Bananas.org - View Single Post - How young can plants go dormant and survive

bigdog · 02-07-2007, 10:00 PM

Re: How young can plants go dormant and survive

This really depends on the species/cultivar you are growing. I have kept Musa cheesmani and Musa thomsonii alive in the garage, with light and almost no water, for the entire winter. On the other hand, I've lost small bananas in this fashion as well.

As far as the size pot, sounds like yours is fine. Definitely don't want to overpot a young banana in those conditions. Easier to rot.

If your plants only have four leaves, just wash them individually with soap and water, then spray the soil with Volck Oil (kills the eggs too). It can be very difficult to keep young bananas alive in typical home conditions in the winter. One idea is to get a tall aquarium, and grow in there. Another idea, and a better one I think...is to grow them in a greenhouse! Hah! Most people don't have a greenhouse, I realize.

Try to time it so that you don't have any small plants entering the winter season. Start seeds in the winter months indoors, so they will (hopefully) sprout by Spring.

02-07-2007, 10:00 PM	#4 (permalink)
bigdog ******* bigdog's Photo Gallery** Location: Gainesville, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Frank Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 2,004 BananaBucks : 968,683 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 218 Times Was Thanked 1,790 Times in 504 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 131 Times	Re: How young can plants go dormant and survive Re: How young can plants go dormant and survive This really depends on the species/cultivar you are growing. I have kept Musa cheesmani and Musa thomsonii alive in the garage, with light and almost no water, for the entire winter. On the other hand, I've lost small bananas in this fashion as well. As far as the size pot, sounds like yours is fine. Definitely don't want to overpot a young banana in those conditions. Easier to rot. If your plants only have four leaves, just wash them individually with soap and water, then spray the soil with Volck Oil (kills the eggs too). It can be very difficult to keep young bananas alive in typical home conditions in the winter. One idea is to get a tall aquarium, and grow in there. Another idea, and a better one I think...is to grow them in a greenhouse! Hah! Most people don't have a greenhouse, I realize. Try to time it so that you don't have any small plants entering the winter season. Start seeds in the winter months indoors, so they will (hopefully) sprout by Spring.