MiamiAl

My backyard construction is moving towards completion, and my bananas are getting ready to be planted (currently in pots) and was wondering about their water needs.

I know that they like steady watering, and was thinking that either they need a dedicated zone with drip lines, or possibly a good water retention system.

Has anyone done a "bog garden" with bananas? Digging up the entire area and putting a pond liner under the soil, possibly with a level of gravel before the soil? In this way, the area stays perpetually wet, just watering it as it dries out. It would keep the soil wet. I'd then only have about 12 inches of soil under the bananas.

Would that over water them or work well without constantly watering them?

D_&_T

Have seen photos of ones growing close to creeks posted on here believe by Gabe, otherwise I'm not sure.

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Patty in Wisc

They don't like "wet feet" or the corm can rot. But then, I recently saw a pic of one actually in a pond! So now I don't know what to say! ???

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alpha010

If you look at things the way Hydroponics work with ebb and flow, the water never just "sits" it is flowing. And, if I take an educated step back and look at it, rot comes from "standing" or water log since the water has time to sit and develop the bacteria and fungii that actually rot roots and bulbs. But if you constantly run water over it nothing has a chance to stay on the roots and will get washed away. Sounds interesting as long as you have a pump under the dirt to constantly circulate the water from bottom to top and otherwise, I think it could work..........but still semi-doubtful.

Shaggy

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Patty in Wisc

Shaggy is right about the water circulating. I think your idea of keeping the soil wet of only 12 inches will rot the corm. Nannas need well draining soil. 12 inches is not deep enough.

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Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

Vickie H.

alpha010

Ok first off miss vick, what cultivar, second, does the water circulate at root ball depth? Very impressive, very, very Impressive!

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Michael_Andrew

I think we have to open this up for discussion. I saw you post this pic the other day and it really surprised me. It goes pretty much against everything I've learned here about watering bananas. You said you have to train the banana to grow in water? How do you train it? Is the pond water pumped through a filter or aerated? What really gets me is you said you overwintered it in the basement sitting in water! OMG! I need more input! This doesn't compute!

thanks,

Michael

Vickie H.

I know Michael and Alpha this sounds crazy. I bought it at a huge greenhouse. It was in water with the water garden plants. It had no tag as to the kind of banana it is. I asked them and they said they thought it was Dwarf Cavendish. The pond it is in has no filtration except a small solar pump that only dribbles . It does not purify anything. Only puts a little air in the water. The banana is in a pot of dirt. The bannana is in my basement in a tub of water. It was there the winter of 2007-2008. To make a canna be able to grow in water you start by putting it in a saucer of water. Then slowly over time to raise the water level untill it is over the top of the pot. I have done this before. I imagine some cannas just might not live and some might do better. I am going to the basement to take a picture of the banana. I will post it.

Patty in Wisc

I have a pond & the thought NEVER crossed my mind. I am so careful not to overwater in winter, and to think that Vickie puts her nanna in water in the basement just .."does not compute" (quote from Michael).

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Michael_Andrew

Well I think its a Zebrina. Is it red/redish on the bottom of the leaves? My cavendish started out with red sploches but went away as it got older. It looks like your was green and got red as it put on new leaves.

This site list basjoo and zebrina for bogs:
Banana Plants for Bog Gardens: Two That Work Well

Michael

Vickie H.

Vickie H.

You can see it has lost some of its color. It is not in brite light. I am leaving it alone not cutting off old leaves. It stays about 60* F in my basement. I have many plants down there.There is Gambusi ( mosquito fish ) in the water. It seems healthy enough. But I notice there is never a pup on this banana, maybe because it is under stress. I imagine when I put it back outside it will come to life again like it did last summer. I first saw these bananas on a water garden tour in 2007. That is when I started hunting it down. I only paid about $12.00 for it. So it was a steal. This summer I might try to see if I can do this with another banana. But the banana cannot be put deep in the water. Only a couple of inches over the pot. Anyone else wanting to try this?

Patty in Wisc

Amazing. Is that a bucket of water it's sitting in?

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Vickie H.

No it is a tub. I am posting a blurry pic but it shows the water better.

Vickie H.

Vickie H.

Patty all the other bananas in my basment are not overwatered. They would rot. I know from experience.

Michael_Andrew

Darn Patty don't you know your buckets from your tubs? lol

Lagniappe

Vickie has a basic aquaponic system going there. As long as the water is aerated, and has a nutrient source (fish waste or water soluble ferts), one can just throw a banana right in (as long as the ph is not too extreme on either end of the scale).
It's the anaerobic microbes that contribute to rot (usually).

Vickie H.

Well I think we should try another banana in water this spring. I will use one of my philippine ones. I will start with it setting in about an inch of water planted in dirt. And slowly raise the water level over the summer. If it dies I have plenty more of that one.