Question for other Southern California growers
 

It's a very warm October, and it could be a warm November too. Sometimes it doesn't even get cold until January. It doesn't freeze here, but it does drop into the 40's a night and even down to the mid- to high-30's for a few hours before sunrise.

I'm told that it will be a El Nino winter this year -- warmer temps than usual with more rain. I don't know if that's true, but we definately can use more rain.

I have some very precious pups coming -- variegated ones that I don't want to lose.

I do have a small greenhouse erected for my adeniums and smaller plumerias which have inflo's so I can see them bloom.

I did just plant some bananas in the ground the other day, and I know that they'll be fine, but I am not so certain about the variegated ones since they are so much more fussy about growing conditions.

My soil is very sandy here. There are even shells in the soil that you can find when you dig. I think this area was once a river bed. I do add MiracleGro garden soil when I plant, and I do have a big bag of Perlite.

I guess my question is whether I should pot my variegated pups (one is a sword pup by the way) or whether I should go ahead and plant them in the ground, taking special care to add Perlite to the planting hole. What would you do?

I really want to start an area like Greenie and Brian have planted because I think it will look really beautiful. They will go in behind two Foxtail palms that I just planted, an area that gets morning sun (about six hours) and afternoon shade.

Re: Question for other Southern California growers
 

I am sure pitangadiego is the best one to answer that one. I would pot them and plant in the spring.

Re: Question for other Southern California growers
 

To increase the water-holding capability of sandy-soil, I have success mixing the sandy soil 1/2 and 1/2 with one or all of:
re-hydrated ground Coir,
fine-grain humic compost,
ground sphagnum peat moss;
AND
covering the soil 3 to 4 inches thick with about 1-inch diameter disease-free mulch. This will nearly eliminate evaporation of water back out of the soil -- which otherwise will occur down several inches. Don't be tempted to use gravel for this purpose: it will retain heat and speed up the process.

About your pups, I would transplant them into 12-gallon pots using the same soil mix described above. This way you can control the amount of water they receive from El Nino and insure they don't rot from being cool and soggy January through April.

Re: Question for other Southern California growers
 

Thanks, Tony and Richard. I'll pot them up then for planting in the spring. Do you think hot daytime temps in a greenhouse would be good or detrimental for them? It easily gets to 125 during the daytime if not ventilated. Thanks!

Re: Question for other Southern California growers
 

Preferably a maximum of 90F

Re: Question for other Southern California growers
 

Interesting. So they can be too hot. My plumerias love the super high temps, but I guess that is not so of bananas. Richard, 12-gallon containers seem very large for small pups and a sword pup. Wouldn't five-gallon be better? Maybe I should show you the plants when I get them before I pot them up. I do know that overpotting can lead to soil that stays too moist and rot ensues (been there; done that).

Re: Question for other Southern California growers
 

If the corm is tennis ball size, then 12-gallon squat should be just right. Try a soil mix of 1/3 perlite, 1/3 fine-grained compost, and 1/3 your local sandy soil. Leave room for an inch or so of 1/2 diameter mulch (not compost or coir) on top of the soil after you pot the plant. From now until spring feed them something like 10-20-30 or small doses of Sul-Po-Mag.

Re: Question for other Southern California growers
 

Okay, will do. Thanks much:-)

Re: Question for other Southern California growers
 

Your welcome!

To avoid overwatering a potted plant, don't check the top of the soil -- check the holes at the bottom instead (assuming you have mulch on the top and the pots are not sitting in evil pans that hold water). When you check the holes at the bottom, see if the soil is still moist. If so, it is not time to water yet.

I'm making plans to visit Somis in the next month. Will you be in town?

Re: Question for other Southern California growers
 

Hi Richard, thanks again. Okay, I'll check the bottom. I'm just going to err on the safe side and never ever water! LOL! No, I never do the evil drip catching pans ever. I'm always warning people about those too because they are the death of potted plumerias. I'm really close to Somis; come see me. Send me a message with what day you'll be coming, and I'll send you my address and phone number.