musa

I managed to get myself two red musa plants yesterday, one for �£2 and one for �£10 reduced from �£30. I'm really chuffed as I've been wanting a couple for ages.
Question now is will they be ok in an unheated greenhouse over winter or do I need to invest in a heater before the cold comes in?

 

Hi Mel sorry I can't help with the green house thingy...but I'm really pleased for you that you have got something that you have always wanted and for a great price too!
Happy growing Helen.xxx.

 

Hi Mel, which musa is it? I assume basjoo or similar.

These are tender but will only die off with frost. In fact even in sunny Yorkshire I only fleece wrap mine. In Devon You will probably find it sun-bathing. You might want to check with Bananaman. (The GC member, not the super hero). But I reckon that you are pretty safe.

John.

 

Labels just says musa red. It does say it's not hardy but not sure whether an unheated greenhouse would suffice. As you say I'm in Devon so it doesn't tend to get too cold here anyway.

 

Hi mel i think if you can put a pic on you would get a much better response mate.Because it just says red nana could be a number of breeds ie sikkimensis/ensette/and theres some more buy dont know the names as said before hopfully banana man will tell you more.Anywat sounds like a good buy mate best of look.....daz

 

Got a sneaking suspicion it might be something pretty tender.
But as d&d says a pic would be a big help.

 

ok will get the camera out later!

 

Right here they both are -

Daddy musa red



And a close up of the leaves



And baby musa red



Hope this helps!

 

Thats not a musa it's an Ensete Maurellii. In the autumn either put in the greenhouse or spare bedroom if have one, you can leave the leaves on if you have the space or just cut them all off, new ones will apear in the spring. I only put my little heater on in the greenhouse if it's going to be frosty other wise I don't bother. Hope that helps.

 

I quote from the RHS web site:

'Sometimes sold as E. ventricosum 'Rubrum', this cultivar has rich reddish-maroon young leaves, fading to a colourful orange-red edge when older. A gorgeous-looking plant, it is slightly less hardy and vigorous than the type species and does better in containers during summer, as it dislikes being transplanted.
One of the most richly coloured plants of the banana family, and coming from Ethiopia, it is best displayed outdoors in large containers and overwintered under glass.'

TO is perfectly correct. I would not bother with it here (there are easier bananas and I am lazy) but in Devon you should have no real problems. Good luck Mel and do keep us informed after the winter how your babies are doing.

 

I go along with that, ensete maurelii.
Thought it might be musa coccinea at first.