion of color in spring is pretty amazing. My father in law describes my enthusiasm like the difference between a forty watt bulb and an 100 watt bulb. I'm ready.....bring on the blooms and bananas!:drum:

Re: Those ever amazing bananas!
 

Welcome home. I left my maurelii in the ground and I notice yesterday that a new leaf has appeared. I had such high expectation for that plant last year because it started on to be such a beautiful plant but then some kind of worm attacked it and it was a dismal failure. I didn't have that problem with any other banana that I grow, just the maurelii.

Has anybody else had that problem? I was so disappointed with it that I just left it to the worms. Maybe this year I'll dust it with seven and see if that takes care of the problem.

Re: Those ever amazing bananas!
 

I had a moth I beleive lay eggs on my Gran nain that ate up a couple leaves, but has since recovered, once action was taken. :^)

Re: Those ever amazing bananas!
 

My Ev Maurelii did extremely well for me last summer, despite a cool spring. I had several tree frogs take up residence in the water trapped in the leaf crotches, who I credit with keeping the plant pest free. Certainly no insect damage noted. Generally, the rapid growth of bananas will out perform any of the bugs we have around here who want to eat them. :08:

Re: Those ever amazing bananas!
 

Chance1945.......is it the only red variety you grow?Just wondering if something is attracted to the darker color or something.:2738: