PlantFiles: Banana
Musa 'Dwarf Orinoco'

Planted a small plant in late March in the west corner of the backyard (facing east). Used a big mound of miracle-gro potting soil and earthworms in raised bed. Set up on drip system for hourly watering 9 times per day, increasing the duration as it got hotter. From June - August, fertilized monthly with miracle gro all-purpose, natures' magic, and fish emulsion fertilizers and epsom salts. Now plant is huge with 2 pups. Pic uploaded on this page.

Much as I'd love to have had a good expearance with this plant I have to give this one a negitive

I purchased two bannanas from The World Plant Shop: 1 dwarf Orinoco and 1 Golden Lotus (different Genus' but similar "supposed" cold hardiness)

Both plants had the last 3 months of summer 05 to get used to thier Z8b south facing microclimate and while the Lotus bannana promptly came up in 06 the Orinoco did not. When I called the World Plant Shop I discovered that they kept thier Orinoco's in greenhouses over the winter and could not confirm the plants ability to overwinter. We are approaching mid-June and I must assume that the Orinoco did not make it. I would like to postulate that this hybrid is not as cold hearty as advertised. BTW, yes I mulched and provided the same protection for both bannanas, and promptly removed the mulch once the temps got warm enough...I would be interested to hear from those who have overwintered the Dwarf Orinoco and what methods they used.

As a dwarf, this plant fares better in windy areas than its taller version, but may need help supporting heavy heads of fruit. It is cold-hardy to Zone 7, and features wider-than-usual leaves, especially for its smaller size. It is a good grower, and will fill in a space for you lickety-split!

Suitable for greenhouse culture but somewhat more prone to mites than DC.