bananabeginner

To any lower mainlanders,

Where do you find your banana plants or any others for that matter?

I don't have a greenhouse (yet!) so I am wondering where to find some nice plants without spending $100's . Thought I would ask before the season gets started. I am sure I have lost most of my plants this past winter, a large Australian Flax, elephant ears went to mush etc. Need to replace and add more!

Thanks

__________________

chong

There are several commercial greenhouses in BC that supply banana plants and other tropicals to Home Depot, Lowes, and other large hardware stores, here in the Seattle area, with a garden section. So, there should be outlets for them there in BC. One company is called Burnaby Lake Nursery. Understandably, they are strictly wholesalers, but I'm sure that your bigger hardware/garden outlets would carry them there.

If you talk to the garden center manager of any of these stores, they can tell you when they will be ordering tropical plant materials.

The most common bananas that they carry, most recently, are Basjoo, Abyssinian, and occasional Super Dwarf Cavendish.

bananabeginner

Thanks Chong. I did buy my first banana from home depot. It didn't make it through the first winter. I will ask like the manager when they will be arriving. I hit it lucky when I bought mine.
The nurseries around here are crazy expensive for bananas etc $50-$100 and up for one small to medium size plant. Sorry, I can't pay the much with the luck I have with plants, my husband would kill me! hahaha

__________________

Bob

50$-100$ what are they thinking? I'd post a want ad here when the weather warms a bit. You can also try ebay or some of the many sites on the web. My best plants though have come from members, I'm fondest of those as well. Good luck.

__________________

chong

Home Depot and Lowe's and others sell banana plants in 5-gallon pots for $15 - $20 around here. On sale, they go as low as $12.95. The 6-inch pots are $5 - $10. Sometimes, they may have 8-gal sizes, 3 to 4 foot tall plants for $39. Those same plants when Costco has them, they go for $20. Unfortunately, I haven't seen banana plants at Costco in the last couple of years here in the Seattle area. In California, 2-1/2 years ago, I saw those 8-gal sizes for only $15 at Costco.

john_ny

Of course, you could contact the wholesale grower that Chong mentioned, and ask them who their distributors are, in your area.

__________________
John

bananabeginner

Wow! The USA is always cheaper than up here. We bought our boat and a camper down there and saved thousands on each. Car and boat dealers do the same and make way too much money from us Canadians. Unfortunately, we can't bring plants across the border or I'd be buying them down there!

__________________

chong

John has a great suggestion but, unfortunately, contact information on wholesale nurseries in BC are difficult to get. I know because I've tried. When I did find a couple, I was referred to a wholesaler in Seattle anyway, and they don't want you competing with their regular customers. You may have better luck over there, since you're closer. So, if you can't do that, the best way is to talk to the garden manager of a HD, Lowe's, or big garden centers, and ask when they intend to order tropical plants and whether they can include some bananas.

bananabeginner

I will give it a try. Thanks to all for the suggestions.

__________________

cedardave

try plantland at oceanparc.. I know theres one in south surrey ...likely elsewhere as well. I bought some 4 ft basjoo from there last spring. I think they were about $40 and grew huge over the summer in winnipeg.

Inoneear

Call Ray @ Tropic to Tropic Plants Index
He's at 1170 53A Street, South Delta (Tsawwassen), B.C.

bananabeginner

I will have to check out these places. I have found a website that is here in BC and was wondering if anyone has purchased from it. It seems a bit overpriced, what do you all think. Canada Bamboo World - bamboo nursery offering cold hardy bamboo plants

It seems to have all the types of plants I want. I guess I will take the long drive out there (on a nice day) just to see the place.

__________________

jack hagenaars

Hey Beginner....Garden works sells them...also check out www.hawaiianbotanicals.com. They also have gingers,bromeliads and lots of interesting,some hardy stuff.

sunsetsammy

Hi Beginner

I'm over on Vancouver Island and have been growing bananas and tropicals for 3 seasons now. I went through all the trials and tribulations of losing many plants over the winters in our cool, damp climate. I'm getting much more success now so if you need any tips send me a PM.

There are many places over here that offer Musa basjoo for reasonable prices. $15-$39. Some of these places also carry Red Abyssinian too.

Canadian Tire
Home Depot
Art Knapps
Walmart
Almost all the local nursuries carry them too.

Remember that even small plants will grow very quickly when the summer temps hit. You don't need to spend $100 on a big plant.

Also if you want to increase your Basjoo stock I've found that growing them in pots (ie. half-oak barrels) and feeding them high nitrogen fertilizer (Miracle grow 24-8-16) twice a week makes them pup like crazy. I have two half oak barrels with 6-10 pups in each. In the spring I divide and get lots of new plants for my ever-growing plantation.

bananabeginner

Thanks I am sure I will be taking you up on the offer of your tips once I get some plants! I am still hoping the one I have will make it. How small could I purchase for outdoors (no place with proper lighting indoors) as I don't have a greenhouse?

__________________

sunsetsammy

Hi Beginner,

No greenhouse here either. Regardless we don't get enough light here over the winter anyway, the plants start looking bad inside no matter what you do. From my experience either leave them out or dig and store.

I have left 1ft tall Basjoo out over the winter with some good mulch cover and it came back the next year no problem. It did freeze to the ground though but sent up many new shoots (pups).

As long as your location isn't too wet then I believe that these plants do very well here outside with minimal protection.

My backyard (where I grow most of my bananas) gets very wet in the winter. I don't risk leaving the plants back there and simply dig them up and store them bareroot in the garage over the winter. Leaves are trimmed off and no light or water. They all come back fine.

Many people think I'm nuts digging these big plants out each fall but they really come out quite easily for me. Sink the shovel in around the base and the things pop right out. Don't worry about the roots. I use a dolly to wheel them into the garage to save my back

Talk to you soon.

Sam

martanzio

Bought tons of stuff through
Ray @ Tropic to Tropic Plants Index
He's at 1170 53A Street, South Delta (Tsawwassen), B.C.

This guy is awesome and will ship if you want, You live in Van and have to go and visit his place. You will think that you have gone to a tropical island. Ray is super knowledgeable and the nicest guy you will meet.

Good luck, M

Inoneear

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'
Zebrina?

in at Home Depot.....small TC plants 8-10 inches $9.00