skip to main content

Care of recently severed banana pups

17 years ago

I have several questions related to care of recently dug banana pups.

How long can I leave the pseudostems-from 1 1/2' to 5'-unplanted after separation from mother plant? I want to wait 4-5 weeks before replanting them in the ground and it would be easier to handle them unpotted if that is a viable option.

Is it good to -

-trim existing roots, and leaves above the stem tip, and let the corm go dormant (unplanted) until ready to plant in ground?

-allow a resting period for the corms'wounds to scar over?

-will the corms need to be kept at all moist during the waiting period?

-does storage temperature matter?

Thanks for help!

Arabesque

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
17 years ago
From my limited experience, at this time of year, I think it would be best to either pot them up in as small a pot as possible with light potting soil and don't water much...OR plant them directly in the ground. If you pot up, keep them out of full sun until they start growing steadily. You should trim off all the mature leaves, leaving the few that are undeveloped or just unfurling. When you dug the pups, if you made sure you have enough of the corm (the portion that produces roots), they should take off real quickly. As long as the soil is very warm, you should not need to worry about rotting corms.

Why would you want to wait 4-5 weeks before replanting?
arabesque
Original Author
17 years ago
Thanks for your suggestions, dave. You suggest as small a pot as possible. Does this mean they like to be crowded into small area? Do you leave the old roots on the corms?

As to why wait 4 or 5 weeks before replanting, I am starting a new garden at some distance from the old one. It was time to clean out the excess from the current banana stand, but the new garden won't be available for a few weeks. I wish coaxing them into dormancy was a good option so I could transport them easier but will maybe put them in as small a pot as possible per your suggestion to make the whole operation lighter and take up less space.
- arabesque
Related Discussions
Separating pups in the ground
Q
Comments (3)
I personally would wait till they are at least 2 feet tall. I don't take mine till they are about 3 1/2 to 4 feet tall before the leaves start. All that you need is a flat shovel (not one with a curve) that is about 10 inches wide. Place it half way between the main plant and the pup. Push it straight down and you will feel where the corm connects to the pup. You want to keep pushing till it cuts all the way through. Then dig about a foot or so around the pup and when you are on your last spot gently lean the pup over. Be careful as you want as many roots as you can get. I usually plant it in a pot for a while so that it will be able to get a good root structure going. Good luck.
...See More
Ornamental Red Banana (Abyssinian banana, Ensete ventricosum)
Q
Comments (21)
I got a Red E Ventricosum banana late this spring. It did well in a pot getting quite large. About July I put it in the ground and did okay for awhile then started growing backwards (declining).. its pretty small right now..it really does dislike the hotter night temps as Eric (a previous poster) mentioned. I have grown both the green and red ones from seed in pots in S. Louisiana and they did quite well. They can get huge when they are happy. I'm going to put mine back in a pot again and see if it improves now that the nights are cooling off and it seems to be perking up a little. I think it takes the humidity better in a pot, based on my experiences. I also think they appreciate a little shade in the hottest part of the day here. I also grew these in AZ with basically no humidity and way above 100F temps during the summer they definitely hated that but survived with some shade and a misting system I had set up for my tropicals. My two Zebrina bananas are doing quite well, currently, in the ground and are beautiful. I've killed (or the winter, I should say, killed) 2 Siam Ruby bananas here but that was before I had my greenhouse techniques refined lol. ~Sjn
...See More
need advice about banana pups
Q
Comments (34)
If not already mentioned here take look at the banana forum which has a lot of members in Florida. Probably the best place to obtain banana information since banana growing is what they do. I have one ice cream banana plant. I had it too shaded for years and last year removed some of the shade and it has started to grow. I kept the stem alive through our recent hard winter and it grew a pup this year which is still growing and becoming quite large. I have not yet asked if it is necessary to move the pups or what. Several of my friends have their bananas growing in clumps and seem to only remove the pups when they want to propagate. They are not interested in the appearances. I am hoping for a fruiting stem to appear even though it is too late for fruit maturity to occur prior to our first frost.
...See More
Palm Growers , Bananas and other tropicals..Hello ..
Q
Comments (6)
Hi Rob, the Flower Pot nursery is on Hillsboro Rd. They do have some nice stuff there from time to time. Calvin did close Blooms this year. It was quite a shock driving up into the parking lot and seeing absolutely NOTHING! No buildings, no greenhouses, no plants...I mean nothing but a parking lot. I talked to him though, and he said he is planning on reopening somewhere else. The rent for that spot was just way too high for him. Amazindirt, I'm glad you enjoyed the palm talk! I was pretty much just winging it that day, as I had some pretty bad jetlag still from my trip back from Thailand (and yes Rob, that was with UT). I was so tired the day before, I felt like I should've had toothpicks keeping my eyelids open, lol. I had a talk the day before on hardy subtropicals for Tennessee. Next time you see me at an event there, please come up and introduce yourself! I don't usually post on this forum anymore, but have in the past. I'm going to try to make it to the fall plant sale.
...See More
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
17 years ago
You can keep pups growing in small pots for quite a while. They'll get taller, but won't hang on to as many leaves. In a small pot, the corms won't rot as easily. You probably cut a number of the roots and the corm will have to generate new ones.

Or, in your climate you could probably just leave them unpotted in a shady place until you're ready to plant them. I'd still trim off most of the leaves though. Maybe throw a pile of mulch over the rootballs to keep slightly moist?
blondboy47
16 years ago
They will be ok in pots for sure. We have a pup that's been in a pot since around this time last year. It's doing just fine.

Plus, if we decide to plant this one, then it's no big deal to just remove the pot and place directly into the soil.
gardenguy_
16 years ago
arabesque, due to losing a musa basjoo over the winter which was stored in the basement, I took my dwarf orinoco out of the basement and severed the 3 foot pup on it and planted it right away in the ground. It's started to grow right away. No problems here. You should not have to wait after cutting off a pup to replant.

Related Stories

EDIBLE GARDENS The Enticing Garden: How to Grow Bananas

By Steve Asbell

Sweeten your dining table with surprising flavors of banana cultivars while adding tropical flavor to your garden

HOME TECH To Feed and Protect: Care for Your Pet From Afar With New Devices

You might miss the nuzzles, but your dog or cat won't miss food, water or monitoring with these high-tech feeders and cameras

PETS How to Help Your Dog Be a Good Neighbor

By Alison Hodgson

Good fences certainly help, but be sure to introduce your pup to the neighbors and check in from time to time

FUN HOUZZ Houzz Pets: 50 Design-Loving Dogs

By Lily Gahagan

Pups Big and Small Hold Court at Home

CONTAINER GARDENS Want an Easy Tropical Oasis? Think Container Plants

Tropical plants have taken one coastal community by storm. Come on a walk with us to get ideas for your own porch, patio or garden

KITCHEN DESIGN Pet-Friendly Design: Making Room for the Dog Dish

By Mary Jo Bowling

In a dog’s life, you eat on the floor. Except in kitchens like these, where pets are factored into the design

HEALTHY HOME 12 Ways to Set Up Your Kitchen for Healthy Eating

By Becky Harris

Making smart food choices is easier when your kitchen is part of your support team

PETS Houzz Call: Show Us Your Summer-Loving Dog!

By Mitchell Parker

Share a photo of your pooch kicking back in the backyard, helping you in the workshop or enjoying your favorite summer getaway

PETS 5 Finishes Pets and Kids Can’t Destroy — and 5 to Avoid

By Christine Tusher

Save your sanity and your decorating budget by choosing materials and surfaces that can stand up to abuse

SAVING WATER 11 Ways to Save Water at Home

By Carol Crotta

Whether you live in a drought-stricken area or just want to help preserve a precious resource, here are things you can do to use less water

Sponsored

Mary Shipley Interiors

32 Reviews

Columbus OH Premier Interior Designer 10x Best of Houzz

More Discussions

Im trying out the banna peel in water. How much do i diliate it?

0

Musa basjoo, winter dormancy?

0

Anyone growing Musa Coccinea

0