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View Full Version : Best solution to save a corm


JCDerrick
02-10-2010, 02:53 PM
Figured a few of you have had to deal with this problem a time or two before.

I acquired some Hawaiian "Apple" banana corms last October and since it gets cold here around the start of November, I had to pot them and put them indoors under the halides. Both started out growing really well - but stretched a bit more than I'd like. I tried to keep watering to a min since I know bananas can rot easily indoors in the winter.

Unfortunately one of them has decided to "give up" on it's growth and the stretched growth fell over. I went ahead and removed the growth down to near the corm and discovered it had actually started to decay a bit.

I took the corm (which is rather large actually) - bigger than a large potato) and washed it off really well. It's still very firm, though it didn't really grow any new roots - which I suspect is what caused some of the problems.

Is it better than I leave it out of the soil and let it dry out some? Or should I replant it in the pot and try and keep it as warm as possible? Or should I put the corm in water and let it try and grow roots (that's usually how I handle my other banana corms).

This banana corm is especially important to me because of where I acquired it, so I really want to make sure I take the right steps to protect/save it. I went ahead and moved the other one closer to the Halide light in hopes it'll stop stretching if it's closer to the actual source of light. I tried that last year when some of my Sabas and IC's started to stretch and it seemed to help a bit. I've got at least another good month or so before I can put them outdoors - El Nino is keeping it rather chilly down here this winter.

Thanks guys,
John

hammer
02-10-2010, 09:47 PM
It have apple bananas in house in pots they are doing good. the soil make the diffrence i put 20% perlite and 20% peatmoss with my potting soil. and for watering every two weeks i put 3 cups of water. my apple bananas get very little lite my apple bananas are doing better than my bananas.

Sorry ab to it out my typing im on a new computer and i am not used yet.

Abnshrek
03-06-2010, 06:45 PM
Once it warms up your corm will grow I've have 4 come back to life in 3 days in the sun.. :^)

gadget
03-06-2010, 11:29 PM
I would pot it up in straight perlite and treat it like planting a seed just water it in or use pre soaked perlite and stick it some place warm with a bag over to control evaporation. Maybe use clear plastic pot so you can see if you have roots growing. Then let it be, best of luck.

JCDerrick
03-06-2010, 11:31 PM
Thanks guys, I'll give this a shot. I'm hoping this warmer weather will really help things.

sandy0225
03-11-2010, 07:54 PM
put it on a heat mat and watch it go. It might be too cool in the root zone. you can save lots of the bananas you'd think are too far gone with root heat.

Abnshrek
03-11-2010, 10:04 PM
Heat (artificial like Sandy said till it warms up), Light (sounds like you have the light thing down :^), good soil, water management (based on temp and absorbion rate), and fertilizer... Oh oh I can't forget pest control :^)