If you go with the garage you can expect some die back. Don't water the banana. I would keep it inside or plant it. Planting it is best, cover it with mulch and maybe a 5 gallon bucket to keep it dry after you cut it back. If you keep it inside water it as needed which will depend on the temps and lighting of your house. Just watch the plant. If you see the leaves sulking or folding and the soil is dry I would water.

What I like to do is keep several planted outside and I always keep a pup potted inside for insurance. Even though I am in zone 7 sometimes we get a lot of rain and snow and this is what kills the plants not the temps.

Hi Chad -

Well, from cacti to bananas...thanks for the additional advice.

So, not to oversimplify, but if I keep it in the living room at room temps in a sunny window I can basically treat it like a houseplant? I.e., water when dry, but not expect too much growth over the winter months? Sort of like the Schefflera it will likely find itself next to? It doesn't really 'need' a colder dormancy per se...the lower light levels will be enough for it to rest? Will it be okay with the drier humidity levels, as well?

Thanks!

Tom

Keep it in the garage. As long as it doesn't freeze and you keep it dry (water maybe once a month - depending on pot size and how rootbound) it will do fine. I trim the leaves in half to make space. Open the garage door (if you can) on days that are 38+ degrees.

I've kept them inside as well, and seem to grow weak and become infested easier than other varieties.

Good luck,
Rob

Thanks, Rob. I imagine you leave it out late since it is going garage...maybe Thanksgiving-ish, as long as no hard freezes prior?

There will be no light to speak of in my garage, either. I have had a lot of success with some cycads, cacti, and hardy pine bonsai in there, as well. My area is a bit colder than yours, so I would probably need to bring it in a bit earlier than you if I garage it...

Thanks.

Tom

Exactly, bring it in before the first hard frost (but you can pull it out for awhile after that). Once the temps are down and growth slows, water and light requirements are minimal - I just open the garage for a few hours on warmer days.

I garage cycads, many palm varieties (date, queen, betal nut), bird of paradise, cactus, bougainvillea, norfolk pine, etc.

Rob

Rob -

How cold does your garage get? Are you supplementing any light in there?

BTW, are you garaging Pygmy date palm...is that what you mean by 'date'?

Tom

The garage can drop down (closest to the door) to the upper 30's when its VERY cold at night, but it's typically in the 40's. I don't use supplemental light, but I will open the door frequently when the temps are in the upper 30's outside during the day or greater.

The dates are Halawy (Phoenix dactylifera), planted 8 years ago by seed...

Hi tom.
My na e is tom as well and im growing a super dwarf cavendish and a basjoo.
If mature enough you want to bring it indoors to let it rest, go dormant.
Yes the leaves might shrivel or fall off but thats fine.
Make sure temps are under 40 degrees and no light.

It will seem like its sleeping or dying, but its not. Yes, only water once over winter, if it is dry maybe twice.

Now if it is really small you want to allow it to get light and be near a south facing window so it can develop its main stem and roots.

Good luck.

Tommyg

first of all, inzone 5b, don't plant it this late. If it is large enough you can leave it potted in a corner of your basement and let it go dormant.Water it very infrequently and just a little.Growing them indoors is a hastle. they hate the dry air and get "buggy". the garage is a gamble. If it is a basjoo, plant it out in may.