Wrapping up tender plants

You could keep the Tetrapanax papyrifer outside I would have thought. Nice time to do it though while it's still fairly frost free and before any frost is due. Mine are still all outside, I am going to have to think about dragging them in soon.

Don't worry about your Ensetes, they are tender but there isn't a whole lot you can do, unless you have a heated greenhouse.

 

As I understand it Ensetes need to be dry, I've got a few small plants in an unheated garage, they are almost bone dry now, we will see.

I've often thought of using loft insulation for nanas, but alawys errd away, thinking it might be a magnet for water. I see you have covered that with plastic, I hope its effective on keeping the damp out.

I'm assuming you took the bricks off the soil warming cable as you put the old compost on top.
I'm sure in these days of heating bills those cables are the way to go, I might put one in my allotment greenhouse next year, bearing in mind the cost of parafin.

 

Would it be a better idea to use breathable roofing membrane round the Banananananas? Stop em sweating?

 

Not sure what your referring to Ziggy but sounds like a good idea

 

Good job John Excellent examples on different methods to protect tender plants.
You do realise with your very thorough plant protection programme and my capital purchase of a snow shovel and a single bag of rock salt , we have virtually guaranteed the mildest winter on record !:happydance:

 

I thought you might have some left over, thats why I mentioned it

Mind you, shouldn't listen to me, I killed my Bananana :DOH:

 

bananas should be protected the following way:

get chicken wire and straw .... make a circular cage with the chicken wire, size to encircle the stem, but make sure that it is at least 10 inches bigger all around the stem

stuff straw between the stem and wire cage (some guys use the stuff sold at pet shops for hamsters and rabbits .... use a broom stick to compress the straw

then, use an old chimney pot or similar ontop of the cage to stop rain getting onto the top of stem

also add lots of loose straw around the root base, then add a thick layer of well rotted farmyard manure ontop of the straw

there are many methods, but from what I have read, many guys prefer this method

 

If you keep the ensetes cool but dry as suggested above they will survive but not grow which would be more beneficial because they can grow exceptionally fast, and indoors in a heated room between now and April or May, they will put out some considerable growth.. they may get too big for the room.

If you can have it in a cool but frost free, damp free area like a garage, then they should be ok, maybe just put a fan on them to mix the air up on the coldest nights.

Then again if you don't mind the plant growing substantially over winter then perhaps indoors is a good idea afterall.