Ensete ventricosum Montbeliardii History

[Dave Brown]

I didn't realise how short I was compared to 'Montbeliardii'

[Ian Cooke]

That is SO impressive! That's got to be on my 'Want List' for next year!

[Dave Brown]

Thanks Ian, it was not the best of pictures as was taken at dusk. I'll have to see if I can take one in the early morning when the sun is shining on it.

It is a 3rd year plant and I think the leaves are at maximum size now, so I suspect only the pseudostem will get bigger from now on, but we'll see.

[kata]

Did you color that pic Dave,

Patience has paid off, year three.

[GoggleboxUK]

That's really shifted this year Dave, fantastic plant!

Have you any idea what it weighs? Come to think of it, have you any idea what you're going to do with it at the end of this season? Moving it must be hard enough, overwintering it will be something else entirely!

[Dave Brown]

We've had an extra summer month this year as far as 'Montbeliardii' is concerned. April was warm enough for it to grow outside. They normally grow from May to November, this year will be from April

It will be very heavy, and took two of us to move it last Autumn, but provided it is not more that 8 feet tall with the corm, I'll be alright, and will be stood, bare root, in my conservatory How we moved it last year is further up the topic.

[The Codfather]

and it it is too large .....I could only dream of somthing like that.

[sanatic1234]

I have just read this whole topic again, and it really is impressive dave how it has progressed over the two years. it really is... One question for you though dave please. Do the Ensete 'Montbeliardii''s not need light in the winter like maurelli's or is that one requirement that is different? I know to drain any excess water and to store dry, but i did notice yours had constant light, i just wondered if this was a key element for it?

[Dave Brown]

They are the same plant San, 'Montbeliardii' is just a different, and probably slightly more hardy, cultivar.

If it is growing it needs as high light as you can give it. If it has been dried out and dormant, it can be left in the dark, but dark, damp conditions will encourage rot. Mine is left in the conservatory in light conditions with air movement.

[mathewtaylor]

Really impressive technique Dave, I hope to emulate with my maurellis.
I wondered if this technique could be used to overwinter:
Musa Basjoo
Musella lasiocarpa
too? I assumed maybe not but thought I'd ask.

[Ian Cooke]

I wondered if this technique could be used to overwinter:
Musa Basjoo
Musella lasiocarpa
too? I assumed maybe not but thought I'd ask.

Overwintering dry like this works but its more a case of the plant being tough enough to survive rather than it being the ideal technique for growing. I'm wondering how many other exotic plants have the ability to survive less than ideal conditions. Few of us have as much heated glass as we would like!

Cannas would naturally grow in warm climates all the year, yet we dig them up, cut off the leaves and store them. I have heard of gardeners storing dormant Brugmansias in garages and years ago I remember people tying geraniums (pelargoniums) in bundles and just hanging in a frost-free shed till the next year. Any other toughies?

[Dave Brown]

I think that is another topic, as there could be quite a discussion around that, but briefly most things with a corm or rhizome will come back after being kept dry, but M basjoo will probably lose the stems and have to reshoot from the base, where as Ensete only has one growth point unless it becomes damaged

[sanatic1234]

Hi Dave, what has given your monster 'Montbeliardii' the deep purple colour that it shows in your picture? I would love to attempt to get it to a colour like that. With a colour as intense a that the amount of colourful planting you could put round it would be endless.

[Rabbie]

This is a nice banana, not sure if its the same as Dave's but its a biggie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oXo49_as9g

[Dave Brown]

This is a nice banana, not sure if its the same as Dave's but its a biggie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oXo49_as9g

That is Ensete v Maurelii, the more open cultivar. I'm surpriced he cut the pseudostem down. I try to leave that intact. Although weight is a problem