What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

I'm up north and am space constrained in an apartment on the second floor. Curious re: the title.

I have a likely namwah (sold as ice cream) in a 10 gallon, a double mahoi in a 10 gallon, and a veinte cohol in a 5 gallon. Doing the outside <> inside life given my zone.

I always see things like 25 gallon or more, but given my constraints, I'm wondering how small I can keep the bucket assuming high quality soil and optimized fertilizer and watering.

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

I think I have had some flower in 5 gallon but know I have in 10 gallon even some that were not under optimized care but had just been in the pots long enough to be at flowering age. I usually cut the flowers off though and cut that plant down to get more babies quicker.

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

You will be hard pressed to get a flower in a 10 gal with the short grow window we have each year.

All three of your varieties will get a large indoor footprint which you will have to maintain.

When I transition to a larger container like an 18 gal or higher the plant will usaully respond with a flower in a couple of years......but that's not a guarantee.

But hey, it will be a great expierience for you.

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

Does anyone have a favorite 15-20 gallon bucket that’s robust to being moved around? I’m looking at some plastic feed tubs and such. Would like it to be aesthetically pleasing too since it’s likely gonna be in a public corner of my office (lol!)

Edit: like the look of this one with a few drainage holes drilled in https://www.behrens.com/product/17-gallon-round-tub-2/

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

Just curiously, is there a specific reason you aren't considering a regular black poly specific built container?

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

Double potting in when you put a generic pot inside a slightly larger more appealing pot to enhance the aesthetic look.
You may then use a filler material to hide the inner smaller pot while enhancing the overall look of your plant.

A majority of my tropical plants are double potted in various sized decorative pots for the outdoor season and then removed and stored when brought indoors for the winter

The pot/tub you have chosen will double as a saucer also keeping things tidy and dry.

Simple example.
Set one container into another container.
The larger container will double as a saucer catching overflow if there are no holes in it.
.

Just right size jump in container size
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

If you mean one of the large plastic tubs — it wouldn't go with the aesthetic of the space I'm thinking of overwintering in, which is the first floor of my office building where we see many members of the public. We have some plants there that I help organize — including some SDCs as decoration — and they are double potted per cincinnana's point. However, none of the external pots we have are large enough to fit a 15-20 gallon black poly container, so I'm looking for something that is aesthetically inoffensive to the rest of the space. without needing to be double-potted.

However, double potting remains a possibility that I'm talking about with our office horticulturist.

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

How about half of a wooden barrel like they use to age whiskey. Probably expensive but can be stained or painted. May need to line the inside with plastic sheet to make sure of it's ability to hold water. Or go by a feed store like Tractor Supply or an Agricultural supply. They sell a lot of livestock feed and water containers.

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

Sorry, I obviously neglected to read the whole post. Of course that makes sense. I have noticed a couple of places here have ceramic pots on clearance right now, including some larger ones, I don't know if that would be the case there, but it might be worth a look.

I usually do the double pot thing as well, and I often skimp a bit on size (I am a cheapskate) so there is a bit of a lip from the plastic pot showing at the top. I don't mind that look, others might :-/ but it could be something to think about to keep costs down.

You can also get reasonably priced, aesthetically relatively appealing, large, colored plastic pots that might work. I have seen these at several garden stores, this particular one (about 20G, 20" across the top) at Canadian Tire (doesn't help you stateside) for about $40 CDN ($30 or so US)

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

thanks doofus!

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

I know this thread is a year old, but I wanted to note that I had a similar metal pail (about half the size of the one pictured) from Home Depot, and the bottom rusted out after a few years...used it to collect kitchen scraps for my compost, so there was a lot of moisture. I hope this Behrens one is better quality, but I'd paint the insides with a primer like Rustoleum to extend it's life a bit.

Re: What is the *smallest* container you've ever gotten a banana to fruit in?
 

Behrens is an excellent choice for almost indestructible galvanized tubs, buckets, or water cans.

If the farm and ag stores sell it, it's built to last.

I have vintage galvanized Behrens stock tanks, water cans, and buckets that have been in use for more than 60 years or more. The products get a nice patina with age. They were thrifted.

There are internet videos for the techniques to age the look of your Behrens if it's too bright.

Good luck with your new container.