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My New Banana Plant

4 comments


I was so happy to received a banana plant as an earlier birthday present from my family. I saw it Home Depot and my mom and sister decided to buy it. It was labeled houseplant-musa so I’m not sure which cultivar it is. I thought it was possibly Blue Java (Ice Cream) someone else told me it was basjoo. I’m not sure its basjoo because I grew one last year (that perished in the heat) and it looked very different from this one. My new banana plant has lots of powder looking residue on the stems and the undersides of the leaves. I planted it outside today, despite the 100 degree temperatures next week. I’m hoping it makes it. I’ve grown several varieties of bananas before but all have died, mainly from bad soil, heat and drought, or dieing indoors. I bought plenty of premium topsoil, Texas native compost, and composted cow manure and made a partially raised bed. The soil here is very alkaline and rocky and its clay that has the consistency of cement once it dries. Thats why I add a lot of amendments. I still need to get more mulch because its spread too thin. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that this one will make it. If not, I’ll probably give up on banana plants lol.

Banana plant today

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Comments

 

It's looking healthy. Good luck. I hope it will grow in those conditions.

21 Jun, 2012

 

Thanks Hywel. Its always challenging to grow plants in Texas, especially during summer.

21 Jun, 2012

 

Wow! Looks great Willow. We are just back from La Palma in the Canary Islands. Their main crop is bananas. Every bit of land near the coast has a banana tree growing on it. You could start your own plantation. :0)))

5 Apr, 2014

 

Thanks Linda! I bet all of those bananas looked beautiful in the Canary Islands. Bananas are one of my favorite plants. The one in the picture died to the ground but it still survived the harsh Winter. I planted another variety called Orinoco as well. I'm hoping both plants do well this year.

5 Apr, 2014

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