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View Full Version : Banana Mat help!


enigma99a
03-19-2010, 04:55 PM
I have a lot of varieties but today I am concerned about my Ice Cream mats. I have 4 mats total and I have noticed something strange. Temps have around 80F lately but the mother p-stems in 3 mats are not doing anything at all. One has grown about 7 inches while 2 have not grown at all! I have cut back 1-2 inches and they are green and healthy as can be. Pups already have multiple leafs out.

Last year I lost a large p-steam that just happened to die. Frost didn't even kill all my leafs in Dec 2008, and by Jan 2009 it was mostly in the 70s and was leafing well. Then suddenly after some cool rain (nowhere near freezing) I noticed it had stopped and the pups were growing like crazy. So I cut some back and noticed the whole thing had died down to the ground. So... I was completely shocked. My only theory is that it decided to put the energy into the pups instead (as they were growing at a phenomenal rate)

Obviously I want the mother p-stem to grow because they are only a leaf or two from flowering. Is it normal for the mat to put energy into the pups and let the main one die? I'm afraid that is what will happen here.

Can anything be done now? What can be done in the future to prevent this?

Jack Daw
03-19-2010, 07:06 PM
Isn't it possible that some weevil or another type of bug just attacked your main p-stem and eliminated it? If those pups grow well, it was not corm or temperature related issue. Or at least I think so, my few cents. ;)

Patty in Wisc
03-19-2010, 07:58 PM
Enigma, my IC did same thing. When I brought it inside for winter (same 65 gal pot), it had 3 pups that were growing like crazy & mama wasn't growing so I cut off 2 pups & potted them separate (around beginning Jan). I figured the pups were taking too much energy. Mama has since put out 2 leaves .. small, but they are there. I don't want to cut it either cuz I'm hoping for a flower this year.
How many pups does each have? Maybe they are taking too much energy from mama? Just my 2 cents. Anyone else have an opinion ?

enigma99a
03-19-2010, 09:36 PM
Well, they have a lot. Like probably 7-8 pups with each mother pstem. Oh well.... I can't separate going into winter because they are always close to flowering so I don't want to mess their cycle up. Could be bugs, but I think with the IC, it just puts energy into the pups... Sucks for me

Abnshrek
03-19-2010, 09:40 PM
Well based on everyone's input and circumstances of my own I'd do some propogating of pups; fertize & water momma in moderation till she's back on track.. :^)

enigma99a
03-19-2010, 11:58 PM
Well based on everyone's input and circumstances of my own I'd do some propogating of pups; fertize & water momma in moderation till she's back on track.. :^)

Alright good idea. But what about pups that are 10ft? I guess they need to stay do you agree? But I will start cutting some pups off tomorrow and get a nice forest going:)

Patty in Wisc
03-20-2010, 12:33 AM
I cut a pup off that was almost as big as mama! It had nice roots so had no problem adjusting to its own pot. I cut the 2 biggest pups off. Mama was/is about 11- 12 ft.
Get someone to help you lift it out after you cut it off & dig out. I really think it will give mama more energy & hopefully you'll get that flower soon. :)

Scott
03-20-2010, 08:04 AM
7 pups are a little much. There is a competition for nutrients and mom will lose out.
Pups draw from mother plant. The pups don't give hardle any energy to mom.
Think 3 is about all you want growning.
Seperate and put in some compost in the hole they leave. That'll boost mom and push her growth. Fertilizer always is good...but not on the bare pstem.
Good Luck :)

Akula
03-04-2018, 01:00 AM
I am seeing a similar problem in my mat with my tallest pstems also around 12' which made it through the winter.

I don't see anything conclusive in the above comments or how the problem finally resolved itself based on the advice given.

If anybody has had a similar problem I would like to hear your experience and whether the action taken helped the situation or not as the case may be.

Thanks.