I had the banana before and kept it for 5 yrs. It was 7' tall. I lost it last yr when I did not water it all winter. Life happened and I lost a lot of plants in the Laundry Room.



Look at all those pups I had and I let it die. I was heartbroken but I was caring for a family member and life got away from me.

I keep all my tropicals in their pots in the back of the Laundry Room and give them a cup of water once a month everything comes out ready to grow and in tip top shape.

Sorry about the loss of the banana. Plants can be replaced.

Yes that is why I let the plants die. I cannot replace love ones. I am sure the one I purchased this year will look like that one next yr. I did not order it until last month. So as you can see they send a good size plant for the price.

DavidLMO said:@Cinta. Those are both some nice looking plants. I take it you will store the cannas in the basement and bring the banana indoors? Those Coleus ? look nice. How big will that banana get?

and yes that is a coleus. I needed something in the pot since I ordered the banana so late in the season to pup up the pot to look good for the rest of the summer. I was a bit surprised the darn coleus grew that big. It was probably the fert I was giving the banana made the coleus lose its mind.

Hahahaha. But, but, but!!! The Banana loves sun and the Coleus loves shade - no?

No coleus tolerate shade. Just like hostas. Give them sun and lots of water they are fine and will lose their mind and grow like crazy

At least that is my experience. When i want my hostas to grow fast the first year i grow them in full sun and lots and lots of water. I end up with a huge plant. Get my leap year in two instead of three.

Now which nursery do you guys like to order from again? Can you give me a link. Taking care of sick family members can be all consuming. I cared for my Dad before he passed and my sister had cancer over 3 yrs. I never regret a moment of it taking care of them, countless trips to treatments, ect.

Cinta is talking about
http://www.floridahillnursery....
've been over there window shopping already!

David, I had bought a Brazilian Plume plant from a Conservatory that's was where the Scale came from. I finally tossed the plant maybe I had it a whole year and never did get rid of the scale. It would start looking good but then the scale would come back. I used all kinds of systemics and still couldn't get rid of them. Finally gave up.
@Cinta, I have either a Siam Ruby or Zebrina that has a few pups. I would be glad to share.

thanks!

Cinta said:No coleus tolerate shade. Just like hostas. Give them sun and lots of water they are fine and will lose their mind and grow like crazy

Interesting. In my experience, the only Hosta I have found that does well in Sun is Patriot. ** It is part of the patriotic names series Hostas that can handle sun fairly well. Paul's Glory does less well for me and Minuteman even less so. Of many other varieties, I have not found any that like sun. And I refuse to stand over plants 24/7 with a watering can.

** Couple years ago I got a ton of Hostas at end of season clearance at HD. $ 2 for six 2 gal pots. So I did an experiment with the Patriots planting them in full shade, full sun and everything in between. They all did quite well and those in Full Sun were among the best. All together, I got 36 hostas gallon size for $12.

GACK!!!!

Upcoming forecast! Highs in lower 60s and lows in upper 40s to lower 50s. I was hoping I would not have to "deal" with things for another couple of weeks.

Thank you Holly. I purchased the Siam Ruby from Florida Hill last month. I will see if I winter it okay this year. As long as everyone stays healthy I should be okay. If someone get sick again I know it will probably die.

David ..... About the Hostas.....I do not grow them in sun the entire time but I read that was how the growers got fast growth. If you put them in sun the first year and water the heck out of them they do the leap thing fast instead of the first year sleep second year creep third year leap. I am an impatient person. So I push them because I want big fast.

If they are planted in Leafmold, and watered once a week they are fine in sun. They will start to look bad earlier than if they are in shade but I have not found any that did not grow good and fast in sun.

@Cinta how old was your S Ruby to have all those pups? That's amazing. I just bought one and also some more cannas(still haven't posted photos on your canna thread yet.) Also hedychium.
I loath bringing plants into the house but I am going to pot the banana sink it into the flower bed and then pull it up when it gets too cold. It's too pretty to lose.

@DavidLMO Cashmere Bouquet it's a holy terror. Before yours died I hope it was containerized it'a total thug if it gets loose.

Kabby that is a pic of when it was 3 yrs old. I had the plant for 5 yrs. The 4th year my Mom got sick and I did not get a pic of it then the 5th year I left it outside in the snow because I was caring for my Mom.

Kabby, do you have bananas and such?

Teresa I have ice cream bananas, gingers, cannas, crinum, and I only recently started buying EEs. Except for the newly acquired Siam Ruby, everything stays outside during the winter.

Kabby said:@DavidLMO Cashmere Bouquet it's a holy terror. Before yours died I hope it was containerized it'a total thug if it gets loose.

Not hardy in my zone. Yes in a pot.