I have a couple questions about this and I'm hoping someone will see them here so I don't have to start another thread about this. My Musa Bajoo is one year old and probably about six feet tall. I have read about putting mulch around it, etc. I tried that last year and it turned to mush. (A different plant.) But, I didn't put a tarp over it, so maybe that's why. Anyway, I'm thinking now maybe I'll dig this one up. Everyone seems to say they're easy to get up. But, what do I do with it? Be specific. haha. Plant it in a container with some potting soil? Store it in my outside shed where it is cold? Put it in the basement and forget about it? (Including no water?) Put it in my sunroom where it is very chilly in the winter (about 40 degrees) and treat it like a houseplant? Thanks for any info on this option! Here is a link that might be useful:

John, I had a pretty good year here. French Canadian is on her third flush with another to come if the temps hold. I think it is just that way some years, I had one like that a couple of years ago with no rhyme or reason. I figure they should be allowed the odd 'off' one. :) I say this for any and all zones.... improve your soil and plant them directly into the ground so you do not have to fertilize or water so much. A good root system will give you a good plant and good flowers. I fertilized mine for only the second( and last) time this year the last week in August. That is really my only 2 'secrets'.

I have kept potted rosemary indoors over the winter for many many years. I learned from trial and error, involving many many failures. Here is what I found. Rosemary is very intolerant of drying out. If it dries out -- that's it. It won't recover. On the other hand it likes perfect drainage. So check the soil frequently with your fingers to see if it is damp. The thing about rosemary is that it is fast growing and wants to be five foot tall and wide. So when it is happy, its roots fill up the pot fairly quickly. Once they fill up the pot, it dries out in a trice. So you need to prune the roots once in a while or give it a bigger pot with more room. Prune the roots and the leaves (for cooking) to slow it down. Otherwise, a happy plant will suddenly be dead in the morning with no warning. I also find this to be true with myrtle in pots (love this plant). Indoors, rosemary should get all the light you can give it, and circulation of air, if possible. The cooler the room you keep it in, the better. A chilly vestibule is ideal. A fan and humidifier in the room are not a bad idea. Rosemary thrives in a breezy seaside environment in its native Mediterranean. Outdoors, I once kept a rosemary in a big container in very light potting soil alive for several years at my cousin's cottage on Long Island. It was planted in a huge flower box with other winter savory and thyme. The container was right against the house in semi-shade near a window so got some warmth and shelter. The plant didn't look very good when Spring came around though and I doubt it was worth it. Rosemary is extremely easy to propagate so don't feel too bad if you kill it a few times before finding what works for you and it. It's great with bland meats like pork and chicken. The idea of growing it in the same pot as a geranium is intriguing to get rid of excess moisture is intriguing. I am thinking also of trying something like that with amaryllis, which also hates excess moisture.

Hi Jack - Guess what? ... I found the thread where Phil posted about his PVC & mill felt method ... also had his email address in his post - so I send him my ??? directly and here is part of his reply: Ditus ..... "The felt I get is from the papermill I work at and isn't for sale to the public. I have 52 blue mop heads in a cold climate, and they have flowered for 4 summers. You must protect the nodes. I recommend the ES as the blue mop head of choice." Phil No wonder no one had an idea what I was inquiring about. I tried several other places including a paper supply co. etc,etc,etc! I'll stick with burlap. I've encaged all my bloom tenders and just covered the top lightly with burlap for the overnite low 20s ... will seriously put them to bed as soon as they drop their foliage - be around T'giving time here. My handsome & old Gingo tree barely, slipped on his golden cloak when Mother Nature said "Drop it!" ... he must have obediently done it overnite ... he was bare & his golden cloak piled neatly around his feet ... LOL!!! No stinky fruits to rake this year ... I was saved by the 2wk freeze last Apr. G'nite