storing banana leaves

by barvinok Sun Oct 06, 2013 7:02 pm

My plecos and shrimp love blanched banana leaves. Which way is better to store them for the winter-to dry or to freeze?

by mikebike Mon Oct 07, 2013 12:13 am

I cut my leaves while still green and hang them to dry is a shelterd spot.
when dry I strip them from the leaf spine and store in plain brow paper bags from the market.
Some times the even dry with the green colour still in it.
Plecos/cories/shrimp/guppies/swords/molies all have been seen nibbling on it

I can crunch down 10 large leaves in one bag.

I have some still live leaves availible in S Surrey for FREE

by barvinok Tue Oct 08, 2013 5:19 pm

Thank you. Next question- how do you overwintering your banana plants- cage with the straw,household insulation or...?
If I just tell somebody that I got banana plant because of fish they will think that something wrong with me Laughing

by mikebike Tue Oct 08, 2013 5:26 pm

I slice and dice the stems and leaves and pile them on top of the cut plants.
I add any fallen leaves I can accumulate and cover it all with a fee bale of straw from my banks haloween display come November.

If I spot any open bags of steer/mushroom/chicken manuer bags real cheep they get added to the pile.

I tried wraping one year and did not see any increase in growth the next year.

by **Biulu** Tue Oct 08, 2013 6:41 pm

In the Netherlands for overwintering some more sensitive perennials, we first add loosened soil around the base (heap it up a bit) and then pack straw around the plant/bush. This is all held in place (we have lots of wind all year round!) by some jute or these plastic fibre bags tied around the straw.