How do I take care of my Banana Tree from freezing

[Seth Miller]

I have a banana tree or I mean banana trees, they all started to clump around the two that I bought. Now winters getting colder and colder and I don't want my banana palm trees to die or freeze. I live in Atlanta Georgia and I think I am the only one in the city that has a banana tree growing in their front lawn, if it were to die, everyone would know! It would not only look bad but I would feel less like a Gardner and more like an idiot. So I need help saving this banana tree, so the question is, how do I keep my banana tree from freezing. My wife told me to leave the sprinklers on since the water comes out warm here, its city water. That sounds fine and dandy but that would be an expensive water bill just to keep the banana trees alive. Is there a lower cost way to keep the banana tree from freezing? I read on another forum that burlap can work, but I think the banana tree is made of all water and the burlap would just let the cold seep in, the banana tree will still freeze. Does anyone know if I can transplant the banana tree into a pot and bring it inside, will the banana tree survive? If theres anyone out there that can help me it should be this place : ) . This might be a stupid question but, has anyone tried letting the banana tree freeze and then trying to bring it back to life, almost like a cryogenic state.

[IthinkIknow]

I myself would like to know the answers. I also live in Georgia, but not in the city of Atlanta, I live in Calhoun and I grow palm trees and all different types of plants and flowers and cacti etc.. but dont have any banana trees growing here. They are mostly water so the tendency to freeze is there. I would suggest using burlap and Christmas light to keep the banana tree from freezing. Maybe even use cotton or a soft fabric to keep it warm. But also maybe bringing it in would be a better alternative. And yes you can move them into a pot to keep them from freezing. The root system of the banana tree is relatively small compared to other palms and very tiny compared to trees.

[IthinkIknow]

Here are some instructions that I found searching for you Seth. It said that you should wait a week after the freeze before pruning off all the dead leaves and it appears that the banana tree will live because it grows from the ground... Just cut off the that was burned even to the ground if you have to and or peel away the outer layers which have been affected until you get to the green area. After reading about it, I come to find out that they can survive all the way up to Canada! That is amazing. I am now going to get some and try growing them here as well.

[Seth Miller]

Originally Posted by IthinkIknow

I myself would like to know the answers. I also live in Georgia, but not in the city of Atlanta, I live in Calhoun and I grow palm trees and all different types of plants and flowers and cacti etc.. but dont have any banana trees growing here. They are mostly water so the tendency to freeze is there. I would suggest using burlap and Christmas light to keep the banana tree from freezing. Maybe even use cotton or a soft fabric to keep it warm. But also maybe bringing it in would be a better alternative. And yes you can move them into a pot to keep them from freezing. The root system of the banana tree is relatively small compared to other palms and very tiny compared to trees.

Thats great that you live in Georgia and can grow palm trees. Okay that will be phase one of the Banana keep alive project! I might make an experiment out of the banana freezing. I will bring one inside leave one outside and the small ones leave in the front foyer area of my home. Any ideas about bringing them back to life? Also what fertilizer is best for the banana tree?