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deruo · 10-14-2009, 10:41 AM

Potted up my basjoo that was outside yesterday. Weather guys were calling for frost. I was going to try heavy mulching/heating cables and overwintering it outside but when I was poking around the base of the plant to check things out, I found 2 pups just starting to break through the soil.

So into the pot it went and under the grow lights for 18 hours. I plan on keeping it (and my backup indoor basjoo) indoors during the winter and planting outside next spring if all goes well. When I potted up my plant last year, all the leaves quickly went droopy and me, panicking cut them off to try saving the plant - no luck. It died.

The one I repotted hasn't got droopy leaves so far.... well, not like the one last year. Unfortunately, I don't have a cold room, garage or somewhere they could go dormant. The only room I have that gets sun during the winter is on the top level of my townhouse which also gets fairly warm. (Which also means they need even more light ;-)

It's a real balancing act, since I hear you're not supposed to water them much during the winter, but yesterday the backup plant was looking very droopy. Sprayed his leaves and gave him a good drink and today it's looking better.

If either of them start looking like they won't make it, I'll be cutting leaves and putting them in a dark closet on the ground floor (about 65F). May not be cold enough for dormancy but will give it a shot.

Meanwhile, my extra bathroom looks like it'll be doubling as a greenhouse this winter. Got a humidifier and grow lights on the go in there for days where they don't get any/much sun near the window.

May 2010 can't come soon enough!

10-14-2009, 10:41 AM	#73 (permalink)
deruo deruo's Photo Gallery Location: Toronto, Ontario Find me on the map! Name: Tom Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 47 BananaBucks : 34,740 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 23 Times Was Thanked 40 Times in 15 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: What did you pot today (Bananas) Potted up my basjoo that was outside yesterday. Weather guys were calling for frost. I was going to try heavy mulching/heating cables and overwintering it outside but when I was poking around the base of the plant to check things out, I found 2 pups just starting to break through the soil. So into the pot it went and under the grow lights for 18 hours. I plan on keeping it (and my backup indoor basjoo) indoors during the winter and planting outside next spring if all goes well. When I potted up my plant last year, all the leaves quickly went droopy and me, panicking cut them off to try saving the plant - no luck. It died. The one I repotted hasn't got droopy leaves so far.... well, not like the one last year. Unfortunately, I don't have a cold room, garage or somewhere they could go dormant. The only room I have that gets sun during the winter is on the top level of my townhouse which also gets fairly warm. (Which also means they need even more light ;-) It's a real balancing act, since I hear you're not supposed to water them much during the winter, but yesterday the backup plant was looking very droopy. Sprayed his leaves and gave him a good drink and today it's looking better. If either of them start looking like they won't make it, I'll be cutting leaves and putting them in a dark closet on the ground floor (about 65F). May not be cold enough for dormancy but will give it a shot. Meanwhile, my extra bathroom looks like it'll be doubling as a greenhouse this winter. Got a humidifier and grow lights on the go in there for days where they don't get any/much sun near the window. May 2010 can't come soon enough! __________________ Funny how the more I enjoy growing my banana plants, the less enjoy eating bananas.