Kevin

How easy/hard is it to grow Maurelii? It's not hardy here, so I'd have it outside for the summer, then probably keep it dormant inside for the winter. I've heard soem people have had trouble with it. I was just reading this thread: Red stripe ensete/red ensete Hawaiian Botanicals near Vancouver has them, but the picture looks suspicious. What do you think? Banana Plants at Hawaiian Botanicals I really liked the one I saw at Van Dusen Gardens in the fall, but now I don't know if it's worth it.

Abnshrek

It all depends on how much resources you want to devote to keeping them alive before the summer does most for you...? Then starting all over again... lol

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LilRaverBoi

Well, they've very beautiful, but mine didn't do well at ALL for me. Total diva of a plant...took care of it equally to the rest of my bananas/plants and I can honestly say the best if ever looked was the day I received it in the mail. Some people have no issues with them, though, and they do wonderfully. It's worth a try, definitely! They look amazing when they do well, but I'm just not a huge fan...but don't let me sway your decision!

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jmilligan1976

Kevin, Welcome fellow Canadian!
I have a 'Maurelli" here in Indiana's zone 5b and it's doing well potted up for me over the winter. I also have had this plant when I lived in California and it did well out there too. The key for you to be successful in WINTERPEG will be having a location for over-wintering in a warm/bright location.
I will admit that all of the Ensete sp. I have grown seem to be very variable on their vigor and survival rates even when grown in the "exact" same conditions and manner.
I often laugh when I hear people tell me that they tried a plant species once and it didn't work out for them that they aren't going to try again.....plants like bananas and tropicals so far outside of their native growing areas are going to be finicky.

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damaclese

i grow many Ensete M they are not picky at all except on one point they hate to be wet in the crown and they wont survive any were the humidity is over 40% they are native to high semi dry Forest of Ethiopia and eastern Africa if you have sandy soil and can not over water them then they will do well i think there a pretty spectacular plant no fuss no muss grate planet when so many of mine need to be watered daily here in NV

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cherokee_greg

I have two Ensete Ms one I got for 10.00 potted up at Lowes Its pertty good size. It looks like it is starting some new leaves I have rods in the ground next to it with a big tub over it for protection and than I have a small one I bought from Brians Botanicals of ebay its even doing better it all ready has new leaves They were even left out in that cold blast we had. I now have a pot over that one too but its doing great there tough little things. So far I really like them they seem to be tougher than all mine so far.

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Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA
http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

Max363

Hey Kevin ... since I am in zone 6 maybe my experience will be of some help to you. I got 2 small 6" ens. maurii. in late Nov 08. In spite of my close careful attention to them both were dead by Jan 1. I suspect the mites they came with and the lack of soil warmth and bright light did them in. I planted some reg. ensete seeds on 3/20/09 and one was up on 4/8. That one went grew strong and beautifully for me all season and kept pace with 2 additional 6" Maurellii seedlings I bought on line in April. All three remained potted and stayed outside thru Nov18th except when the night temperature was predicted to be 35F or lower (3 inside nights). They have continued to look good and even put out new leaves with minimal watering and seem to be getting stronger as the days begin to lengthen again. So I guess my advice:for me they are fussy about light and heat when young, but as they mature they can take what the fall season brings. We both have short outside growing seasons. My plan was to keep them growing as strong as possible all winter, to have a jump start on the 2010 season, and so far my plan seems to be working. So I'd say go for it, I predict you will not be disappointed! Max
Here are some pics:
Ensete and Zebrina Seeds on planting day after their 3 week warm water soak 3/20/09:


My one day old ensete 4/8:


The 2 purchased Maurellii and the seed grown ensete 6/23:


One of the Maurellii and my seed Enstete Baby on 12/30/09:


Seed to 30" leaves in 9 monthsin Tropical Pittsburgh PA :

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CookieCows

I didn't realize the humidity problem. I will move my Ventricosum that I got from Scott out of the humid plant room tomorrow and put it in the living room. It hasn't been looking very good. Sort of weak and pale looking.

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sandy0225

I've found them to be very easy, as long as you're vigilant for spider mites when they're inside or if you have excessively dry weather. I haven't noticed that ensete don't like humidity, they do just fine here in the same conditions as the other bananas I grow. I overwinter mine in the heated basement with weak light from my grow light. They are in the corner, 10 feet or more from the light. I just dig them up bare rooted in the fall, stuff the root ball in whatever size plastic nursery pot they will fit into. I set the pots on the basement floor and spritz them with water about once a week or so. They are still growing. They do have spider mites on them now, but I spray them with 1T cooking oil and 1T suave coconut shampoo in 1 gal water once a week and that seems to be keeping the mites down. They still have good leaves on them. I did the same thing with these plants last year, but it seemed I didn't water them enough last year because they dried out more and lost some height. As long as they're alive in the spring, when you put them out they'll grow. I'll add some pictures in a few minutes.

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Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

natej740

What temp do you keep your basement at Sandy??

sandy0225

it's at the same temp at the rest of the house, our thermostat is set on 68 and we pulled off an extra heat vent and ran it downstairs.

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

cherokee_greg

im confused I thought the ensete and the Maurelli were the same ?

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Greg zone 9 Fresno,CA
http://gardenjot.com/garden/view/1980/Gregs-Banana-Farm

sandy0225

the maurelii is the red form of the ensete. Other than the color as far as I know they're the same.

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
1501 East Fuson Road
Muncie, IN 47302
www.northerntropics.com


specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~
check out our new online store at our website!

Max363

I believe the green leaf/red striped is plain"ensete ventricosum" the all over red leafed ones are "ensete ventricosum Maurelli" The Italian ambassador Maurelli found the red leafed variety while on the job in Abyssinnia, brought it back to Europe where it became hugely popular in the early 1900s and now here in the USA today! They are both members of the same family "ensete" ... so that's why I call them "cousins" - I'm thinking that my green leafed - seed grown- ensete is going to outpace his red leafed cousins this summer! I am looking to push them to the limit, and then I'll be in trouble next fall. They are taking up a lot of space this winter at 5' tall and 6' wide in my 9' ceiling rooms. I'm going to have to get very creative by Fall '10, if I am going to keep them potted and actively growing through next winter!

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Michael_Andrew

Ensete Ventricosum



Ensete Ventricusom var. Maurelli



var. Maurelli is an ensete ventricosum that has the red coloring. The one above was planted in May '09 at about 2 to 3 feet tall. The picture above is 4 months later at about 10 or 11 feet. I didn't do anything special just water and fertz.

Now its in the basement at around 55 degrees and low light. It still has pushed out a leaf.



Michael

Max363

Michael that is a great looking maurelii! Be sure to post more pics of it again during the coming growing season. I would be anxious to follow how such a big pseudo stem grows the next season after a winter of minimum care, light etc. in a zone just like mine! Thanks in advance! Max

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Kylie2x

Maurelli has been very stable and easy to grow here in Texas.. even after the Cows tore up fence and ate most of the Banana's I had.. it returned just fine and is inside putting on new leaves..I dug it up and potted it..The only water it has had since Oct is about 12oz...Here is what the cows left me to work with..LOL
Kylie

tikifarmer

I have had good luck storing the psuedostem , bareroot on a concrete floor in a cool dark basement (and it never gets any water) . I bought this one 2.5 years ago about 3' tall . The first summer it got to 6 or 7' . I dug it up took it to the basement and leaned it up against the wall , took it back out around the beginning of May and it started putting out leaves almost immediately . Last year it ended the growing season around 10' or so . Hopefully I can get some more growth out of it this year but , it may be too heavy to move come fall .

Kevin

Wow! That's the look I'm going for! I hope to one day be able to have that in my yard!

saltydad

My Maurelli is in the living room potted for the winter. It has continued to grow and put out new leaves, although at a much slower rate. It is next to a large bay window. As it is still growing, I have continued to water it weekly. Only problem is it's leaning way over. Not a problem as it goes back in the ground in 2 more months (fingers crossed).

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