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What to do with my Siam Ruby?
I am in Zone 7b. This is my Siam Ruby. Thru this forum, I've tried to figure out what to do to save it over this winter.... and, whether to separate the pups now or next spring. I can't get a clear picture.... should I pot it, and take into a protected area (back porch or garage), and then what do I do with it? Should I try to separate the pups now.... and have multiple plants to manage over the winter, or, wait and do that next spring.
This is a new plant this year.... I had an earlier plant which we cut down to ground level and covered with pine straw survive one year and then die the next after the same treatment. I'd really like to carry them over, but just not sure how to best accomplish. If anyone is near Blythewood, SC, and would like a pup, I'm pretty sure I don't need 4 or 5 more plants.... Thanks for any help!  |
Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
I brought mine inside and overwintered it in front of the window with good success.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
Good to know Stumpy, because Bob recently sent me a Siam Ruby and it's in my sunny south living room window as we speak. It's just getting started so I'll show it later...
I understand the leaves won't be as red in winter? Sort of faded looking, or does it depend on how much sunlight it gets? This is one of my most favorite banana plants for ornamental beauty so I'm really excited about growing it for the first time. I intend on putting it in my garden next Spring. I keep mine showered and misted every few days because spider mites are very drawn to it. : ) |
Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
I always leave the pups with SR. Invariably, my mother SR plant dies just before spring, and I'm left with healthy nice pups only.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
Yes the leaves will be more greenish in color. This will change as soon as they are brougt back outside. And oh yes....BEWARE of the spidermites. I always have allot on the Rubys.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
Yes, I totally noticed that spider mites seem especially attracted. Not anymore though. :ha:
Another person was mentioning using a humidifier to keep a more moist environment to deter mites. I find showers and regular misting work terrific though and my indoor banana plants are all clean of pests as a result. I did see someone's SR in a sunny winter window that was surprisingly red and I wondered if mine receives lots of winter sun, if it might do the same. I guess I'll find out but I tend to think Stumpy is exactly right and that it will be a more green-ish color over the colder months. I'll love it anyway but looking forward to the day it's a vibrant ruby red! :08: : ) |
Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
Mine is almost all green by winter's end, but the red comes rushing back when I bring it outside after it's acclimated to the sun.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
spider mites especially love siam ruby, margarita, chinese yellow, and anything ensete from my experiences with them.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
I had trouble with spider mites on mine last winter too....This year I am better prepared I used this stuff called fungicide-3...I got it at walmart and lowes around $5 it is a miticide and works great those little bastards just about killed a few of my plants this summer and after I sprayed them down they all made a comeback. I need to spray them now before I bring them in...
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
I used to buy preventative sprays and pesticides all the time, but then I found out that regular hard sprays of water get rid of, and prevent pests best of all! :08:
I haven't bought a single bottle of even so much as insecticidal soap in years and never will again. Waste of money, in my opinion. Water works best. I am really glad to hear that the red color will not be lost forever in my SR. The red color is what I love the most and I hope mine is a rich blood color when I put it outside next year... : ) |
Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
I used water, water and soap, water and olive oil, water, shampoo and olive oil last year and nothing worked to get them off the siam ruby. They say the fungicide-3 is organic to so why not? I had great results with it and would sugest it if misting your plants doesn't work.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
The trick is to spray and mist your plants regularily & consistently though. Some people think just once is enough! :eek:
My plants get weekly and sometimes twice weekly showerings. I never miss a week or get lazy about it because I know exactly what will result from it if I do. :( When I've occasionally had infestations before, I showered my plants daily for about two weeks straight to be sure they were all gone, but then cut back to once or twice weekly thereafter. I sure did not mean to put down your way of doing things, Nate, and think that all gardeners should find their own way. Cool too that your spray is organic which is very responsible of you. ;) I just merely wanted to show other gardeners that if they want to put in the time and care, they don't ever have to spend another dime on sprays again. Sometimes too, pests can build up a tolerance for sprays over time, rendering them ineffective. They never build up a tolerance to my hard blasts of water though...that knock their arses right off my plants! :ha: I respect your way of doing things too though Nate and if this is what you prefer and it works for you, then you should continue. : ) |
Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
If you give all of your plants a shower twice weekly, when do you find time for one yourself? :ha:
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
LoL, Howard! :08:
The truth is half the time when I'm in the shower, there's usually a plant or a bird in there with me! :ha: It really doesn't take me too much time and there are certain plants that get showered a little less often. My Siam Ruby is sending out a new leaf right now that has some faded red color in it, but it's very pale. I potted it up in some Sunshine mix with some Blood & Bonemeal mixed in. I thought it was sending up a pup already because of a sprout that appeared to be a new leaf, but in fact turned out to be just a weed seedling. :ha: I've seen some people keep their SR's in very small pots that still had pups everywhere. Does this type like to be root bound or something? : ) |
Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
Definitley dont be in any rush to cut off the pups. I takes a while to form a good enough root sytem on them to successfuly transplant. I'd wait till the pups are at least 2 ft tall or more. Same as Howard metnioned I have had large mother plants die on the SR only t have the pups live overwintered indoors. The one time I did have success with the mother it was in the warmest brightest spot in my porch I use to overwinter smaller plants... that one did loose it's color though as well but reddened right up after planting outdoors in spring.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
I have had no problems (other than the mites) with overwintering mine in the livingroom infront of the window. That said it did not fair to well in the sun room which got near 30-40's in the coldest months. I have noticed in mine, that the root system is not very big in the SR. I have cut several 2 to 3 ft pups that almost just pulled out of the pot. I have not had to worry about root bound even though its been in the same pot for almost 2 years.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
Neat to know that it doesn't have a very big root system on it, Jeff.
Does anyone know how long it takes for SR to flower? : ) |
Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
As far as I know there has only been a few flowering of the SR. Here's the thread to it. http://www.bananas.org/f2/siam-ruby-...tml#post140625 I Haven't heard any updates in a while as far as the fruit goes.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
I'm impressed that you overwintered it in 7b in the ground (even in a mild winter)! I overwintered a small one in a heated terrerium. It survived, but after it was planted out the next spring it withered away. I tried overwintering the replacement in the ground with no luck at all. Maybe household temps with good light is the best method.
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Re: What to do with my Siam Ruby?
When I used to live in the Seattle area, and raised tropical plants, as winter approached, I went to the local nurseries and green houses and asked about renting space, a table or even just space for a plant. They always accommodated me. So, that's a thought to consider.
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