37.667910

So my dwarf Orinoco looks to be close to flowering (just my luck heading into fall lol). One of my pups is getting to be about 20" in height, and I wanted to separate.

My question is, after I separate the pup, should I replant it on the ground, or leave it in a pot over winter?

Our normal winter lows are 39F. But we do get a few days each winter with a few hours into the mid-to-high 20's.

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sputinc7

There's enough time left, put it in the ground. In case of a cold spot one night, toss a sheet over it. If it's real close to flowering, you might be better to leave it there until it's done ripening.

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Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

37.667910

Thanks, I'll sever them soon and get it in the ground. I believe it's close, for a dwarf, it's already about 5'5" with leaves around 6'. And it's fattening up a lot near the top of the pstem.

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sputinc7

The last couple leaves will be shorter than usual after a burst of several leaves in rapid succession, then the bud pops out. At least that's how my D Brazilian does it.

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If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win.

https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc

Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel.
What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

37.667910

I'll look out for that. It looks like the next one (based on 5") is shaping up to be another monster. Maybe another few weeks.

Another question since we're on the flowering topic. If the flower pops out during my winter, will the bunch die, or will the plant hibernate till the spring?

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crazy banana

I would not touch the pup for several reasons. 20" is pretty short and may not have sufficient roots of its own yet. If left until spring, it can nicely develop into a strong pup with a good corm and root system. Second, if you think that the mother plant is very close to an inflorescence, why stressing it by removing a pup?
A dwarf plant with a p-stem height of only 5.5' can easily be wrapped in frost cloth. I use Agribon which comes in different thicknesses. You should be able to overwinter and save the mother plant with the potential fruit bunch and all the pups.

37.667910

Thanks, I know last winter I just loosely suspended a frost cloth a foot over the top, and it came through without even loosing a leaf surprisingly. I just wasn't sure if the fruit would rot if it hung dormant all winter.

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crazy banana

We have days were the temperature drops down to 28F for a couple hours in the mornings, usually in December. Most fruit bunches develop just fine when wrapped in frost cloth or solar bags and have even better chances when the entire plant is covered. I have no personal experience with Orinoco, but my Namwah and dwarf Brazilian did great that way. A fruit bunch that has filled in and ripened during the warmer summer month might be slightly tastier though.

37.667910

Appreciate the help. Sounds very close to my winters, once in while in late dec we'll drop to 26F for an hour or two.

Ideally it will wait till next spring to flower

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pitangadiego

Pups shouldn't grow very much during the winter, so 20" isn't a problem. I often don't remove till they are 36" and more.

Pots are colder in the winter than the ground because of gr\eater exposure to the air, so planting in-ground is preferable to in-pot. You can always cover the in-ground plant and add some heat if neccessary.

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37.667910

I think I'm going to leave it right there, till spring. Plus the 6'+ leaves of the mother should keep some of the frost damaging air from hitting it as well. Like a small canopy.

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