n2cookin,

I don't think you have to dig them up in OK. Musa Basjoo are hardy to z7, z6 or so if you mulch. Of course the Psuedostem will die back each winter, but it will come back each spring.

n2cookin, Only 3 1/2'? Something is not right. I would dig it up this spring and amend the soil - bagged sand, topsoil, fine mulch... Mix slow release fert. into the soil. Any kind(almost) will work. Water in with a root stimulator and then miracle grow weekly. Is it in the sun? Has it grown pups? If not, you should consider replacing this plant...Btw, a musa basjoo should be in the ground 365 days/yr. They come back bigger and better every year & multiply...They don't overwinter well indoors.

We dug it up last fall because we planned to move it to a different location in the yard this spring. Yes, it got afternoon and evening sun where it was. DH thinks the ground there is so hard and compacted, so this time we'll dig a larger hole and put in some fertilizer. We bragged when we got it that it was gonna be so big. Our friends laughed at us when it didn't happen. Even though it only got 3 1/2 feet tall, it put out lots of leaves and did look very healthy.

Seems like you did mostly everything right. SOunds like the plant got good care. Perhaps some things can be improved on, but maybe not enough to add another 4 ft of height to the plant.

I wonder if perhaps your have the plant mis-identified? I would presume, even under the best conditions, when growers sell, that an odd plant makes it into the wrong batch on occasion.

Let's face it, many bananas look alike, especially the young ones.

Good luck!