Appropriate size on Basjoo?
 

Hello everybody!
In a few months when it gets cold for real I will be having a dilemma. Should I leave the basjoo in the ground, should I dig it up storing it dormant in my basement or should I try keeping it growing inside?? Its pseudo-stem is about 70cm (2' 3") with a diameter of 7cm (3") and has two small pups just emerging from the ground. I might upload some photos later.

I'm afraid that it might be to small to survive the winter and because it's the only specimen I have I really want it to survive. Last winter I tried to overwinter a sikkimensis inground but it was totally rotten as I unwrapped it. We had a minimum of about -15C (5F) last winter but normally it's around -5C (23F).

So what do you guys think? In the ground or inside?

Thanks!

Re: Appropriate size on Basjoo?
 

Well is your area that its growing well draining soil? In the winter they need to stay dry. I know nothing about where you live,but I would mulch around the p-stem several inches worth. Make a hoop house to put over the mother plant. Once the pups are at least 2-3ft tall dig them up and bring them inside for extras in case the mother doesn't make it. I still feel Basjoo is the hardiest of all. I lived in Ohio zone 4-5 winters. 5 is questionable ha ha. It was always single digit temps,lots of snow and rainy wet weather. All I ever did with my Basjoo mat was trim them to the ground and put some mulch around them. Also came back.

Re: Appropriate size on Basjoo?
 

At that size, I'd dig up and keep it growing indoors. It's awfully small to try to overwinter in the ground and too small to overwinter dormant as well. Not too sure how well basjoo overwinters in zone 7, but it's best to wait till your plants are large and well-established before trying to do such experimentation.

Just watch carefully for spider mites during the colder seasons....they love bananas.

Re: Appropriate size on Basjoo?
 

I would say that the soil is very well draining because there is almost no clay in the soil, but we usually have very wet winters so keeping the whole plant dry is a problem.

That's probably the right thing to do and don't get me started on those spider mites. Demonic creatures that sucks the joy of growing out of you is what they are. It sickens me.

Thanks anyways!

Re: Appropriate size on Basjoo?
 

I concur! Yet another reason I dislike winter.

Re: Appropriate size on Basjoo?
 

Re: Appropriate size on Basjoo?
 

I'd try to get it growing as big as I could until frost. Then I'd completely bury the whole thing in a large pile of leaves, then put a tarp over the top to keep out the moisture and wet weather. If it's three feet tall then it will live overwinter here in Indiana and we're zone 5, you are in zone 7. You should have a large advantage in overwintering vs our zone.

Re: Appropriate size on Basjoo?
 

Actually I think it would be best if I potted it and took it inside for the winter. The Sikkimensis which I left outside the past winter did rot all the way down to the corm and it was bigger than the basjoo I have now. Although I've read somewhere that Sikkimensis are more prone to rot than the Basjoo but still and don't want to risk anything as this is the only specimen I've got. Also our winters might be milder than one in zone 5 or 6 but they are longer (about 5 months for a wrapped banana). So I'll just put it under a 36W fluorescent in a cool basement and focusing on next summer instead.

Re: Appropriate size on Basjoo?
 

I would Prolly try to keep it in the ground but just be really careful to keep it as dry as possible. When mine was inside last year it produced very weak growth bc of the naturally floppy leaves and I had it in an ideal SE window. When i put it out these leaves got raped by the not so strong spring winds, broke and cause it to get off to a somewhat slow start. This year mine is definitely staying in the ground. Even if I lose all the p-stem, it will spring back faster then if it gets all its roots severed and disturbed a few times and lives in a not so optimal environment for half a year. I just dug up a pup a couple of weeks ago and it is looking hideous inside from the change of environment. If u are keeping it inside, try to minimize growth rather than try to push it to grow as fast as possible.

I'm sure if u lost it there would be some nice members here that could hook u a decent pup that would catch up in no time. Either way keep us posted.

PS our winter here in zone 5 results in the basjoos being inside for 7 months!! And edible nanners like a month longer. I find supplemental lighting is needed for this long with light hungry plants like nanners