This is not an advert for B&Q but if you want to grow the Red Leaved Banana - go and get one now.
They have 2 sizes, the largest being plants about 2ft high at £10 each. Ensete ventricosum ‘Maurelii’ used to be difficult to find and only ever available at specialist nurseries. I remember when I first started growing it, I travelled 150 miles to the nearest stockist. Unlike the green Ensete, it can’t be grown from seed nor is it so hardy.
Anyway, if you want a stunning tropical plant for your garden – buy now while stocks last!
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Bought one of these plants this year at B@Q Roneo Corner it is now nearly 5' what do I need to do to it this autumn and winter. It is so beautiful and everone admires it and can't believe wo bought it from you. Please send advice
ReplyDeleteHi
ReplyDeleteI'm really glad you have enjoyed this plant!
It will keep growing right through to November so it should get even bigger. This red variety of Ensete ventricosum is more tender than the straight green variety so keeping it through the winter is more of a problem. I have had success in digging it up in late November and putting it in a large pot, don't worry too much about having to cut through some of its roots, put the pot somewhere that keeps above 10C and don't water it too much. I have a plastic greenhouse that I put up just for winter with a small fan heater set to keep to a minimum of about 8C. You can buy these plastic greenhouses from Homebase for about £35, they are about 6 x 3ft. Alternatively you can wrap the stem of the plant in horticultural fleece and hope for a mild winter! Neither of these methods is foolproof.
Perhaps the best way to get really big plants of Maurelli id to buy 2 or 3 next year and keep 1 or 2 in a pots through the summer and then overwinter them, perhaps indoors, planted out the next Spring they will make enormous plants.
Next year try the green variety - you can buy young plants on eBay - these are easier to overwinter and make massive plants.
Keep experimenting! Try buying houseplants and planting them out in the shadier parts of your garden.
Good Luck!
You may have inspired me to re-start my blog!
Thanks!
Rob