Question re annual repotting of bananas

15 years ago

I have an Abyssinian banana (ensete) started from seed last year, spent the winter indoors (as a houseplant) and is now out for the summer. Anyways, I increased it's pot size slightly this spring, from about a 16 inch pot to a 20 inch.

Do I keep increasing the pot size each year or is there another way to go about this? I am just concerned a larger pot would eventually be difficult to carry inside for winter, not to mention space in the room.

Or, does it make sense to remove the plant from the pot each spring, knock off the old soil and some of the smaller roots, and then repot in the same size pot?

I read that the larger the pot the larger the plant, but in one of my tropical gardening books they have pictures of some huge esetes in what looks like fairly small (and managable) pots.

I guess how you go about this depends on how you overwinter the plant, as a houseplant or by digging up and storing the corm/root.

Thanks,

Glen

Comments (3)

cedardave
15 years ago
I think it depends on what will remain manageable for you. If the pots get so large you cant get them indoors for winter then the plant is a gonner. If its left in a small pot it simply wont have the room for enough root growth to allow it to get large. I try to get sort of a happy medium with my bananas.As for knocking the soil off each year, I think with the short growing season we have in winnipeg and the long winter of little or no growth, it may be more harmful to your plant. I grow lots of differant bananas here , and have grown abbyssinian.I have had great success with all others except Abbyssinian.
glen3a
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Dave, one additional question. Do you have musa basjoo? If so, how do you overwinter yours? I assume you dig up and store the corm in a cool space?

Thanks,
Glen
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cedardave
15 years ago
Yes I have several Musa Basjoo. The 6 main plants are aroud 5 ft tall all with pups. This year I plan on removeing the largest pups and potting. They will be set in a loft area to grow over the winter. The main plants will be dug up. I am debating whether to store them in the basement, which I dont think is going to be cold enough, or put them into a storage center.I have a greenhouse , but it usually isnt heated for winter...maybe this year it will have to be.I also have ornico, jamacan red,cavendish,saba , icecream and a pisang kloteck to over winter.As well as a ton of assorted palm trees. Its to bad winter comes every year.