Cher,

Best of luck. I would (if I were you) assume that this is simply a tropical type of banana. One that most of us can purchase at various garden centers, or nurseries. The red on the leaves is typical of most, if not all banana trees. I am not quite sure what a "burm" is, but as long as you water them frequently, as to keep them moist, you should be fine. I would only fertilize them about once every week, or two. The main thing is water. Especially now, since it has been such a dry spring here in STL.

Chow for now.

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Tom

Oh, and by the way..........say hi to Sonny!

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Tom

TOM, I THINK I HAVE A MUSA BLOOD BANANA. PERHAPS THIS IS WHY MY TREE NEVER GOT VERY TALL. WHAT KIND DO YOU RECCOMEND IF I WAS GOING TO TRY ONE PLANTED IN MY YARD? BY BURM, I MEANT AN ISLAND SHAPED MOUND OF DIRT. DO YOU USE POTTING SOIL?????? DID YOU SAY YOU LEAVE YOURS OUT IN THE WINTER AND HEAVY MULCH THEM? I LOVE TROPICAL DECOR AND AM WANTING TO TRY SOME PLANTS??? WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN SUCCESSFUL WITH???? I DID USE MIRACLE GRO ON MY BANANAS IN THE POTS. 12-12- 12 WAS WHAT THE BOTANICAL GARDEN TOLD ME AND I HAVE NOT HAD MUCH LUCK. THANKS. CHER

Cher-

If you have a "Blood Banana" tree, that is a tropical type, in other words- it cannot tolerate our winters. You have to keep it in a pot, and bring it in during the fall/winter, etc. If you want to have banana trees that are hardy to our climate- zone 6 or so, then Musa Basjoo is perfect! This is the kind I grow, and have grown for around 6+ years here in St. Louis.

I have mine in our regular clay-type soil, and do amend it with cypress mulch, which I also use to heavily mulch it in the cold months. The cypress mulch works so great, because it does actually breakdown, or work itself into the hard clay soil, thus making it a better grade of medium for the plants.

I guess the bottom line here is....don't get to overwhelmed by this whole situation. It is not a perfect science, you do not have to be a master gardener in order to have a rewarding garden, or yard.

Tom

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Tom