GioGio, the problem could be that you are watering them too much. Make sure that the soil is coarse enough to allow the water to flow through. The key is to cut down on the watering but increase the humidity which is not often easily done.
I also haven't wrapped my Musa for the winter. With temps around 18c/64f the plant is still grwoing!
By the way nice Musa!

Ciao

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Regards

Thanks Phil for the info........ I have a few more questions for you regarding the pups I brought indoors.

I have cut the stalk down to an inch above the dirt. I have not water them at all. I had wanted the soil to dry first (the soil composition is sandy) before watering again. Should I just dig up the Root and place it in a paper back and replant in a few months? Or Leave the root in the dry dirt and move the pots downstairs where it's cooler for the winter?

This past week-end I sprayed the stalk of my Musa with a Fungicide and I have cut four branches off and left four. I want to start wrapping the stalk this week but the weather is still warm and the plant is still growing. Not Sure when to start?

Will you change your method of winterizing your Musa from last year? I really like how TropicalEye wrapped some insulation around the trunk. I think I will do the same but first I’ll wrap some burlap around the stalk first than some Pink insulation, Burlap, than I’ll Mulch more Burlap and some kind of plastic around the whole thing.

I hope it works. I want to save a much of the stalk as possible. By the way, you had mention a while back about a certificate when ordering through the States. This is my first year with tropical plants and I have never order form the states before. I will look around Ontario first before ordering but some of the sites I have previously mentioned have some interesting plants I want to try.

Thanks GioGio

GioGio, if you plan on storing them for the winter I would leave them in their pots and let them dry out in a cool dark area such as a cold cellar as long as it does not freeze.

Based on the forecast for the next week, I don't think you should cover your plant. I'm going to wait for the first night that the temps drops to about -2 or -3 C.

I only thing I will do differently is cover the plants with a waterproof tarp. Also, if I run out of dry straw I will likely compensate with some pink insulation. Hopefully, this year I will be able to save some of the stalk. If you do wrap the stalk first with burlap like I will, you should also spray it with fungicide just to be safe.

Regards
Phil

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Regards
Edited by PhilMusa on Nov 15, 2005 at 02:48 PM

Thanks for the info Phil.

GioGio & Phil
are you still visiting this forum?
how are your banana trees?
have they survived the past couple Toronto winters?
what else are you growing now?

Hey tropicalEye,

I don't really look at this site too often but I did see a notice on in my email account. My banana plant is still thriving. This year with the extended heat it has grown well over 12ft. I'm also trying for the first time, Sabal minor, bamboo, Southern Magnolia g. D.D. Blanchard and Hesperaloe parviflora.

What are you growing.

Thx,
Phil

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Regards

awesome!
I would love to see a 12ft banana tree growing outside in Toronto!!
I also got into bamboo this year
I found some hardy "golden" bamboo from a guy off craigslist
I have two clumps planted outside on my land in Haliburton..hoping they will make it through the winter. They are both about 2-3ft tall. I have a nice big clump in a pot at my place in Toronto.
I just moved it inside for the winter. It is over 7ft and cost me $50. The two smaller ones were $15/ea.
I still have my dwarf cavendish and grow a couple monster "bird of paradise" in pots.

Tropical Eye,

I am in toronto as well college and bathurst. recently planted Musa Basjo, golden crookstem like you I believe as well as Nuda and Rubro Bamboo. Soma Cana's as well giant, tropical and a begal. I would love to know how your golden is doing and how you wintered it if you did?

i planted all of these about a month ago and the golden is taking off, 3" a day now that the weather has hit. the Nuda is ok and the Rubro is stillin shock with a small new shoot coming out. The bananas are doing Ok and hope that they will improve with the heat.

I would love to see pictures of your plants that are growing in your garden. Looking to fill mine with Tropical looking stuff.

I can give you my e-mail to send the pictures if you are OK with that.

Thanks, Martin

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I like good dirt!