They are still inside, and seem to be doing ok. I've been putting them outside on nice days (when we have sun, which has been scarce lately!) to help them get used to it, not long.... We have still had some freezing nighttime temps, we just had sleet/snow a couple days ago, now it's been a cold rain all day today. I'm eager to put them outside myself... I see our lowest low forecasted for the next 10 days is 35, with a couple 38's, the rest in the 40's. So I'm hoping we're done with freezing temps now...but those lows in the 30's could still dip lower than they forecast...so I want to wait that out I think. Overall, the basjoos look good, I had repotted them in larger pots, and both of them sprouted a new leaf quickly, one is wide open, the other has some curl to it yet but will be fully open in the next day or so? The only issue is the bottom leaf on both of them has gone yellow, then brown on the tip....this happened before, too, I just peeled the leaf off of each plant. But now the newest bottom leaf is doing the very same thing. I will be eager to get them outside where they can really grow! I have already noticed a difference just in the house...both in height, and with each of them getting a new leaf! This is pretty fun for me, but will be moreso when they are out where they belong! Angie

My musa basjoo grew to about 4 feet the first year, from a seedling in spring. I think that bananas in general grow quicker planted directly in the ground than in a pot (providing you have good soil). I basically put composted manure in the soil and then used miracle grow during the season. As I wouldn't have a chance overwintering mine outdoors, I dug out of the ground, potted, and kept in a bright window for the winter. Full sun is best but my window was a north window with not much sun. Anyways, I watered pretty sparingly (as the plant wasn't active in growth) and didn't fertilized, and sprayed every once in a while with neem oil and water (as a precaution against bugs). So now they are back outside planted in a flower bed. The only bad thing is when they adjust back to outside, the leaves it grew indoors pretty well get tattered in the wind, sun burnt and eventually yellow and die, but the new leaves it gets once it's used to full sun are stronger and nicer looking. Glen

Tom, I like mulching pad you built for your Basjoo. The plant looks normal to me. All young bananas take time to establish themselves. The younger leaves tend to be yellow, but as they get older, they usually turn darker green. Since you've been giving it plenty of water and also fertilizing them, I wouldn't worry about it too much. It's still a very young plant and it needs plenty of time to establish itself first. As to the black spots, they look to me like aging spots, but I might be wrong. I do remember seeing things like that, but I have to pay closer attention next time on my aging leaves. I hope the summer weather will bring much growth to your basjoo this season.

Basjoo can do wonderfully in a container, however a few things I learned over the years. Container grown Basjoos tend to do well if they are indoor plants, Then taken outside in a shady environment on warmer to hot days. If a Basjoo stays outside in a container under bright sunshine, soon, they will become rootbound. A extremely fast grower, the Basjoo sounds rootbound and is searching for more room to grow. You mentioned you have pups, well, this is a good sign that you are meeting every condition the banana needs to not only grow, but to have pups to expand. Now, its looking for more room as the pups are growing along with mom. My remedy would be this, get a larger pot. Or, you can overwinter in the house or garage, a cool dark room. Then, I would suggest in the spring you plant this Banana in the ground. They call them Banana Plants, I call them small trees.