Musa Basjoo stopped growing - pups abound.
 

Hi all
I am in Cornwall UK. My Musa basjoo was purchased in June and grew away moderately to 2-3 foot. But at least 6 weeks ago - still summer here - it abruptly stopped and the next leaves refused to unfurl. Meanwhile it has sprouted three pups, the largest of which is approaching a foot. I am preparing to wrap it up for winter soon and I guess the story will play out next summer but I wondered if anyone had an idea why growth abruptly stopped. I had been feeding once a week and watering when soil was losing dampness. Watering has slowed now as autumn sets and I have stopped feeding. One final thing: the leaves are browning at the edges which I put down to colder weather, but what do I know. Thanks for any advice.

Re: Musa Basjoo stopped growing - pups abound.
 

Congratulations on those pups.

My guess your temps are lowering in the 16's and days are shorter and your plant is sorting itself out with the new pups. Possibly redirecting resources.
You plants will keep growing till the ground temps get in the 2-3c

With the rain you are getting the pups should do well.

Do you wrap your plants for the winter for protection?

Re: Musa Basjoo stopped growing - pups abound.
 

Ah, great, thanks for that reply. That makes sense.

You are spot on with the temperatures.

Re protecting: yes, I am planning creating a circle of canes around the plants, weaving chicken wire or equivalent through it, packing with straw and topping with a bit of plastic. Does that sound about right?

And rain? We are getting some serious rain!

Re: Musa Basjoo stopped growing - pups abound.
 

You could keep it simple and put a thick layer of mulch over your plants after they have die back from the last freeze.
Once your mat becomes more mature and larger you will find this being a more manageable and an inexpensive way to protect your plants.
Locally this is what we do.
Good drainage over the colder months is very important too.

The link is to my garden page or choose Cincinnana's photos to see more basjoo pics.


Basjoo mulching

Re: Musa Basjoo stopped growing - pups abound.
 

so do you mulch in december once the growth has died mostly back?
remove mush and mulch with partially composted wood chip?

nice size basjoo
is that half of a 32' ladder or half of a 40'er

last year i gave away over a dozen
instructed the people to plant in the ground
some got mulched, others did not
all of them died except for 2 plants
which that person ignored my advice and brought them indoors
i would like to try again though
the two have pups... i will ask for one and work on multiplying again

Re: Musa Basjoo stopped growing - pups abound.
 

Interesting. I have heard many people do something similar here in Cornwall. Do you get good growth in a single season? I assume the answer to that depends on the maturity of the ‘mat’?

Re: Musa Basjoo stopped growing - pups abound.
 

This is a mat of bananas...
Just a bunch of banana plants in a large clump.
Some mats are 2 plants and others larger.
You have a mat...... a starter mat.
Wait till next year.

Basjoos will go from -10 (under the mulch) to 6+ feet in a zone 6 season for new plants.

Bananas are truly amazing!


Mat

Re: Musa Basjoo stopped growing - pups abound.
 

Great thanks. I can't wait for next spring now to see them shoot up. Sounds like in a year or two I will have more plants than I will ever need.
I live in a fairly windy spot but I will shelter them as best I can and give it a go. Just looking at them brings me joy.

Re: Musa Basjoo stopped growing - pups abound.
 

Mine are sleeping under a layer of leaves and yard waste.

I hope yours are doing well this winter