Hardy Tropicals UK

The ensete seems to be doing well. Its still completly unprotected, other than a Phoenix canariensis_CIDP style leave tie up. All the leaves were frosted off, but the mid-ribs are mostly all still firm. Just the bottom ones are starting to go squishy. The main center roll leaf feels firm inside, and would appear to be still growing slowly.

From (october): To (tonight):

I have 3 x purple Ensetes still outside in ground plus one in pot. One was outside all last winter and survived enough to regrow to about 4ft or so, last year.
This winter, I have left three in ground amataurishly protected. (I do trim off the dead leaves) They seem ok (I peep now and again)
The fourth one I lifted, as it was in the wrong place anyway and potted it up. It is now under the eaves by our front door where it is pretty dry, unprotected and still alive. The new leaf in center is still growing - can be seen bright green. I trimmed off the dead leaves from this one as well, they were in way of front door!

Pics show one in pot and another which is survivor from last winter, with bag over and revealed! Taken very recently.

Cathy.

Thats all very encouraging,I wish you all luck,could you let us know how they turn out please?....Nigel F.

I have one planted in-ground in which I decided to build an insulated plywood box to cover it for winter. It's working fine and dispite being cut back hard, it's growing slowly in it's confines.

Cheers, Barrie.

Well I didn't protect it with the cold this week, and its gone and opened a leaf (Well its a bit shredded, but its having a go !).. will get pics in daylight.

In the mean time, heres a pic from September my cousin has emailed me :

Update,
The Ensete in pic 3, last post is still growing and now has a lot of leaf growth showing in center, will try and do pic's tomorrow. The ones under poly bags have occasional airings on dry days and still have 'solid' stems. The bags have cut-outs for air and when I scalped them of dead leaves, I also speared the base of leaves with meat skewer to let rainwater out and hopefully reduce freeze hazard for winter. ...Does anyone else do this? (worked last winter)
Cathy.

Cathy, that is a novel idea providing you don't damage too much of the leaf base they will grow on. Also the outer leaves are normally the first to be removed in spring once growth resumes.

I still think I will turn pot grown ones upside down to drain them, but for planted out Ensete it sound like a goos idea.

I used a knife to put vertical slits in the base leaves, letting them drain slowly. Can't remember who suggested it to me to do.

That is far to sensible. I much prefer to tip the stagnant smelly water over myself when I lift the plants in the autumn

Dave,
I only stab into the outer leaf with care and as you say, the outer leaves usually are scruffy/dead by spring, so easy to do away with once lovely new leaves appear. As I have leave mine in the ground, I could not think of any better way to deal with the water - syphoning (a la petrol out of tank) not being an appealing option!
Cathy.

Mine stay outside in the soil, but trimmed back and wrapped in a fleece.

The leaf bases from two years ago are still 'firm' and filled with little water pools.

I assumed they would act as a heat sink, and help to 'buffer' temperature changes.

Since I haven't yet had a frost this winter, they haven't been put to the test.

Chad.

Chad wrote: Since I haven't yet had a frost this winter
Chad.

Winter isn't over yet....

This is fascinating and I shall watch with baited breath as my ones in the greenhouse (heated) are growing merrily away.
I like you AndyC usually pour the smelly water over myself but shall remember this thread for next year hopefully!

New leaf opening, even after the cold this week.