Hardy Tropicals UK

Having read up on these, it seems some people are having trouble overwintering these indoors! Any one doing it successfully? If so how, as I have not tried one before. Cheers. Jas.

i have done it before,to keep it smaller,dont put it in a big pot.i kept a plant at around 2ft for a couple of years in our bedroom.unfortunately,it got caught by an early frost and snuffed it.it will drip if you give it too much water so dont stand on expensive furniture

My big one overwinters freestanding in a sunny south facing window at my local school. As temperatures are high with central heating on day and night the banana remains active. Filling the drip tray with water every fortnight usually allows two new leaves before returning home around April.

It is necessary to keep the pot/tub on the small side as any more leaves become drawn and weak.

My dwarf cav goes in my study over winter. its not particularly bright in there but stays a constant 19-21c. Just have to be careful when it goes out in spring not to shock it too much but a good dose of HMC helps it

jungle jas wrote:Having read up on these, it seems some people are having trouble overwintering these indoors! Any one doing it successfully? If so how, as I have not tried one before. Cheers. Jas.

To be successful with cavendish you need keep it active,that's why a lot of people have trouble with them,temps can not drop less than 14c for extended periods as plant stops growing,its not a plant that can be put on hold,it needs bright light for at least 6 plus hours.South facing windows are a must if you don't have grow lights.

I keep one under a grow light, temperature stays around 18c - 25c grows away no problems. Has put out 3 new pups after coming in for winter.

Rabbie wrote:I keep one under a grow light, temperature stays around 18c - 25c grows away no problems. Has put out 3 new pups after coming in for winter.

Once you have conquered that problem Rabbie,the next problem becomes what do do when it starts to get big,if dwarf cav or cav

I'm thinking the same actually, i've got a nice sized one outside but it needs to come in.. i'm gonna try putting it in by my dining room window, so I hope it makes it through!

I have had a cavendish in my south facing room for the last 4 years and it has grown to almost 4 ft height, never gets below 15C in there. It gets watered sparingly in winter but I never let it dry out. In fact it has some suckers at the moment.
Just hoping it will eventually produce some fruit sometime before I die

H

Thanks all, to sum up then, Keep it warm and keep it growing, but not to wet.