Snarkie

We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one and use what works the best for each of us.

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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?!"

TropicalUpNorth

I realize this is a very old post, but I am wondering what people here think of using this Moisture Control soil as part of a mix for my bananas & ensetes.

Possible ratios:
1 part Miracle-Gro Moisture Control
1 part screened perlite (1/4" screen)
1 part screened pine bark

1 part Miracle-Gro Moisture Control
1 part screened 1/4" hardwood lump charcoal
1 part screened NAPA Floor Dry (amorphous diatomaceous earth)
1-2 part screened perlite
1-2 parts screened bark

I also have some pea gravel I could screen, as well as chicken grit leftover from making Al's Gritty Mix that I could add.

These will ALL be containerized on a Minnesota patio and brought inside from mid September through Mid May.

1 large ensete will be in 55 gallon tote. I might have to repot it in September in order to have it inside.. is that advisable?

The other large ensete is going to have to make do with a smaller pot. The bananas will be thrown in 22"? Patio planters with decorative annuals.

I do not want them to ever flower (don't think I have to worry about that here lol!) But I wouldn't mind if they grew taller or "leafier"

Thanks in advance!

TL;DR: Is Miraclegro Moisture Control OK for indoor bananas if it is 33% or less of soil mix?

kathy.cales

I use Expert Potting Soil. It is cheaper than Miracle grow and I also put Jobs plant feeder spikes. 12 inch pot I use 2. My plants are growing and making babies like crazy!oh and I keep burying cut up banana peelings in the dirt about 3,2 inch pieces every two weeks. I 'm not an expert My 1st year growing bananas. But I will share what I do.

edwmax

DON'T! .... Bananas like fresh water. The corm and pstem store a large amount of water for dryer times so there is no reason to use moisture control crystals in the pot. Thus the potting soil needs to be near dry before watering to promote healthy root growth.


Fast draining potting soil is a MUST. My course bark mix will drain water from 18-24 pots 20 to 30 sec. after pouring on top.


NAPA Floor Dry (oil dry, cat litter, ect....) is a dense clay and absorbs water the same as the moisture crystals. This moist tends to promote bacterial growth and root rot. The banana stores its pwn water. This is not recommended.


Just stick to a 50%-50% mix of commercial potting soil & perlite (vermiculite or course pine bank) and you nana plants will be ok.




Now the large ensete, why bring these in during the winter? Are not these also called 'snow bananas' and very cold hardy? ... You can easily setup a temp hoop house over these during the winter and uncover in the early spring. ... And can be used to protect other smaller plants too.

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TropicalUpNorth

Thank you so much for your reply :-) I ended up using a lot of bark because it was going to be too expensive to use all the perlite I had planned on. ($5 versus $20 for the same volume) I added a little lime with bark based on what I read online about pH. Hope they don't die, but if they do, I'll learn from it.

Regarding planting outside... I am a renter and live in a townhome complex, we aren't allowed to plant anything in ground -- patio containers only. :-(

Some musa are fairly cold hardy, but that's when planting in ground. Last year it got to -31F at my place.

Ensetes are cold hardy to 8 or 9a (depending on where you look) when planted in ground. North of that people dig them up and bring inside for winter.

Musa basjoo are very cold hardy, with the Missouri Botanical Garden suggesting zone 5-10, surviving temps of -10 if they are well mulched. However, according to them, if they are container plants they must be brought inside in zone 5-8. Container soils freeze quickly.

Our extreme frost depth is 42", but typically ranges 22-30". We are USDA zone 4b. I would love to know if there are Minnesotans that grow bananas & leave in ground over winter with the aid of a hoop house. That would be really cool.

I am planning on eventually moving west, to Oregon, so I'll have to learn a whole new way of growing. :-D but maybe someday,in ground bananas! :-D

Again thank you so much for replying, I will try not to overwater these guys. That's a great tip!