moochops

About 4 weeks ago I brought my potted basjoo and sikkimensis daj giant indoors. We had been forecast a period of freezing weather and the aim was to avoid losing the pseudostems to the cold weather.

Here is a picture a few weeks after we brought them inside:

[IMG][/IMG]

It was no mean feat for the wife and I to bring them in as I have a broken foot and the pots are pretty big!

As you can see the plants have responded to the warmth indoors and have started growing. Here they are a week or so later:

[IMG][/IMG]

Now the conundrum - our last frost here could be anytime up until the middle of May although recent years has tended to be mid-April. So, should I put the plants back outside? The forecast for the next week looks frost free but still pretty chilly. If the leaves get toasted by frost again in the next few months will the corms still have the energy to push out new leaves when it warms up in spring? Would it be better to chop back the new growth and wait for warmer weather?

The plants were purchased in the spring of 2013 as 6 inch pups. Last winter i left them outside in a sheltered spot. We had an unusually mild winter with only a handful of very light frosts and they actually kept all their leaves. They were much smaller then and was prepared to bring them in all winter if intense cold had been forecast. This winter has been generally colder and the plants are much bigger. Both plants have a few good size pups too.

I need to do something as if I let them carry on growing I won't be able to get them back out through the door! Also, as bananimal pointed out in my gallery - the ceiling is going to be a mess.

Any other suggestions welcome. Thanks for looking.

Snarkie

Just out of curiosity, why are you keeping the basjoo potted instead of planting it, unless you're in a flat? Even if the latter is the case, why not just put it in a huge planter and leave it out all winter?

As for your giant, take it out when the weather warms up, and if they forecast a cold night or two, bring it in with a hand truck and leave it laying down until the freeze passes. Then wheel it back outside and stand it up.

Just my two cents.

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moochops

Thanks for the post Doug. I've been reading lots of threads on this site over the last few weeks and until recently didn't realise quite how hardy these plants can be. I kept them in pots because I'm planning on a house move late next year and wanted to establish a few awe-inspiring mats of bananas at my new place - not something you see in the UK very often! So I wanted to take these plants with me.......

Now I'm thinking on it - why bother? They grow that quick with a bit of care that I can grab a few pups and get to the size of my current plants within a year or two. I think I'm just a bit precious about the ones I've got - I've put some effort in with them and I want them to do well. Moving them will be a PITA though. Maybe I should just plant them in the ground here and let the future owners enjoy them?

Snarkie

Why not split them? Put the big ones in for the new owners and pot the pups for now. They be the size you want when you're ready for them. Kill two birds with one stone.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

moochops

Doug. I salute you.

Sounds like a plan. I think I'm overthinking and underthinking at the same time.

I'm gunna drag theses nanas outside at the weekend and let them face the elements. Come spring I'll pot me up some pups and stick the mamas in the ground.

Weight lifted. Cheers

cincinnana

Just tossing this out ......In colder zones 4,5,6,&7? your plant has the possibility to freeze/kill in a container outside due to the fact the plant /container will take on the ambient air temperature.

Soooo...... if the temps are in the 20's or lower for a extended period of time and your container freezes hard there is a verified chance( by my own personal loss) you will lose the corm. Keep them inside then but you cut the plant in half.

Let the Pstems die off in the cold ....or cut them off at three feet ...either way your good.
Here is a link which you might find of interest.
Hibernating a basjoo

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Snarkie

Good advice. If I remember correctly, Manchester has a zone similar to Seattle/Vancouver, so I didn't think that would be an issue. Thanks for adding though!

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

moochops

Thanks for your input guys. The weather has been fairly clement with no freezing temperatures so the pots have been moved outside. I'm prepared to bring them in again or protect them if a prolonged hard freeze is forecast as I understand your comments regarding the corm being more vulnerable when potted.

Probably wishful thinking but I'm hoping we don't get any more wintry weather and the temperature starts to recover as we march into spring. These lengthening days make me feel so much better.

I guess Manchester does have a similar climate to Seattle and Vancouver. I think the similarities end there though!

Thanks again.

Snarkie

Keep us posted though, Mike.

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

moochops

I certainly will Doug. Might try to take a few pics this weekend. We've had a period of high winds and the plants are are looking a bit sorry for themselves. The growth of course stopped when I moved them back outside and all the tender new growth that occurred indoors has been battered and stripped away. All cosmetic I think though and I'm sure they'll be fine once conditions improve. The neighbours think I'm nuts.

Snarkie

Mine have suspected that for thirty years or so...

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Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1


The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America




"Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"