Hello!
 

Hi,

I just joined your great community ... looks like a great place.

I live in Ohio (Zones 5b/6) but LOVE tropicals, so had to give them a try. Last year was my first with bananas and I am SO hooked! I grew a Dwarf Cavendish, Ornata & Velutina. I brought them in to overwinter, but was only able to get one of the ornamentals to survive & the pups of the other two. I planted out in early-mid May & have been in heaven watching and learning ever since.

My payoff: I thought something was wrong with one of the ornamentals (I've lost track which is which) in that its last leaf was so small -- the next looking to be even smaller. This was the only "mom", not pup, that got thru winter, so I wondered if it could be ready to bloom. Numerous websites said you probably couldn't get them to bloom in this zone, so depressed, I stumbled on your website, and the info I found is that I believe it is actually beginning to bloom and I am SO excited! (Plus, I'll once again know which one is which!).

Looking foward to chatting with all of you & learning more about growing these great bananas.

Re: Hello!
 

Annie,
Ornata tends to have long, slender leaves that are covered on the underside in a waxy type powder. The leaves do become less slender as time goes on, but the pups would ID that if you have any that are under 2 feet tall, I'd guess. Ranging depending on what variation 3 feet to 6 maybe 7 feet (in my experience)

Velutina tends to have VERY glossy leaves. More round leaves at a young age. Grows anywhere from 6 to 10 feet (from what I have heard).

Take Pictures. What height is yours at?

And whoever told you that you couldn't get a bloom is MISTAKEN and ashame on them for telling you that. Of course you can get a bloom, and you will love every moment of the process. Your plant is sending out a few 'flag leaves'. This is just telling you that a bloom is coming.

Good luck! Keep us informed. And welcome!
Taylor

Re: Hello!
 

Hi annie and welcome, as Taylor says, if you can upload a picture in
your gallery maybe we can see if it is going to flower or not

:hiiiiyanana:

Ron

Re: Hello!
 

Thanks for the information and welcome. I am still trying to figure out a few things on the site, but think I managed to upload some photos to my gallery. Unfortunately, the comments I typed did not come thru, so I will say that most of the photos are of the one I'm sure now is blooming, one is of the other ornamental I can't remember which is which, and lastly a shot across to the side of the yard with the majority of my bananas and cannas.

As I said, most of these are first-years (therefore the small size & sparsity of the garden) except for the bloomer ... it's about 4 ft. tall. The Dwarf Cavendish isn't looking so dwarf in my small city garden ... the top of the last leaf is about 8 ft. (I don't know if bananas are measured by pstem or height of highest part). With how ridiculously close neighbors are (as you'll see in photo), this is why I haven't tried a basjoo ... I'm afraid I'd block out their sun with one of those big boys! :)

Thanks again and I think I am going to love coming here.

Re: Hello!
 

Hey!!!!
Welcome and Congrats on the Bloom!!! AWSOME!!! I look forward to seeing ya around..
Kylie

Re: Hello!
 

O.K. I am newly addicted to plant trading sites....from So. California.
I do not have my list up and running yet but I will soon! Looking forward to trading with all of you!

Pawplant (as in kangaroo...)

Re: Hello!
 

:bananas_b

Re: Hello!
 

Welcome, Annie! Congrats on getting your first bloom. Here's the picture. I believe this to be Musa ornata. The wax on the pseudostem isn't found on Musa velutina.

Re: Hello!
 

Welcome! Congrats on your bloom!