I'm toying with this idea for banana storage this winter. Tell me what you think.
I have basjoo, ensete maurelii, and orinoco.
In the fall before the first frost, I'm going to dig them up, wash all the natural soil off the roots and corms. I will cut all leaves off except two plus the emerging leaf. Then I will stuff them in the smallest pot possible and fill it with potting soil, perlite and wood chip mix to make a light, fast draining mix.
I will then put them in my basement laundry room which has a small window. I will hang fluorescent tubes above them and run these 12 hours a day for supplemental light. The basement will be kept around 65 degrees F.
I will water only when the soil is dry. I will mist the leaves weekly and treat with neem oil as necessary to minimalize spider mite infestations.
I want to keep them someone active/growing in the winter to minimalize pseudostem loss and slow spring startup. I know I could overwinter the basjoo and store the maurelii and orinoco dormant but like I said I want to minimalize problems and/or loss.
Pics of the nanners in question.
Maurelii and basjoo:
Orinoco and another maurelii:
