I suspect many of us are getting ansy to uncover our banana plants and see what's left, if anything. It figures, of course, that the ONE YEAR I decide to give it a shot at leaving one planted, is the ONE WINTER that's gonna be colder and longer than the year before. Oh well, April can't come fast enough for me. LOL Good luck to one and all.

Compost! Pine mulch etc. piled high and deep will do the job. The bagged pine mulch sold in the south works great once it sits,settles and breaks down. Mix with whatever your budget will afford. I build a high mound of good organic,cheap mulch,potting soil and mine take off! Plant at ground level and they will do nothing.high

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

I enjoy my Basjoo,but have not seen them flower.I have a section of bed I will be re doing this fall and has my largest basjoo growing there and will pot up for in-house.I've just left them in ground and cut back some in spring when things warm up. Sandy....I'm just amazed at your tropical pond up there in Indy.LOL.I moved here from Indpls 5 years ago.I just got my SIL down here now too.I had my 1st pond in Indiana.I have a 13x20x3 pond now and have 3 Pekin ducks(Indy/Tex/Galveston)I really love the growing season now.Its L O N G.SIL is going through heat adjustment.Is quiet funny to watch.I think she never felt heat index over 103 till she got here. Todd.your yard looks great.so does your grass.I'm always being *gripped* at about the way I mow.I guess I should be mowing in "your direction" huh.I'd like to hear more about the molasas theroy with the fireants.Most of my yard is st aguatine grass.1 far end.I believe less watering& depending on mother nature has it look not as nice and needs mowed less in summer as well.Nice to hear info on my windmill palms.I bought 2 for around my pond last fall(january?)I'd say they've maybe gotton 1 frond maybe 2 since been planted but look fine.I'd almost thought to dig back up and add more compost and fill back in.but guess is normal huh..... I guess I only have a April shot of the flower bed,but will eventually make it to neighbors computer to load my pics to a CD so can veiw on my computer(My usb ports are on vacation still.DEll 8250)My basjoo are about 4 ft now. I'd love to get hold of a praying hands banana.I love the look! Here is a link that might be useful: photo album