George I did exactly what you showed me, I pulled them out of the ground, cut them back and dried them out, I put them in my garage. It was an average of 45°C. I took them out two weeks ago, cut off some of the dead Roots planted in small pots and in 2 weeks they are flourishing,, One more week, put them outside, and then find a nice spot in the ground, they grow to about 12 feet high. I’m expecting them to grow even higher this year. Thank you so much.
Hi Larry, apologies for the delayed reply and it's great to hear about your success! Happy to have helped and all the best with them this coming season!
Haha can't blame you Marc, fingers crossed for you! I've done it really early in the past but found that the reward doesn't necessarily outweigh the risk as the soil is still cold but who knows what this year will bring!
What an adventure these Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' have to go through... They for sure will be very thankful soon, sharing their beauty again in a few weeks.... See you mon cher George!
They certainly do! It is incredible how well they take their winter hibernation and how reliably growth can be started up again in spring, amazing plants!
I experimented this past winter . I kept my red banana in the ground . Took plastic chicken wire 4 ft height. Made a cylinder and stuffed with straw. We had the coldest temps in 15 years . 7 degrees here in southeast U.S. to my surprise. I unveiled April 1. And it survived. I can’t believe . The roots are expansive in the garden . I should have a really large plant this year !!!! So if it survives 7 degrees. I’m never digging up again !!!!!
Wow, that's fantastic! I hear of some people who've managed to overwinter them in the UK and the key is definitely to keep them dry. They can take a surprising amount of cold but it's the 6 months of damp, grey and cold weather they generally don't enjoy here. I'm sure yours will be a beauty this year, I'm pleased you experimented and it made it through!
This was so informative for this Floridian as well, mine's been in the ground now for 2 weeks, but come next winter I will know how to tackle it easier when it goes into shelter for the cold snaps...85 F today, planted more cannas in the front yard, still waiting on a bamboo shoot...I'll be dancing like a lunatic when the first one pops through, but one cane has a shoot with leaves, it's a start and the shampoo ginger is sending up shoots, happy dayz...!
Thanks and it's great to hear about your successes and new growth! This weekend has been our first real taste of spring weather here, very welcome indeed and I'm sure the plants appreciate it!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I went for a day out at Bakewell Derbyshire yesterday, stunning hot day. Today the wind is howling, cold and showers, such a stark contrast, but this is England
Thanks Craig! Yes, I've explored a few options but used a Wireless Go 1 for the past year, often with a lav mic connected. I broke that (entirely my fault!) so have picked up a DJI Wireless Mic. Essentially the same thing but with a second transmitter so I can film with somebody else and not have to sync up the audio (yay!). I will be getting another lav mix to plug into it though, the DJI units are notorious for having issues with certain brands of lav mic but no way I'm having that thing dangling off my collar all the time!
I've put mine out. Well I've put it out during the day and I am bringing it in at night. I don't feel confident enough to leave it out over night yet. Having said that the Agave multifilifera has been out over night since the beginning of last month.
That's fine, they'll still grow well in the daytime temperatures now we're over 10 degrees. If you're willing to keep bringing it in and out for the next month / 6 weeks whenever it's a cold night then I'm sure the plant will thank you for the extra sun! Personally I try to be as efficient / lazy as possible and prioritise having a plant 'ready' for mid May but there's no harm in putting in the work to get more leaves by then!
Great video mate. I enjoy the game of overwintering these bananas. I love the jeopardy. I win sometimes, I lose sometimes, that's part of the fun. I've slimmed down my "ensete operation" this year, 2 maurelii and 1 hiniba. That's more than enough for me space-wise. Wouldn't be without these plants, an essential for any exotic-style uk garden. I find them pretty tough to be honest. I just sling mine outside up against the house. I admit I'll throw them in the garage if there's temps approaching 3°C or below but otherwise they do great. Just like you I find the job of trimming them up after winter really satisfying 👍
Thanks VC, as always I like your attitude and yes, given the right conditions / treatment they are tougher than most people expect. Trickier when they're small but once they're through that first winter they can take more abuse for sure. A welcome shot of that green / purple combo you live for!
It's not far away from planting time now is it Harold, such an exciting time of year! Thank you very much and the same to you, all the best with your gardening for this year!
Thanks Nikki! Mine are uncovered now unless there's a sharp frost, but they have been pretty much cut to the ground anyway so on the plus side, covering them up is now easier haha!
@@GeorgesJungleGardenMy 2 .5ft Ensete's made through there first winter. I'm running late George followed your steps tonight, storing in garage no light.Best tips to get me back on track.How soon before I can put them outside to hardened off.🤔
Another enjoyable video George and some great advice too . I have 2 Ensete plants ordered so your tips for over wintering then in November will be very useful Thanks again for posting
Mine started pushing out leaves in January. Was dry stored in a cardboard box. Thought best to pot up then and it has been growing in my kitchen since then. Not sure why it started so early. But looking good! Ironically it came through better than my Musa basjoo!
Nice one Jo, yes the Ensete have definitely faired better than a lot of my outdoor plants this winter! Ideally you can just keep the Ensete ticking over and get them into active growth a bit earlier if you have space but I generally aim to get mine ready for mid-May when they can go straight out. Hopefully not long before we can enjoy them in the sunlight now!
Great video as always, looking forward to the next one! I am going to the gardnersworld plant fair in hampshire this month, I believe a new cordyline will be introduced to the UK at the fair so that is definatly on my list!
Thank you very much, hopefully getting some filming done tomorrow! Nice one, I hope you have a great time. Exciting about the Cordyline, I'd definitely enquire about the hardiness though as the colourful ones are never the toughest plants. Still beautiful though!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Yes, you educated me of the cordlines being less hardy the more colourful they are in your old phormium video ive never forgot! thank you!
Hi, I generally dig mine up on the most convenient weekend before the risk of frosts (any temperatures much under 5 degrees). That could be late October or potentially into November like last year 😊
Thanks Diane. Sorry to hear you lost yours, mine were kept in a small utility room indoors. Some winters a garage would be perfect but I suspect this winter it was just too cold for too long or they potentially got too damp. It's well worth picking some more up again this year though, even the smaller ones are lovely plants!
Thanks George. We were wondering this morning when your Ensete video was coming out! Very helpful as ever. Just want to ask how much water to give them at the moment. You say a drip - how much would you say exactly e.g just to wet top half of soil or until it drips through? Thanks so much. Monique
Hi Monique and thanks! From March until mid April I’d maybe give them a cup of water per plant but as the leaves are coming through and I know they’re settling in, I’d up that to maybe a couple of cups twice a week. Nothing too accurate but basically the warmer it is, the brighter the area you’re keeping it and the closer it is to planting out time the more you can give it.
Planted out? Hopefully the frosts are over for you then but the other issue I've had with planting out early is that the soil can be too wet and cold which shocks the plant. Fingers crossed for you though and every year is different so you might just get an extra 6 weeks' growth out of them!
Wow are you in the UK, we had snow 3 weeks back and it was -2 last week . Iv still got mine in the greenhouse with the heater on at night 😂😂we are still getting frost on the cars in North Staffordshire
@@staffordshireShane Haha yes, it's still got the potential to be chilly. Late March through to early May have the potential to be beautifully warm but it only takes a cold snap and you easily can still get to minus temperatures so I'd always recommend being overcautious.
Thanks! I generally improve the soil with manure and chicken manure pellets then top up with high nitrogen feed and Miracle Gro / liquid seaweed etc. through the season but I'll hopefully doing a vid with more detail soon.
Nice job. You know this winter here in Pensacola FL 8b/9A I actually left one of my Ensette’s in ground and did one wrap of frost cloth and one wrap of bubble wrap. We had that one major cold spell late December with 3 nights for 12 hours of 20-22 F. Would you believe it made it though ok and survived. I brought the rest which are in pots inside of garage anytime it was below 35 F on warmer days set them outside and they are ok as well.
Thanks and nice one, that's impressive to know! They're definitely a plant that can take durations of freezing weather under some conditions but then won't take being damp and cold for too long otherwise they turn to mush. I'm pleased to hear yours have made it and I'm sure you're excited for them to start their growth again this year!
Hello love your videos and was wondering if you could help me find some types of bamboo that will grow in zone 5 us have over an acre of land thank you so much have a wonderful day 😀
Hi Tim and thank you very much! I imagine you've got a decent selection to choose from, in all honesty one of the best resources I've found is Kimmei Bamboo, there's a lot of variety and cold hardiness info on there. That sounds like a cool project you're embarking on, good luck with it all!
Thanks for the video George! We bought four as plug plants last month and we have grown them to about one foot or so tall each, when would you consider putting these young plants out? Thanks again
Thanks and nice one! I've definitely wait until early May and go off the 2 week forecast to make an educated gamble then. There's little to gain by planting out too early so mid May should be fine.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George I thought as much really but good to be confirmed! Good job I listened to you and put my palms in the ground last December because they would have all died this winter in pots for sure!
Hi John, personally I'd always bring them inside, these are more tender plants than Musa basjoo, which can be left outside after a good first summer in the ground. You might hear of some people who've got them through frosts and freezes by wrapping them and keeping them dry but unfortunately it's very unlikely they'll make it through an average or colder winter in most of the UK, it's just too wet and too cold for so long.
Hi, George which do you think would be the best method to protect bajoo an ensete plants outside bubble wrap or chicken wire an pack with straw ? Last winter on the odd night we got minus 10 an -11 ❄️. Thanks.
Hi, for basjoo if you're going to protect I'd go with the chicken wire and straw, wrapped with fleece and with something to keep the water out over the top. That way it's still breathable but with hopefully enough air trapped to protect the pseudostems at those temperatures. As for the Ensete, I wouldn't fancy it's chances with those temperatures and extended freezes like last year but if you really want to gamble and leave it outside then I'd do the same with it. I'd honestly recommend bringing it in though.
Hi, another great and informative video! I recently just brought one! Its tiny. I've put it in a pot for now but should I keep it in this pot until next year so it can grow and become stronger? Also if I do leave it in the pot could I bring it outside to help it grow or just keep it indoors? Thanks for your help! Rob. South east London
Hi Rob and thanks! Nice one, it'll grow quickly! Personally I think if you're going to grow it in the ground then get it in this year but they grow well in pot or the ground. I'd keep it growing somewhere bright so it can size up nicely before planting out time and it'll be fine outside in either the ground or a pot once the frosts have finished for your area. I'd generally say mid May as the ground will have warmed up a bit more by then.
Ahhh sorry to hear that. They are tricky plants to overwinter in young sizes, I'd generally say it's worth getting a few to give you a better chance of getting one through that first winter then add another young one every year if you can!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I had it down up until the point i put it in the airing cupboard 😑. Kept trying to grow in the wood shavings it was in and got infested with aphids. Twas a good size and if i kept it somewhere COOL and dark rather than warm then i feel it would've made it
Thanks George, Since landscaping our new garden last September your help and advice has been brilliant in helping me plant up a tropical style for us to enjoy. Keep up the good work and thanks again for being my go to garden advisor, Neil 👍🏼☀️🌿🪴🌴
Nice one, that’s amazing! Pleased to hear my videos have helped and I’ve got loads more planned this year for you to hopefully enjoy 😃 I hope everything grows well for you and you get lots of opportunities to enjoy it this year!
Do the same principles apply to musa basjoo in terms of introducing them to outdoors. I've had a musa basjoo indoors from last summer as it was still small and I hadn't figured out where to plant it and then it was too close to winter before I knew it. It's about 50cm tall and been in an un heated vestibule kept at about 10°C, and I want to plant it out. Will it need introduced a litte at a time to outside?
Hi Steven, yes, even for hardier bananas, the new growth is still tender and even hardened off leaves won't like a hard frost. Realistically I'd harden it off the same way and plant it out early-mid May, treat it like a tender plant to give it the best start.
Hi Aaron, they're a bit more tender than basjoo unfortunately and I'd generally recommend keeping them inside or in a garage adjoining a house etc. In a well ventilated greenhouse where everything is kept on the dry side in a reasonably sheltered location in a mild winter, there's a good chance they'll be fine. In an unheated and high humidity polytunnel with lots of other plants during a cold winter in a more rural area the chances are low. So it depends where things fall between those really but the winter weather is the biggest factor, week-long freezes like last winter are tricky for any less than hardy plants in a polytunnel unfortunately.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden ideal cheers for the reply George! Also another quick question, would you plant a small trachycarpus fortunei plant now? Probably only has a few inches of trunk, based in Cumbria Cheers
@@AJBAdventures No worries! Yes, I'd personally say it's a great time to get it in the ground and I'll be planting some out soon too. It'll hopefully have a good few months of warm soil and adequate moisture (that one's not a problem for you!) to settle in nicely.
I left my ensete in the pot that I grew it in last summer and put it in the spare room, when I take it outside do I need to lift it out and give it fresh compost or can I just feed it for the summer. What feed do you recommend?
Hi Nick, repotting it or putting a bit of fresh compost around it / mulched on top might help with getting a bigger plant this year. Personally I’d replace the compost if the plant has been kept very dry and has shrivelled up but if it’s actively growing then it doesn’t matter too much. When it comes to feed for banana plants, anything goes really, they’re hungry! High nitrogen works well but chicken manure pellets / liquid seaweed / Miracle Gro / Tomorite etc are all good! You’ll struggle to overfeed when it’s warmer 👍
George can you check your instagram have a question for you there. Btw. important as you did already is indeed cut back the top of every banana plant you have untill you see a green, healthy center. If its brown keep cutting down and if you are unlucky its rotten to the bottom 😞 . People should know that banana plants grow from the center and if that is dead, your plant is as well. As always greetz from a colder part of Belgium mate. Need to make a new vid myself soon as i have the time.
Hopefully your project was a success Eddy. Yes, that's a good tip and something I should have emphasised more. I don't have much time for watching vids myself at the minute haha but it will be great to see you back.
George I did exactly what you showed me, I pulled them out of the ground, cut them back and dried them out, I put them in my garage. It was an average of 45°C. I took them out two weeks ago, cut off some of the dead Roots planted in small pots and in 2 weeks they are flourishing,, One more week, put them outside, and then find a nice spot in the ground, they grow to about 12 feet high. I’m expecting them to grow even higher this year. Thank you so much.
Hi Larry, apologies for the delayed reply and it's great to hear about your success! Happy to have helped and all the best with them this coming season!
hehe couldn't wait and planted them yesterday just after (hopefully) the last night of frost. Fingers crossed it wasn't to early
Haha can't blame you Marc, fingers crossed for you! I've done it really early in the past but found that the reward doesn't necessarily outweigh the risk as the soil is still cold but who knows what this year will bring!
Yesterday, we established that ours had got safely through winter. I'm going outside right now, to follow your guidance.
Nice one Brian, pleased to hear it's made it and happy to help!
What an adventure these Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' have to go through... They for sure will be very thankful soon,
sharing their beauty again in a few weeks.... See you mon cher George!
They certainly do! It is incredible how well they take their winter hibernation and how reliably growth can be started up again in spring, amazing plants!
I experimented this past winter . I kept my red banana in the ground . Took plastic chicken wire 4 ft height. Made a cylinder and stuffed with straw. We had the coldest temps in 15 years . 7 degrees here in southeast U.S. to my surprise. I unveiled April 1. And it survived. I can’t believe . The roots are expansive in the garden . I should have a really large plant this year !!!! So if it survives 7 degrees. I’m never digging up again !!!!!
Wow, that's fantastic! I hear of some people who've managed to overwinter them in the UK and the key is definitely to keep them dry. They can take a surprising amount of cold but it's the 6 months of damp, grey and cold weather they generally don't enjoy here. I'm sure yours will be a beauty this year, I'm pleased you experimented and it made it through!
This was so informative for this Floridian as well, mine's been in the ground now for 2 weeks, but come next winter I will know how to tackle it easier when it goes into shelter for the cold snaps...85 F today, planted more cannas in the front yard, still waiting on a bamboo shoot...I'll be dancing like a lunatic when the first one pops through, but one cane has a shoot with leaves, it's a start and the shampoo ginger is sending up shoots, happy dayz...!
Thanks and it's great to hear about your successes and new growth! This weekend has been our first real taste of spring weather here, very welcome indeed and I'm sure the plants appreciate it!
The mild weather is upon us, easy to get comfy and make mistakes, so thanks for this video George
Very true! I was out most of yesterday, it was a beautiful day to be outside. Definitely easy to get carried away but it's still early days yet!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I went for a day out at Bakewell Derbyshire yesterday, stunning hot day. Today the wind is howling, cold and showers, such a stark contrast, but this is England
Great video. Really nice to see you utilising the freedom of a lapel mic too 👍
Thanks Craig! Yes, I've explored a few options but used a Wireless Go 1 for the past year, often with a lav mic connected. I broke that (entirely my fault!) so have picked up a DJI Wireless Mic. Essentially the same thing but with a second transmitter so I can film with somebody else and not have to sync up the audio (yay!). I will be getting another lav mix to plug into it though, the DJI units are notorious for having issues with certain brands of lav mic but no way I'm having that thing dangling off my collar all the time!
I've put mine out. Well I've put it out during the day and I am bringing it in at night. I don't feel confident enough to leave it out over night yet. Having said that the Agave multifilifera has been out over night since the beginning of last month.
That's fine, they'll still grow well in the daytime temperatures now we're over 10 degrees. If you're willing to keep bringing it in and out for the next month / 6 weeks whenever it's a cold night then I'm sure the plant will thank you for the extra sun! Personally I try to be as efficient / lazy as possible and prioritise having a plant 'ready' for mid May but there's no harm in putting in the work to get more leaves by then!
Great video mate. I enjoy the game of overwintering these bananas. I love the jeopardy. I win sometimes, I lose sometimes, that's part of the fun. I've slimmed down my "ensete operation" this year, 2 maurelii and 1 hiniba. That's more than enough for me space-wise. Wouldn't be without these plants, an essential for any exotic-style uk garden. I find them pretty tough to be honest. I just sling mine outside up against the house. I admit I'll throw them in the garage if there's temps approaching 3°C or below but otherwise they do great. Just like you I find the job of trimming them up after winter really satisfying 👍
Thanks VC, as always I like your attitude and yes, given the right conditions / treatment they are tougher than most people expect. Trickier when they're small but once they're through that first winter they can take more abuse for sure. A welcome shot of that green / purple combo you live for!
Hi George, after a long winter it’s finally time!!!!!! Great video happy new gardening year ❤
It's not far away from planting time now is it Harold, such an exciting time of year! Thank you very much and the same to you, all the best with your gardening for this year!
Looking great! Those will be a spectacular sight within a few months!
Thanks, they hopefully will! One of my favourite tropical style plants for sure 😃
Good timing George! Was just looking up when to uncover my musa basjoo!😊
Thanks Nikki! Mine are uncovered now unless there's a sharp frost, but they have been pretty much cut to the ground anyway so on the plus side, covering them up is now easier haha!
Geoege perfect timing with the Ensete Maurallii, all care tips are really appreciate. Need to order mine soon , beautiful plant.
Thanks Paul! They're definitely spectacular when they get going aren't they! Beautiful form and colours.
@@GeorgesJungleGardenMy 2 .5ft Ensete's made through there first winter. I'm running late George followed your steps tonight, storing in garage no light.Best tips to get me back on track.How soon before I can put them outside to hardened off.🤔
Another enjoyable video George and some great advice too . I have 2 Ensete plants ordered so your tips for over wintering then in November will be very useful
Thanks again for posting
Lovely, thanks Matt! I hope they grow well for you this year!
Mine started pushing out leaves in January. Was dry stored in a cardboard box. Thought best to pot up then and it has been growing in my kitchen since then. Not sure why it started so early. But looking good! Ironically it came through better than my Musa basjoo!
Nice one Jo, yes the Ensete have definitely faired better than a lot of my outdoor plants this winter! Ideally you can just keep the Ensete ticking over and get them into active growth a bit earlier if you have space but I generally aim to get mine ready for mid-May when they can go straight out. Hopefully not long before we can enjoy them in the sunlight now!
Your vids are always so detailed and helpful, thanks so much. I am so happy all 3 of mine survived this winter keeping like a house plant.
Thank you very much Marianne and nice one, I'm pleased to hear yours have made it with your TLC!
Brilliant video and advice. Thanks.
Thanks Gareth, I’m pleased it was helpful!
Great video as always, looking forward to the next one! I am going to the gardnersworld plant fair in hampshire this month, I believe a new cordyline will be introduced to the UK at the fair so that is definatly on my list!
Thank you very much, hopefully getting some filming done tomorrow! Nice one, I hope you have a great time. Exciting about the Cordyline, I'd definitely enquire about the hardiness though as the colourful ones are never the toughest plants. Still beautiful though!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Yes, you educated me of the cordlines being less hardy the more colourful they are in your old phormium video ive never forgot! thank you!
B&Q have these at £12. I had to buy one yesterday !
Nice one Kate, that's a great buy!
As it’s a young plant when would you recommend I dig it up to store for the winter ? Is there a certain temperature level to use as a cutoff point ?
Hi, I generally dig mine up on the most convenient weekend before the risk of frosts (any temperatures much under 5 degrees). That could be late October or potentially into November like last year 😊
Great video George, can I ask where you stored these please? I stored mine in the garage,but lost them
Thanks Diane. Sorry to hear you lost yours, mine were kept in a small utility room indoors. Some winters a garage would be perfect but I suspect this winter it was just too cold for too long or they potentially got too damp. It's well worth picking some more up again this year though, even the smaller ones are lovely plants!
Thanks George. We were wondering this morning when your Ensete video was coming out! Very helpful as ever. Just want to ask how much water to give them at the moment. You say a drip - how much would you say exactly e.g just to wet top half of soil or until it drips through? Thanks so much. Monique
Hi Monique and thanks! From March until mid April I’d maybe give them a cup of water per plant but as the leaves are coming through and I know they’re settling in, I’d up that to maybe a couple of cups twice a week. Nothing too accurate but basically the warmer it is, the brighter the area you’re keeping it and the closer it is to planting out time the more you can give it.
mine are in the garden already
Planted out? Hopefully the frosts are over for you then but the other issue I've had with planting out early is that the soil can be too wet and cold which shocks the plant. Fingers crossed for you though and every year is different so you might just get an extra 6 weeks' growth out of them!
Wow are you in the UK, we had snow 3 weeks back and it was -2 last week . Iv still got mine in the greenhouse with the heater on at night 😂😂we are still getting frost on the cars in North Staffordshire
@@staffordshireShane Haha yes, it's still got the potential to be chilly. Late March through to early May have the potential to be beautifully warm but it only takes a cold snap and you easily can still get to minus temperatures so I'd always recommend being overcautious.
Another great video, Thanks. What fertilizer do you use on these guys?
Thanks! I generally improve the soil with manure and chicken manure pellets then top up with high nitrogen feed and Miracle Gro / liquid seaweed etc. through the season but I'll hopefully doing a vid with more detail soon.
Nice job. You know this winter here in Pensacola FL 8b/9A I actually left one of my Ensette’s in ground and did one wrap of frost cloth and one wrap of bubble wrap. We had that one major cold spell late December with 3 nights for 12 hours of 20-22 F. Would you believe it made it though ok and survived. I brought the rest which are in pots inside of garage anytime it was below 35 F on warmer days set them outside and they are ok as well.
Thanks and nice one, that's impressive to know! They're definitely a plant that can take durations of freezing weather under some conditions but then won't take being damp and cold for too long otherwise they turn to mush. I'm pleased to hear yours have made it and I'm sure you're excited for them to start their growth again this year!
Hello love your videos and was wondering if you could help me find some types of bamboo that will grow in zone 5 us have over an acre of land thank you so much have a wonderful day 😀
Hi Tim and thank you very much! I imagine you've got a decent selection to choose from, in all honesty one of the best resources I've found is Kimmei Bamboo, there's a lot of variety and cold hardiness info on there. That sounds like a cool project you're embarking on, good luck with it all!
Thanks for the video George! We bought four as plug plants last month and we have grown them to about one foot or so tall each, when would you consider putting these young plants out? Thanks again
Thanks and nice one! I've definitely wait until early May and go off the 2 week forecast to make an educated gamble then. There's little to gain by planting out too early so mid May should be fine.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Thanks George I thought as much really but good to be confirmed! Good job I listened to you and put my palms in the ground last December because they would have all died this winter in pots for sure!
@@mrchuffy6535 No worries! They might have made it, you never know but I’m happy they’re looking good and ready to grow regardless 😃
When can you leave them outside during the winter months. Can you protect them with wrapping to protect them.. with fleece
Hi John, personally I'd always bring them inside, these are more tender plants than Musa basjoo, which can be left outside after a good first summer in the ground. You might hear of some people who've got them through frosts and freezes by wrapping them and keeping them dry but unfortunately it's very unlikely they'll make it through an average or colder winter in most of the UK, it's just too wet and too cold for so long.
George, when you say a 'drip' of water, do you mean you've placed them on a drip irrigation regime, or you're giving them 'occasional' waterings?
Hi, sorry for the lack of clarity, I meant 'occasional', believe me I'm nowhere near organised enough for irrigation systems for temporary plants!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden Lol Thanks George!
No worries!
Hi, George which do you think would be the best method to protect bajoo an ensete plants outside bubble wrap or chicken wire an pack with straw ? Last winter on the odd night we got minus 10 an -11 ❄️. Thanks.
Hi, for basjoo if you're going to protect I'd go with the chicken wire and straw, wrapped with fleece and with something to keep the water out over the top. That way it's still breathable but with hopefully enough air trapped to protect the pseudostems at those temperatures. As for the Ensete, I wouldn't fancy it's chances with those temperatures and extended freezes like last year but if you really want to gamble and leave it outside then I'd do the same with it. I'd honestly recommend bringing it in though.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden thanks 🙏 for the advice.👍👌
No worries, happy to help! @@DJSupaflyguy
Hi, another great and informative video! I recently just brought one! Its tiny. I've put it in a pot for now but should I keep it in this pot until next year so it can grow and become stronger? Also if I do leave it in the pot could I bring it outside to help it grow or just keep it indoors?
Thanks for your help!
Rob. South east London
Hi Rob and thanks! Nice one, it'll grow quickly! Personally I think if you're going to grow it in the ground then get it in this year but they grow well in pot or the ground. I'd keep it growing somewhere bright so it can size up nicely before planting out time and it'll be fine outside in either the ground or a pot once the frosts have finished for your area. I'd generally say mid May as the ground will have warmed up a bit more by then.
Thanks for your help mate top man!
@@sxcrob999 No worries!
This video made me sad. I lost my only Ensetti due to poor over wintering. Ilives and learns though dunch'ya!
Ahhh sorry to hear that. They are tricky plants to overwinter in young sizes, I'd generally say it's worth getting a few to give you a better chance of getting one through that first winter then add another young one every year if you can!
@@GeorgesJungleGarden I had it down up until the point i put it in the airing cupboard 😑. Kept trying to grow in the wood shavings it was in and got infested with aphids. Twas a good size and if i kept it somewhere COOL and dark rather than warm then i feel it would've made it
Thanks George,
Since landscaping our new garden last September your help and advice has been brilliant in helping me plant up a tropical style for us to enjoy.
Keep up the good work and thanks again for being my go to garden advisor, Neil 👍🏼☀️🌿🪴🌴
Nice one, that’s amazing! Pleased to hear my videos have helped and I’ve got loads more planned this year for you to hopefully enjoy 😃 I hope everything grows well for you and you get lots of opportunities to enjoy it this year!
Thanks for your reply mate, Looking forward to future content 👍🏼
@@NeilMartin-cj3wp No worries and thanks!
Do the same principles apply to musa basjoo in terms of introducing them to outdoors. I've had a musa basjoo indoors from last summer as it was still small and I hadn't figured out where to plant it and then it was too close to winter before I knew it. It's about 50cm tall and been in an un heated vestibule kept at about 10°C, and I want to plant it out. Will it need introduced a litte at a time to outside?
Hi Steven, yes, even for hardier bananas, the new growth is still tender and even hardened off leaves won't like a hard frost. Realistically I'd harden it off the same way and plant it out early-mid May, treat it like a tender plant to give it the best start.
Will ensete survive in a polytunnel over winter like a potted Musa basjoo may?
Thanks
Aaron
Hi Aaron, they're a bit more tender than basjoo unfortunately and I'd generally recommend keeping them inside or in a garage adjoining a house etc. In a well ventilated greenhouse where everything is kept on the dry side in a reasonably sheltered location in a mild winter, there's a good chance they'll be fine. In an unheated and high humidity polytunnel with lots of other plants during a cold winter in a more rural area the chances are low. So it depends where things fall between those really but the winter weather is the biggest factor, week-long freezes like last winter are tricky for any less than hardy plants in a polytunnel unfortunately.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden ideal cheers for the reply George!
Also another quick question, would you plant a small trachycarpus fortunei plant now? Probably only has a few inches of trunk, based in Cumbria
Cheers
@@AJBAdventures No worries! Yes, I'd personally say it's a great time to get it in the ground and I'll be planting some out soon too. It'll hopefully have a good few months of warm soil and adequate moisture (that one's not a problem for you!) to settle in nicely.
@@GeorgesJungleGarden cheers for the advice George, loving your content, keep up the good work 👍
@@AJBAdventures No worries and thank you very much!
I left my ensete in the pot that I grew it in last summer and put it in the spare room, when I take it outside do I need to lift it out and give it fresh compost or can I just feed it for the summer. What feed do you recommend?
Hi Nick, repotting it or putting a bit of fresh compost around it / mulched on top might help with getting a bigger plant this year. Personally I’d replace the compost if the plant has been kept very dry and has shrivelled up but if it’s actively growing then it doesn’t matter too much. When it comes to feed for banana plants, anything goes really, they’re hungry! High nitrogen works well but chicken manure pellets / liquid seaweed / Miracle Gro / Tomorite etc are all good! You’ll struggle to overfeed when it’s warmer 👍
Thanks George, keep up the great videos
@@nickwortley9095 Cheers Nick, loads more planned for this year!
I have an Ensete Ventricosum Maurelii in a pot, but the leaves are yellowing and going brown. Is this under or over watering?
Hi, is it just the lower leaves and what size pot is it in?
What's the plants behind you called.
Hi, could it be my Gunnera manicata / Gunnera x cryptica you're referring to? Like a giant rhubarb with big leaves?
Hi
Hi Charles and thanks for watching!
George can you check your instagram have a question for you there. Btw. important as you did already is indeed cut back the top of every banana plant you have untill you see a green, healthy center. If its brown keep cutting down and if you are unlucky its rotten to the bottom 😞 . People should know that banana plants grow from the center and if that is dead, your plant is as well. As always greetz from a colder part of Belgium mate. Need to make a new vid myself soon as i have the time.
Hopefully your project was a success Eddy. Yes, that's a good tip and something I should have emphasised more. I don't have much time for watching vids myself at the minute haha but it will be great to see you back.