Chinese Yellow Bananas - Musella lasiocarpa anyone grow?

[cordyman]

These are stunning, yet I don't recall seeing many members growing them? Not hardy enough or? Look very different in growing habit from Musa Basjoo which I like.




http://dangergarden.blogspot.co.uk/2012 ... farms.html

[derrick]

Lots of members have them I have one no flower yet .Nice picture Cordy like that ?

[Nathan]

I did have one for a few years but got bored of it as it never flowered, just pushed up lots of pups all the time, so I dug it up...

[derrick]

Mine the same Nathan just pups 10 no height no flower

[B19bst]

I have a couple too. I find there slow growers and not hardy at all really.

[ourarka]

Ditto - mine 'survives' but doesn't thrive. Frustrating as it takes so long to really put out some decent growth, that the frosts roll around again. This thread reminds me to think of an alternative use for it .... cos it's a nice, healthy plant.

[Dave Brown]

In sun Red Spider Mite, in shade Sulks, needs to be in very well drained soil, or roots rot. I have 2 but don't mention them as just about survive and never do much.

Used to be a garden plant before winter cooling kicked in

[cordyman]

OK cheers guys, sounds like its not worth it, my Sikkimensis dies every year and regrows from a pup, so I think Musella would be a no go. Anyone tried straw cage method outside over winter to save the stem and get a head start on the following year?

[derrick]

Musella I keep dry all winter in a south facing not tried in a loft dry store .Did try them outside with protection both times rotted they did get wet outside .

[multim]

I did grow them some 10 years ago with the hope that they may be a smaller, hardy and more decorative alternative to Basjoo. Not to be, as these are not good 'do-ers'.

[Yorkshire Kris]

I've done a time lapse video of mine flowering.

[Yorkshire Kris]

One of my favourites....

[callin]

OK cheers guys, sounds like its not worth it, I think Musella would be a no go.

Cordy did you watch Kris video.
In my eyes is definitely worth to grow it.

Kris, beautyful video, beautyful music, fantastic flower, best ....thank you for your efforts.
What you have done to it to make it flower , you keep it only inside , special fertiliser with high potasium content, may be? age?

I think this nana needs higher temperatures to thrive in UK.Greend house anyone try it?
In Romania during the summer it grows quite fast 1 leaf in 10 -12 days, full sun and temps from 25 to 35C.
In winter lost all the leaves though I bring it inside. In April or May it comes out and instantly start grow again if the temperatures are high enough.

[cordyman]

What a video Kris! grand stuff

Certainly unfolds an incredible amount of petals!

I'm going to try one next year then and protect it in situ with straw cage, then waterproof on top to keep dry, for better height the next year

[miketropic]

I would say there very worth it. I have had one a few years now..has about 12 pups at the moment and takes -13c without a problem. I cut it back after first frost throw a bag with a bit of straw in it over the top and its good all winter..maybe a flower next year.