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View Full Version : Age of 'donor' plants?


ImperialExotics
05-12-2011, 01:35 PM
So how old do 'donor' plants that you are willing to sacrifice parts of need to be for TC?

I have plenty of available potential donors that are 12-14" tall.

too young?

Gabe15
05-12-2011, 03:38 PM
That is a good size. If they are too small, when you sterilize the outside and begin to remove layers, you do not have much to remove and you risk contaminating the meristem. If it is too large, its just a lot more difficult to deal with and its not necessary.

Suckers with pseudostems about 2-5in in diameter and 1-4ft tall are a good size that is easy to deal with.

ImperialExotics
05-12-2011, 06:09 PM
Thanks, good to know.

I hate having to permanently sacrifice parts of a perfectly good plant that won't grow back, but in this case, as I have large quantities I can spare, I can make an exception. I most definitely didn't want to sacrifice any permanent stems off of my Ensete as they are quite large and far too nice looking to consider cutting into. :)

Now to decide which ones I DO want to start with.

RobG7aChattTN
05-13-2011, 01:45 PM
Are you doing the TC yourself, or having it done? I have a Musa I really want to TC but I haven't tried it yet and would probably want to start experimenting with something a little less precious. I might rather find someone else to do it for me.

ImperialExotics
05-13-2011, 01:53 PM
Are you doing the TC yourself, or having it done? I have a Musa I really want to TC but I haven't tried it yet and would probably want to start experimenting with something a little less precious. I might rather find someone else to do it for me.



nope. doing it myself.

no fun in someone else doing it.

RobG7aChattTN
05-13-2011, 02:32 PM
I'd love to try it myself. I'm just worried I'd buy all those chemicals only to mess the whole thing up.

ImperialExotics
05-13-2011, 06:26 PM
I'd love to try it myself. I'm just worried I'd buy all those chemicals only to mess the whole thing up.



it's really not that hard.

Just read, check and double check your work and go.

Phytotech even sells banana mixes already to go.

ImperialExotics
05-24-2011, 12:05 AM
Just curious is there a nice detailed set of images, diagrams etc. that demonstrate exactly where to harvest tissue from?