Quote:
Originally Posted by Sk
Can an area be too hot for Basjoo? Out of 10 types of bananas, the Basjoo is by far our worst grower (it’s been in the ground for 5 years and is still struggling):
I don’t think it is the location, necessarily, as this banana has the identical growing conditions, same fertilizing schedule, and is subjected to the same amount of wind:
So, I was wondering... can our area just be too hot for the Basjoo? Does it prefer cooler climates or? |
In zone 6 this plant is treated as a perennial.
An in different zones this plant presents different growth habits
Sounds like the plant does not like where it is sited.
Some ideas you may consider.
To encourage more growth you might root prune the plant and add a top layer of mulch to cool the roots.
Add a tablespoon of epson salt disolved in a gallon of water and pour it around the plant.....this will promote a deeper green and additional root growth.
You might want to freshen up/amend the soil and do a replant.....we have to do this to
ccasionally becaused the soil gets used up.
Your basjoo loves extra nitrogen and water also....probably more than your other plants.
Locally when some landscapers/gardeners plant basjoo they will switch out the native soil and replace it with a high quality commercial processed soil.
This plant will not do well in heavier clay soils and seems to prefer loose highly amended soil.
Check out these two photos of basjoo mats about mile apart in zone 6.
One mat was installed in a hot parking lot in poor soil with landscape cloth and rock mulch .......which acts as a heatsink.
These plants need to be rescued.
The other is a a pro maintained irrigated landscape that has my fingerprint.
You can see the slight difference in both grows.
Basjoo by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr
Mature plants
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr
...
Yes....move your plant.....
But do it slowly........