Banana tree

[Trapper7]

I'm thinking about getting a baby Banana Tree.The one I saw at Rona is only a foot tall.I don't know what kind it is tho.Anyone know if it does well in direct sunlight facing the south?Any other info about them would be great.Thanks!~Niki~

 

[Starman]

Hi Nicky,
I wouldnt recomend you get one of these unless you have a large greenhouse, they grow big, and the most miniature forms grow to about 4 feet high, but they also have long and wide leaves, meaning a lot of room will be taken up
Also, I dont think any banana tree will survive in Canda year round, you can get hardy varieties but I think cold Canadian winters will be just too cold for them!!

 

[Starman]

Oh yes one other thing.......the only bananas that produce good, edible fruit are the large, tropical ones that need constant warmth year round

 

[jimscott]

You will also need that link to the banana phone song. Where DID I put that?

 

[mabudon]

Yeah, what Dino said, they get humungous for the most part- they don't seem to mind being moved around, which is good, but even just one leaf can be a few feet long and almost as wide
My wife buys seeds every once in a while and ew try to grow them, but we honestly don't have any really good places for them (which is the reason for our lack of success, the plant knows it will be cramped and die so it just doesn't bother)

 

[VFT_lover123]

Banana Phone
Here you go. I always keep the URL for this song handy.

 

[herenorthere]

I grew Snow Banana (Ensete glauca) plants from seeds a couple years ago and they were amazing plants.  But sunny spots are too scarce and I traded or gave all the Ensetes away.  The species grows to ~12 ft and some sources say they're hardy to 0F with protection.  They overwinter so easily in the basement, however, that I never tested the hardiness.

They'll take all the sun they can get and I'd leave them them out until frost killed the leaves.  Then I just trimmed off the brown stuff and moved the plants to the basement.  I never watered them in the basement because the roots are susceptible to rotting.

In the spring, they come out of the basement and get watered.  And watered again and again and again as leafless trees soaked up moisture.  A few weeks later you'll see a leaf forming and it's time for the plant to go back out.  One thing to consider is those big leaves pump out a lot of water.  Drops of water actually drip from the leaf tips and expect to water daily if the tree is in a pot.

If I were to get another banana, I'd get a Musella lasiocarpa.  It's much smaller and has a really cool inflorescence.  It's one of the hardiest species and, like the Ensete, you don't grow it for bananas.

 

[jimscott]

Quote[/b] (VFT_lover123 @ June 11 2005,10:19)]Banana Phone
Here you go. I always keep the URL for this song handy.

Thanks, I knew I could count on you!

 

[Trapper7]

Thanks for the info guys.I don't want the plant cause of the Banana's.I just LOVE the way they look.Also,my neighbor down the street has one and it does well in our weather.Yes it dies off in the winter(big deal)but now it's beautiful again

I don't want one of those huge ones,cause I don't have the room for it,so I really need to figure out what kind it is that Rona is selling.I went to go check it out today but the nursery part was closed

Hmmm...I don't know what to do now.I would really like one,but I don't if it's gonna be massive.~Niki~

 

[Trapper7]

The Bananaphone=TOO CUTE

I used to love Raffi when I was little.~Niki~

 

[herenorthere]

One of the best known banana nurseries is http://www.going-bananas.com/. I've never ordered from there, but it has a good reputation.

 

[Trapper7]

Thanks for the link herenorthere,but they're in Florida and I'm in Canada so I don't think that will work for me,but thanks

~Niki~

 

[herenorthere]

Oops; I forgot. Try http://www.tropic.ca/.