What's up with these ensetes?
Moderators: Laaz, lucky1, Alchris, Kansas, Wes North Van
What's up with these ensetes?
These grew great for me last summer, reaching four feet by October from seedlings. Grew them under grow lights in the basement from October til April and they grew slow, but steady. Planted them back out the last week of April, trimmed back the leaves so they wouldn't desiccate since I disturbed the roots. Of course, the leaves sunburned so I hacked them off at the very end of April.
Averages for the month of May have been 61.8 for highs and 45.2 for lows. The past week has been warm and we hit 90 yesterday, last nights low was 75 and we were up near 90 again today. Here is ALL the growth I got from end of April to now. I expected them to start flying with the heat, but that has not been the case -- these grew lightning fast for me all last summer.
As you can also see, I've been having to keep trimming the old petioles. Brown mush starts on the end and slowly works its way down, so I've been hacking that back every week or so to prevent it from spreading to the healthy tissue. I'm hoping they are just rooting in and one day will start flying? Dunno... I'm getting impatient.
Averages for the month of May have been 61.8 for highs and 45.2 for lows. The past week has been warm and we hit 90 yesterday, last nights low was 75 and we were up near 90 again today. Here is ALL the growth I got from end of April to now. I expected them to start flying with the heat, but that has not been the case -- these grew lightning fast for me all last summer.
As you can also see, I've been having to keep trimming the old petioles. Brown mush starts on the end and slowly works its way down, so I've been hacking that back every week or so to prevent it from spreading to the healthy tissue. I'm hoping they are just rooting in and one day will start flying? Dunno... I'm getting impatient.
<object width="290" height="130"><param name="movie" value="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_min ... sh&lang=EN" /><embed src="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_min ... sh&lang=EN" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290" height="130" /></object>
- TerdalFarm
- Palm Grove
- Posts: 2983
- Joined: Mon Oct 12, 2009 7:48 pm
- Location: Manzanita, OR & Sarasota, FL
- Contact:
Hopefully Jim will chime in. I just planted my first Ensete, and I sure have my share of trouble with bananas in general. My Musa basjoo look fine to me but are smaller than everyone else's around here.
My Aby is growing fast, but doesn't like my wind. One big leaf broken already.
I water it well, it is growing in composted horse manure, and I added a handful of osmocote.
Also, my soil is warm--very warm. Maybe they like that?
My Aby is growing fast, but doesn't like my wind. One big leaf broken already.
I water it well, it is growing in composted horse manure, and I added a handful of osmocote.
Also, my soil is warm--very warm. Maybe they like that?
Soil was 70.3F today...
<object width="290" height="130"><param name="movie" value="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_min ... sh&lang=EN" /><embed src="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_min ... sh&lang=EN" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290" height="130" /></object>
-
- Clumping Palm
- Posts: 2399
- Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:41 pm
All bananas seem to hate cool temps. Musa Basjoo stops growing at around 5C ( if the nights are consistantly cool as such). They need constant warm nights to really get going. A few days of heat there, followed by cool isnt really gonna make em grow.
If your weather has been anything like mine ( it should be fairly close), the spring hasnt had nearly enough consistantly hot nights to get this baby growing. The same goes for elephant ears usualy too ( they can actualy go dormant in that situation, so ive been told).
Basicaly its just waiting for sme more warmth. Give it another week or 2. The temps are gonna shoot up here ( and I hope there too!).
lupin
Eric - I know some of the plants im gonna mention arent "tropical looking" but,
bananas are heavy feeders right? Im assuming you load em up with composted manure? Try to plant legumes underneeth it ( cow peas, buck wheat, lupine etc). These fix nitrogen into your soil ( what bananas LOVE). Even if they arent totaly fixing nitrogen, studies have shown that corn grown with beans had a bigger yeild, and larger ears. All you have to do is cut them down twice a year ( before flowering), and lightly dig them into the soil. Instant nitrogen feed.
Check this out!!!
http://permaculture.org.au/2008/06/23/b ... na-circle/
If your weather has been anything like mine ( it should be fairly close), the spring hasnt had nearly enough consistantly hot nights to get this baby growing. The same goes for elephant ears usualy too ( they can actualy go dormant in that situation, so ive been told).
Basicaly its just waiting for sme more warmth. Give it another week or 2. The temps are gonna shoot up here ( and I hope there too!).
lupin
Eric - I know some of the plants im gonna mention arent "tropical looking" but,
bananas are heavy feeders right? Im assuming you load em up with composted manure? Try to plant legumes underneeth it ( cow peas, buck wheat, lupine etc). These fix nitrogen into your soil ( what bananas LOVE). Even if they arent totaly fixing nitrogen, studies have shown that corn grown with beans had a bigger yeild, and larger ears. All you have to do is cut them down twice a year ( before flowering), and lightly dig them into the soil. Instant nitrogen feed.
Check this out!!!
http://permaculture.org.au/2008/06/23/b ... na-circle/
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
They look like they are doing fine-
We averaged 55/75 here and mine didn't do much until that
warm week in early May,it now has blasted a leaf out that is over 5' long!
And that was only the third leaf it put out.
My Aby's have grown more than any other "Banana" plant.....
Yours look about right for those temps....they are just getting started.
You had a wicked cold/cool spring!
I have one Trachy that still hasn't recovered!
We averaged 55/75 here and mine didn't do much until that
warm week in early May,it now has blasted a leaf out that is over 5' long!
And that was only the third leaf it put out.
My Aby's have grown more than any other "Banana" plant.....
Yours look about right for those temps....they are just getting started.
You had a wicked cold/cool spring!
I have one Trachy that still hasn't recovered!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
Wow, your really slow up there. There must be snow in the shade behind your house (LOL)! The only thing not growing in my garden is Sabals........we must have coolish soil temps. No growth on my Sabal birmingham and about 1/2" growth on a Sabal minor.
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/US/MA/Seeko ... igwx"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... eekonk.gif" alt="Click for Seekonk, Massachusetts Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
If it makes you feel any better my Sabal Birmingham has not grown one bit in 2 years.
BTW
This is an old post and not the current state in Wisc...I am guessing.
BTW
This is an old post and not the current state in Wisc...I am guessing.
Last edited by hardyjim on Mon Jul 18, 2011 9:38 am, edited 1 time in total.
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Clumping Palm
- Posts: 2399
- Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:41 pm
Definelty not the situation in WI. If your that hot Jim, and im this hot, they must be just as toasty!! I bet his naners went crazy
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
I don't know Jesse-your weather sticker says 73f
That looks pretty nice to me!
We won't see it that cool at night for a while.
That looks pretty nice to me!
We won't see it that cool at night for a while.
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Clumping Palm
- Posts: 2399
- Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:41 pm
Thats perfect night temps as far as Im concerned (73f) Warm enough to get some decent growth, but not so hot your sticking to your bed when you sleep
Wisconson definetly isnt cool anymore LOL thats all i was sayin...
Wisconson definetly isnt cool anymore LOL thats all i was sayin...
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
Yea,they are warmer now...
If Tim's plants roots didn't freeze off this spring
maybe they are finally growing now!
If Tim's plants roots didn't freeze off this spring
maybe they are finally growing now!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Clumping Palm
- Posts: 2399
- Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:41 pm
Mabey if we keep posting in this thread hell update it Instead of leaving us hanging
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
<object width="290" height="130"><param name="movie" value="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_min ... sh&lang=EN" /><embed src="http://www.wunderground.com/swf/pws_min ... sh&lang=EN" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="290" height="130" /></object>
-
- Clumping Palm
- Posts: 2399
- Joined: Wed Jan 27, 2010 6:41 pm
Holy crap did that ever take off!!
"The definition of insanity, is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results" - einstien
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
Check out my new Blog! http://canadianplant.wordpress.com/
<a href="http://www.wunderground.com/global/stat ... big2"><img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... /71749.gif" alt="Click for Thunder Bay, Ontario Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" /></a>
There has been such a sharp dividing line in the heat this year.
I noticed Tim's weather sticker says 77F and 77F tomorrow...
man that sounds nice!
The only time I can see those temps is at sunrise here lately!
Would love to stand(rather than melt)out in my garden
and check out the plants in those temps!
I noticed Tim's weather sticker says 77F and 77F tomorrow...
man that sounds nice!
The only time I can see those temps is at sunrise here lately!
Would love to stand(rather than melt)out in my garden
and check out the plants in those temps!
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... rfield.gif" alt="Click for Fairfield, Iowa Forecast" border="0" height="60" width="468" />
-
- Arctic Palm Plantation
- Posts: 11325
- Joined: Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:31 pm
- Location: Vernon BC, Zone 5a or 5b (close to 6A!)
Now we know what's UP! and OUT!
Look at the trunk diameter.
Looks stunning Tim...
Glad those Tiki gods are still there....
Wouldn't last a week around here without bolting them to the sidewalk.
Thanks for the update.
Agree that 77F is a great temp.
Barb
Look at the trunk diameter.
Looks stunning Tim...
Glad those Tiki gods are still there....
Wouldn't last a week around here without bolting them to the sidewalk.
Thanks for the update.
Agree that 77F is a great temp.
Barb
<img src="http://weathersticker.wunderground.com/ ... anguage=EN" alt="Find more about Weather in Vernon, CA" width="160" />
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
If you drink, don't drive. Don't even putt.
-
- Seed
- Posts: 24
- Joined: Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:35 pm
- Location: Madison, Wisconsin
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest