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greenfumb 01-18-2017 03:22 AM

container for dwarf cavendish
 
I am considering planting some dwarf cavendish bananas in containers. What size container would I need to not stunt the growth of the plant. The goal is to allow the tree to get as big as it would in the ground. I live in zone 8a so I am thinking that my winters are a little too cold to plant in the ground. I do have a pallet jack, so I can bring a big container built on a pallet into the garage in the winter. Where I am at mid 20's are the normal lows. Every now and then like once every 10 years we see low teens, our record low is 8 degrees, but anything below mid 20's is unusual.

I was thinking about some heat tape and heaping mulch on top of it during the winter if I put the plants in the ground. I have 6 plants about 6 inches high, got to figure out what to do for these little guys.


Any help is appreciated.

RRedBBeard 01-18-2017 09:58 AM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
I'll be interested to see what response you get. I'm in zone 6B, and I'm probably going to try burying heating tape in the ground, and planting a banana over it with heaps of mulch to see if it survives our winters, sometimes as low as -10°F. I'll probably be trying one indoors too.

kaczercat 01-18-2017 11:10 AM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
2 to 3 feet across and deep should be plenty of room for a mature dwarf cavendish. For now you can put them in 8-10 inch pots until spring. Unfortunately cavendish does not put up well with the cold. Mine started to show damage at around around (36 or 38*F).

cincinnana 01-18-2017 10:20 PM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by greenfumb (Post 301799)
I am considering planting some dwarf cavendish bananas in containers. What size container would I need to not stunt the growth of the plant. The goal is to allow the tree to get as big as it would in the ground. I live in zone 8a so I am thinking that my winters are a little too cold to plant in the ground. I do have a pallet jack, so I can bring a big container built on a pallet into the garage in the winter. Where I am at mid 20's are the normal lows. Every now and then like once every 10 years we see low teens, our record low is 8 degrees, but anything below mid 20's is unusual.

I was thinking about some heat tape and heaping mulch on top of it during the winter if I put the plants in the ground. I have 6 plants about 6 inches high, got to figure out what to do for these little guys.


Any help is appreciated.

Green..

this could help.

Progress the growth of your plants using good general gardening practices for small tropical plants. This will apply to bananas as well.

Below is a visual of your container size throughout the process......and you can even get 1x larger at a 48 gal containers if you wish....your choice.

Weight does matter with folks who cannot move the heavy containers......your lucky, you can move yours.

Front row size of container is 1-2 gallon container.

Back row container size is 24-+ gallon size container.

You can go larger if you wish.

The only thing is your inspiration.
.

Progression in size of containers

by
Hostafarian
,
on Flickr

.
Sample of resize method when repotting(up pot) your plant to a larger container.

Repotting a plant

by
Hostafarian
,
on Flickr

CraigSS 01-19-2017 08:32 AM

container for dwarf cavendish
 
When replanting a banana plant from a smaller container to a larger on can you bring the soil level higher up the "P" stem (around the "P" stem) than what it was in the smaller pot?

Craig:2738:

cincinnana 01-19-2017 08:49 AM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by CraigSS (Post 301832)
When replanting a banana plant from a smaller container to a larger on can you bring the soil level higher up the "P" stem (around the "P" stem) than what it was in the smaller pot?

Craig:2738:

No, I will raise the plant to fit the new container keeping the stem at the same height as it was in the smaller container.
There are instances when I would do this though.....I will find a photo to show you and post it.


The photo in the post could be little misleading because I just set the smaller container inside the larger one to compare diameters for the repot..

.
Position of the stem before soilless mix is added. Kept as many roots as possible

by Hostafarian,
on Flickr

Ripsaw 01-19-2017 06:37 PM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
I've used different sizes and have used cactus potting soil for smaller plants and then mixing some good organic soil and sand. Just make sure the pots are well drained. Otherwise, in my zone, I only use pots to transfer the nanas temporarily.
When I lived in Lakeland, FL, I planted on the East side of the house which was sheltered from cold winds. Bananas and plantains did real well. Never blown over, enough sun, and I threw lots of compost on the soil. I used weed block and mulch to insulate roots, and when corms came up, just sliced a hole for them to punch through. That was zone 8 or 9, I believe. I am in 10+- now. Lakeland got freezes and I can even remember it snowing there 3 times although it melted when it hit the ground. The citrus grove owners sprayed water on the citrus trees during freezes to insulate them from the damaging cold and then the water would freeze on them (don't do this to bananas!). Quite a sight even for Central Florida.

CraigSS 01-19-2017 11:58 PM

container for dwarf cavendish
 
Thanks cincinnana.

Craig:waving:

greenfumb 01-20-2017 01:23 AM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
I have some plastic containers that large trees about 5 inches in diameter were planted in. The trees were being planted at a new shopping center. They threw the containers away. I could only get 3 of them in the trunk of my Ford Crown Victoria, they are pretty big. Probably 30 x 30 inches, will that hold a mature Dwarf cavendish without stunting it's growth.

I have a sun room that is about 14 x 30 feet, I am thinking about using as a green house. I am not looking forward to the winter heating cost, but I guess that is just part of the game. I am thinking about putting the dwarf cavendish bananas in the sun room. I can't help but think that they would grow better outside where they could get more sun. The sun room is on the west side of the house, it would get more sun on the south side of the house.

My number one problem is I dont know bananas well, so I was hoping for some advice on where and how these cavendish do well. They do look like they have small root systems. That makes them look like they will do well in less than huge containers.

kaczercat 01-20-2017 01:16 PM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
sorry double post :P

kaczercat 01-20-2017 01:17 PM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
They will like the sunroom over winters. Let the pot dry out a bit before you re water. As far as the container goes smaller container smaller and less fruit.
In the summer place it in the sunniest spot in your yard water well every few days and fertilize bi weekly/monthly depends what you use. Those 30 inch containers should be fine.

greenfumb 01-20-2017 10:51 PM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
Where is the best place to buy the dwarf cavendish plants. I bought some off of ebay, and they are not doing as well as I thought they should.

cincinnana 01-21-2017 10:33 AM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by greenfumb (Post 301854)
Where is the best place to buy the dwarf cavendish plants. I bought some off of ebay, and they are not doing as well as I thought they should.

Green,

If you had just purchased your plants in the last few months expect minimal/or no growth over the winter in your zone 8a indoor environment even if you have them under lights.

Once you can bring them outdoors in the fun sun (after they are hardened off) your plants will reward you with better growth.

Unfortunately once the plant gets growing well our season is over and fall sets in and you have to start over again .

Possibly in zone 8a expect your plants to be mature enough in 3-4 +- years to flower and fruit.
If you lived in a tropical climate the time would be much shorter.

For additional banana plants place a post in the banana plants wanted section of the forum for the plants you seek or just inquire on another post.

Keep in mind it is probably too cold to ship plants now and you will have to wait till spring.

Other outlets to purchase plants are big box stores (especially in the south), Craigslist, and quality online nurseries.
.

greenfumb 01-21-2017 08:04 PM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
Thanks for the reply. I think I am going to put them in the sun room in a a large box I construct. The box will be open to the sun in a corner where they will get a lot more light. The main reason for the box is I am going to run a thermostat and a heater inside of it, I am thinking 80 degrees. So the box is basically an enclosure to hold heat in for the plants, but open to the windows in a corner where they get max light.

Ripsaw 01-25-2017 11:31 AM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by greenfumb (Post 301870)
Thanks for the reply. I think I am going to put them in the sun room in a a large box I construct. The box will be open to the sun in a corner where they will get a lot more light. The main reason for the box is I am going to run a thermostat and a heater inside of it, I am thinking 80 degrees. So the box is basically an enclosure to hold heat in for the plants, but open to the windows in a corner where they get max light.

I was wondering if anyone used grow lights to make sure the bananas get enough light? Never tried that but have used them on other plants.

CraigSS 01-25-2017 02:20 PM

container for dwarf cavendish
 
Green,
I am using T-5 Fluorescent 4' light indoors. and my plants are growing great.

Craig

greenfumb 01-25-2017 11:34 PM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
I have been using LED lighting, and they dont seem to like it.

CraigSS 01-26-2017 08:07 AM

container for dwarf cavendish
 
I use LEDs for my veggies. But I am using 4' T-5 Fluorescents for the Bananas. If you look at my picture gallery you will see they are progressing just fine. I have the lighting hung on the wall vertically every 2' on slides that I can raise as the plants get taller. They are putting out leaves appr. every 2 weeks. I give them 1/2 gallon of water every week. The room is kept at 70*f @ 60% RH. Even the citrus and coffee trees are doing well under this lighting and they are mostly covered by the banana leaves.

Craig:03:

greenfumb 03-28-2017 05:50 AM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
I have been using 40 watt CFL (compact florescent lights) the spiral types. I picked some up on ebay for about $2.50 each and the banana's love them. I am getting a new leaf every 7 to 12 days on the 4 plants I have under a pair of these lights. They are small TC plants I picked up two at the end of January, and two more mid February. Two are dwarf cavendish, the other two are dwarf orinico (I dont know if I spelled that correctly) I have other plants I am trying to use the natural sun light in my sun room for their lighting.

I am also wondering about night time outside temperatures. Where I am located most nights are in the 60's a few in the 50's, we did have one 49 degree night a few days ago. I want to get them outside to take advantage of the sun, but I am hesitant because I dont know if the outside temperatures would be detrimental to their growth. Any advice there would be appreciated, thanks in advance for any help.

cincinnana 03-28-2017 08:13 AM

Re: container for dwarf cavendish
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by greenfumb (Post 303685)

I am also wondering about night time outside temperatures. Where I am located most nights are in the 60's a few in the 50's, we did have one 49 degree night a few days ago. I want to get them outside to take advantage of the sun, but I am hesitant because I dont know if the outside temperatures would be detrimental to their growth. Any advice there would be appreciated, thanks in advance for any help.

Here are some tips on these transitional spring days...when you want to move your plants out.

First, your average temps are high enough to bring your plants outside.
Your tender overwintered plants usually will sunburn in direct sunlight....keep them in partial light for a week or two.

Do not expect rapid growth in your current cooler temps and keep your watering to a minimum.
Your tc plants will need some extra hardening off care.


If it get too cold in high 30's use that skid jack to bring them in the garage.

Site your plants outside so the containers get some PARTIAL sun which will heat up the container. Enough sun is needed to keep the container warmer than the air temp. This will mimic warmer ground temperature. Do not let the container overheat

You may also site your outdoor plants close to a south wall or or a heatsink paver patio to compensate for the cooler nights.


I have plants outside on pallets ready to move indoors if the temp dips into the 30's.
Some plants are also along a foundation wall
My temps are 40-55 and wet which is still better than the basement.

There are a number of Texas growers whom keep plants in the ground year round... they should be answering soon and offer even deeper insight.


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