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Caring for a Banana plant over winter

Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
in Plants
I have been given a Banana plant (type unknown) but know nothing of their care.
Do I leave outside in a sheltered spot,  or do I put it in the garage/shed for the winter
withholding water until the spring?  I attach a picture for identification 
Any advice would be much appreciated.
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi @Steady Eddie - most of them need frost protection, and it will also depend whereabouts you're located as to the general care. As with many plants, wet cold is a bigger problem than dry cold.
    A conservatory or a porch, or similar, is usually ideal, and in warmer parts of the country, a greenhouse that stays frost free will be fine. In prolonged cold spells, some fleece might be useful too. 
    Let it die back naturally. 
    Someone else will be able to offer better advice re the care when it starts back into life though. They're a bit like cannas in that they need a decent growing medium and drainage, and plenty of sun and food once you get them back outdoors  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Looks to me like Dwarf Cavendish variety. Not remotely hardy. Treat as a house plant until next summer
    Devon.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I meant to tag you @Hostafan1 - I knew you'd be able to give better info than  me  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Fairygirl said:
    I meant to tag you @Hostafan1 - I knew you'd be able to give better info than  me  :)
    only very occasionally 
    Devon.
  • Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
    Thank you for your help. So a sunny spot in the house for the winter then? Do I continue to water and feed as I have been or reduce the frequency?
    I live in Surrey btw.
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    If you are treating it as a houseplant then it will need watering throughout the winter. They let you know when they need water as the leaves start to droop. Like a lot of tropical plants, they drop water from their leaves (guttation) so don't let it overhang anything that might spoil if it gets dripped on. You can put it outside once the danger of frost has passed.

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    edited November 2022
    If you don't want it in the house, cut off all the leaves,(leaving the stem) wrap it in straw and then fleece, and keep it in the garage. Wrap the pot in bubble wrap. If the roots freeze it will die.  Keep it on the dryish side.
  • Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
    Thank you all, your help is much appreciated. I think I will take my chances with it wrapped in the garage and keep my fingers crossed.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    If it is a Cavendish banana, it needs a minimum of 10C, so will probably not survive in a garage.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    If it is a Cavendish,yes, unfortunately indoors,we lost ours and the red one. The other 3 ensete,they go in a frost free green house,cut back and left unwartered till next spring.
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