Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

I have 4 types of banana: pink velutina, Truly Tiny, Double Mahoi, and FL Lady Finger. All of these are nicely leafed out, but some will have to survive my zone 6b winter indoors under LED lights, or in cool storage.

Has anyone had experience with cool storage of these? I'll keep the pups under lights, but how do I store the larger plants? If I let them dry out, and I keep them at 50°F through the winter, will they survive til May1?

Any advice will be appreciated.

Thanks!

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

Dig them up, with a small rootball. Chop off the leaves and set them standing up where you will keep them at 50 over winter and they will go dormant over winter. Note that keep them standing up since every plant I had lying down rottened over winter.

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

Thanks, NPH. Since my plants are all in pots, can I let them dry out completely, and remain undisturbed in the pots, standing in my basement?
Some of the pups I'll continue growing, but might severely restrict the pot size so they don't get huge indoors. Bad idea or not?

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

If you have room leave them in the pots. Don't water much if any, they will be dormant and not need any water. If the pups are on the mother I would leave them there .

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

This could help some.

I keep some of my container plants at 60-65 in the basement for about 7-+ months. If the temperature were 50-60 my method would be the same I would not change a thing, the decrease in temperature is not a deal breaker.

You may leave the pups in the container if you wish they just slow down a bit also just like the rest of the plant.

Once your container plants stop actively growing they really do not need much more attention other than light water or pest management.

It takes me some time to process the plants before they come indoors.
Spray and inspect the plants for pests while the are outside every few days.

I will line a few of the container plants up on the lawn and spray the foliage and treat the soil for pests.
Then when I am sure they are good to go and pest free I move them indoors.
I will trim some of the larger taller leaves so the plants have a smaller footprint in the basement while they rest.

I use a systemic type insecticide for the soil and foliage. You will be amazed at the insect hitchhikers are in your containers such as mice, crickets and frogs too.;) I always haves crickets chirping at Christmas.
And I have found a few tree frogs in February. Kinda like a jungle /zoo down there in the basement LOL.


There are also a few good threads where this has been discussed in detail which you might find some good information to take away.

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

What do you spray them with?

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

Cincinnana--you spray edible bananas with a systemic, or are these ornamentals you're talking about?
Frost was forecast for this morning, so I chopped the leaves off of my potted bananas yesterday, and dragged them into my basement. We had had a near-hurricane here the day before, 8" of rain in <48 hours, and sustained wind of (?) 60mph, and the plants were absolutely soaked. I removed some of the soil from the root balls, and they are standing off the floor in the basement, hopefully drying out. I have active pups of each one, just in case this turns into a disaster.
It was painful cutting the nice, lush leaves off of these, especially Truly Tiny--short of course, but the ps base was close to 6" wide. Could flowering have been far behind?
My basement may become a zoo, since I didn't have time to get rid of pests. Are there any critters that are particularly destructive to bananas? My main concern is keeping them off the floor, because I assume that there are mice that would like to munch on these.
My basement won't get really cool for another couple of weeks, so hopefully these will be ok until then.
Any comments will be appreciated!

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

With my short grow window of 170+- days in zone 5/6 I only get flowers and inedible bananas.
While I do get immature fruit ...it always rots by February on the plant while indoors.
That is why I use systemics...I will never get viable fruit.
And it seems to work .;)

.
My pests are wood roaches, spider mites, mealybugs, fungus gnats and crickets.
Crickets are cool though..kinda like a watchdog, they stop chirping when disturbed.

Your destructive one are mealybugs and spider mites........they will suck the life out of your plants .
I have not had any mouse issues with any of my plants.....and I do have mice, these fellas tend to find my seed stash and my sticky traps.
And do not eat or bother anything else.

.I have been frosted for a few weeks now. also....

Here is something IMPORTANT/FUN to observe.
Know your yard/surroundings.
Next time it frosts ....go outside and look around the immediate area by the home.
Your house is a big ol heatsink.

Notice the areas which have no frost (this will be the obvious dark areas around the foundation and home)
Now...put your plants in those areas to get the most out of your limited grow time.
Eventually these areas will cool down ...but you can increase your outside time.

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

Hi Vlad... Thanks for asking

For the foliage on banana plants I will spray the foiliage with Malathion.

For systemic(for the mites and mealys) I use Bayer Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed..

For soil I use Bayer Complete 2in1.

I buy what is on sale...

Is this the best way.....I do not know...but it works for me.


I have a few ferns which I will use the Bayer Complete 2in1 as a pest control.

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

Plants indoors for the winter

Hydroponic plant by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

Bump.....my plants are well.
:woohoonaner:

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

your plants always look fantastic. so would we in any way expect any less?

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

Woohoo!.....WOW!.....cincinnana ‘Nana/plant vault/warehouse!......

As always Mike, your ‘Nanas/plants always look awesome!....Thanks for sharing the beautiful picture!.... :2723::bananarow::2723:

Re: Cool winter storage of banana plants?
 

LOL Thanks Beam2050....I do have bad days too....but my camera does not work on those days. LOL


Thank you!... HMelendez ....
..Grow them like you stole them.
:woohoonaner: