View Full Version : discussion of bananas grown in water
Vickie H.
08-08-2011, 01:16 PM
Someone suggested we have a discussion of bananas grown in water. I have grown bananas in water since 2007 when I bought one at a greenhouse. I had seen them growing in water on some of our pond tours. In 2008 or 2009 I cannot remember which I decided to try and grow my own. I put a pup in a saucer of water. Over the period of two months I slowly brought the water up over the top of the pot. I moved the pot from the saucer to a bucket. I have had that banana in water even during the winter like my first one, They are in my basement in winter under shop lights. It never gets colder then 50*F
Vickie H.
08-08-2011, 01:27 PM
Here is the origional one I bought in the summer of 2007 this pic is of this year
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5648.jpg
this is the one I started myself this is this yr pic
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5619.jpg
nullzero
08-08-2011, 05:02 PM
Interesting concept, dissolved oxygen levels must be very good. I like it :08:.
Vickie H.
08-08-2011, 05:28 PM
Thanks nullzero. But I am wondering if any banana can do this? I did it last year with a musa basjoo that had hardly any roots when we dug it up. It was in water all summer and I gave it away, so I don't still have it.
nullzero
08-08-2011, 05:31 PM
Thanks nullzero. But I am wondering if any banana can do this? I did it last year with a musa basjoo that had hardly any roots when we dug it up. It was in water all summer and I gave it away, so I don't still have it.
Try increasing the aeration of water, by using air pumps with airstones around the root system of the banana.
Vickie H.
08-08-2011, 05:39 PM
The banana in the second picture has a pump by it and that banana took off this year. The other picture of my first banana, it is not near a pump. But then I don't want a huge banana in water.
nullzero
08-08-2011, 05:56 PM
The banana in the second picture has a pump by it and that banana took off this year. The other picture of my first banana, it is not near a pump. But then I don't want a huge banana in water.
Root rot will lead to a dead banana plant, if the dissolved oxygen levels are not enough to sustain the plant. I would make sure there is a pump near it, just use a variety like 'Super Dwarf Cavendish' if the size is a problem.
Vickie H.
08-08-2011, 09:09 PM
Both bananas survive in a seperate tub of water in the basement all winter. Last winter they were in the basement from Oct until mid june. No pumps. The one I bought in the summer of 2007 has survived every winter that way. The other one has too. Last year the 2007 one put out a pup. I sent it to my friend in Memphis this spring. It is in her pond and doing great. It has more pups I will seperate soon
scottu
08-09-2011, 08:31 PM
OK, great job Vickie! But, come on you can't just slowly submerge your banana plant in tap water can you?
Can you lay out the basics for us'ins who might try this? Like, water, must it be aerated etc.?How often does it need to be changed?, tap water? How to fertilize for the naners? Best or better dirt types? Depth/ water levels? Temps, different than normal grown? etc.,etc.,etc.? Motion of the ocean, is a strong current good? What else, I know when I try this there will be more questions, is there a site etc. that you recommend for reference?
Thanks ScottU
Vickie H.
08-09-2011, 09:34 PM
Scott your making this way to hard. I put a banana in yard dirt and set it in a saucer of water. Then after a couple of weeks I set it in a bucket and made the water a little higher up on the pot. It was not a big pot either, maybe 8-10 inches across the top of the pot. I used hose water and sometimes pond water to add water over 2 months time as I raised the water level. I did not aerate it whatsoever. I did not change the water it evaporated fairly fast in the summer heat. Then after two months I set it in a shallow pond with no pump or aeration with about 3 or 4 inches of water over the top of the pot. In Oct I set the pot in a tub of water in my basement with shoplights and I did put a couple of mosquito fish in that pot of water. No pump no aerator. Last winter I put both bananas again in water in a bigger tub each. I did not feed all winter and did not even put mosquito fish in the tubs. I have used pond tabs to feed the bananas in my ponds before. I also have used nothing but fish poo that is natural in the water.. Depends on my mood at the time. Maybe this sounds too easy? It was. I put musa basjoo pups in water last summer and they did fine. Same way only 6 pots in a tub. Maybe it is beginners luck or just hap hazzard but it works for me. I will do more bananas next year. I have a couple of pups to take off the first banana from 2007. If they live next year if you pay shipping I will send you one to check all this out for yourself.
scottu
08-10-2011, 07:15 PM
I guess I'm just having a problem with the roots and corm being permanently submerged. I can't see how that would be different then having a plant sit in soggy soil, which I know from experience would be a bad thing.
I would like to know the theory that separates the two situations. Does anyone out there know a source where one could find such info?
Vickie your are a pioneer! Thank you for a new twist in banana tending and I would surely like to try your seasoned water born pup and maybe a non water born pup next to it in my pond next spring. Can't wait!
Thank you Vickie
SCOTT
Vickie H.
08-10-2011, 08:35 PM
I seperated the pups today. Not sure if they will make it. One I only got 1 root and the other two have a few, The pot was to big for me to lift I sould have waited for my hubby to help. I cut them off rather then dumping the pot and slowly doing it. But with any luck one will survive and have good enough roots for winter storage.. We will see how it goes. I am not a pioneer I saw bananas in others ponds on a tour. And I bought one in water at a greenhouse. But next year I am going to grow more in water. My friend in Memphis tells me the one I sent her this spring is doing well in her pond. Here is an old pic of my banana in water in basement one winter. It is hard to see but there is water in the pot.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_2810.jpg
jeffreyp
08-11-2011, 04:24 AM
I suppose not very different from taro
http://www.texaswaterlilies.com/GreenTaro_jpg.jpg
scottu
08-11-2011, 07:54 PM
Yes your are a pioneer! Maybe not "The" first but "A" pioneer all the same, since I don't see much response in the area of water growing bananas here, or anywhere else for that matter so I can only assume there is not much on record about the subject! Else there would be a lot more pontificating going on.
Does anyone have more info on this subject!
Thanks Vickie
Scottu
Vickie H.
08-11-2011, 07:57 PM
yes I grow cannas and taro in water too. This picture shows both cannas and taros in this kiddy pool.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5487.jpg
Vickie H.
08-11-2011, 08:08 PM
Scott I have been doing a search I just cannot find anything. I have posted on pond forums and no one else tells me they have bananas in water. I know I have seen a few in others water gardens in our Water Garden Society but we have 770 members and I do not remember who had them. This is where I got the banana that grew in water in 2007. But I have not seen anymore there the last couple of years.
Contact Us (http://www.heartlandnursery.com/contact_us.htm)
scottu
08-11-2011, 08:35 PM
Me too that is why I call you Pioneer!
musa_monkey
08-12-2011, 08:32 AM
The key to this for me is simply the temperature and 02 content of the water.
If the water temperature is at least temperate and the 02 level at near saturation then there should be no problem growing bananas in water.
If the temps and/or 02 level are low then rot is very likely to occur.
I use something similar to stimulate rooting in pups when i remove them and then find they have no roots. Its a primitive aquaponic set up. The pups are held in a gravel basket suspended over the pond and are constantly saturated with pond water so they take 02 from the air and nutrients from the water. Its never failed to work for me yet.
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff14/musa_monkey/waterpups.jpg
Jananas Bananas
08-12-2011, 01:48 PM
I've got a tiny Little Prince pup that I have started in my AeroGarden. So far so good, but it really hasn't been in there very long.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110812004.jpg
I will give you updates here if you guys are interested.
Vicki I LOVE your gardens so much!!!!
~JaNan
Vickie H.
08-12-2011, 02:36 PM
Thanks all for posting. Last year we dug some musa basjoo pups and some had no roots. Is that a water sucker? They call them water sucker for some reason? Anyway I potted them all up even the ones with no roots and set them in a tub of water and over the summer the ones with no roots rooted. I sent it to a friend in Alabama this spring. Jananas what is an areogarden? Musa Monkey how many have you rooted that way, and do you not keep them in water after they root?
Jananas Bananas
08-12-2011, 03:26 PM
Vickie it is a small hydoponics system. Here is a thread on here where we post. http://www.bananas.org/f8/my-aero-garden-13280.html I like trying things in mine that others don't try. I start a lot of tree seeds in it. I have attempted banana seeds, and this is the first banana pup I am trying in it.
A water sucker is kind of short and fat with nice leaves, a sword pup looks skinny with skinny little leaves. There are several threads that show pictures of them side by side. When they get a little age to them you can't tell the difference.
~JaNan
musa_monkey
08-13-2011, 04:01 AM
Musa Monkey how many have you rooted that way, and do you not keep them in water after they root?
At least half a dozen. I only use this method to get pups to grow roots.
Once they have rooted i pot them up and grow them on as usual.
Vickie H.
08-15-2011, 03:37 PM
I finally found this you all might like to read it? I am looking for more.
Growing a banana tree in a pond (http://www.bonniesplants.com/banana.htm)
Vickie H.
08-15-2011, 04:16 PM
hydroponic bananas in the hydropond | Hydroponics: The Science of Water-based Horticulture (http://www.hydroponics.homehydroponics.info/hydroponics-growing/hydroponic-bananas-in-the-hydropond)
Marie
08-15-2011, 09:20 PM
Vickie,your banana in water looks really good. The one you sent me
back in early spring is doing really good. Has a pup on it.
Marie
Vickie H.
08-15-2011, 10:47 PM
Good Marie. Glad it is doing well in your pond.
Dreaminofthetropics
08-17-2011, 01:04 AM
I think I'm going to have to try this! I have pups of different kinds coming up and I have an obsession for growing things in the 18 gallon tubs LOL! Would love updates on everyones and once I get some going I will post pics!
Jananas Bananas
08-25-2011, 10:21 AM
It doesn't look very good, but I think it is adapting.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20100818047.jpg
I cut the brown leaf off this morning.
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110825012.jpg
But it has grown some roots and the new cigar leaf looks ok so far:
http://i1140.photobucket.com/albums/n580/JaNan16/20110825014.jpg
~JaNan
Want Them All
08-31-2011, 01:13 PM
I put a banana in yard dirt and set it in a saucer of water. Then after a couple of weeks I set it in a bucket and made the water a little higher up on the pot. It was not a big pot either, maybe 8-10 inches across the top of the pot. I used hose water and sometimes pond water to add water over 2 months time as I raised the water level. I did not aerate it whatsoever. I did not change the water it evaporated fairly fast in the summer heat. Then after two months I set it in a shallow pond with no pump or aeration with about 3 or 4 inches of water over the top of the pot.
Vicki, you're my Aqua-Banana hero! I've been wanting to do this for a long time, but there's just so many other things to do in the yard, I forgot about it. I will definitely go get a SDC to try out. Home Depot sells them in tiny pots for around $6. Please help me with the following questions:
[1] You have the banana in a regular black plastic pot (with drainage holes), and put this pot in a bucket, and place this bucket into the pond. Does this bucket have holes?
[2] If you use potting soil, won't it all leak out and contaminate your water with chemicals?
[3] How deep is your plant in the pond? In other words, what's the water level on the trunk, a few inches above the roots, a foot?
I may use pebbles instead of dirt/soil.
Thanks!
:bananas_b
Vickie H.
08-31-2011, 07:11 PM
Want them all- I used a pot with holes a nursery pot like any plant would come in maybe 8 inches across. I set it in a bucket of water after I had it in a saucer of water for a while. I used yard dirt and no fertilizer for a while . After 2 months of slowly raising the water level up to the top of the pot I then placed the pot in the pond. One has maybe 4 inches of water over the top of the pot. I only feed it pond tabs while it is in the pond. And not that often there is plenty of fish poo to fertilize it. I will take pics tomorrow. and show the pot it now sets in. And roots are everywhere in the water it is feeding well. I put it in a bigger pot this year I will try to measure what size it is in now. This banana is getting bigger then my original dwarf cavendish. Maybe this pup is something else. LOL The dwarf cavendish has less water over the top of the pot maybe. I will take pics.
:woohoonaner:
Vickie H.
09-01-2011, 12:22 PM
Here is big banana pot size 12" wide 11" deep water is low in that pond so you can see the roots
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5801.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5802.jpg
Vickie H.
09-01-2011, 12:24 PM
2nd water banana 12"wide pot 11" deep pot, 3 inches under water
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5803.jpg
Vickie H.
09-01-2011, 12:28 PM
Pup off smaller water banana pot size 6" across and 7" deep- small pup smaller pot here you can see the roots come out of top of pot in a matter of 2 weeks or so after planting. It seems to be doing well. I have 2 others with hardly and roots hoping they will grow some while in water
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5805.jpg
bananas101
11-10-2011, 08:47 AM
In the tropics, the water table is sometimes only a few inches below the soil surface. It does make sense they can tolerate seasonal flooding in their native warm ranges. I am curious if Musa can be submerged year round.
Planethill
07-25-2013, 09:50 AM
Sorry to bump such an old thread, but when I joined i was shocked to learn that conventional wisdom is "don't grow bananas in water". When I bought this red banana three years ago, the nurseryman told me "Bananas are bog plants. Just drop it into your pond". So I did...and it loves it! FWIW, I have never fertilized or watered this Banana except when it is inside for the winter. Of course the fish take care of part of that. From spring to fall it sits in this pond and never gets touched.
I do plan on repotting soon however...root-bound I am sure! (another Newb mistake!)
http://i39.tinypic.com/261kt2b.jpghttp://i41.tinypic.com/2zqztdu.jpg
Abnshrek
05-21-2014, 03:48 PM
So the important parts here are O2 (most important) and fish for fertilization? Does this make the banana grow faster than it would in regular potting soil? This sounds quite a bit like aquaponics.
Here is a thread that works off of fish poop. (http://www.bananas.org/f2/my-semi-pit-banana-greenhouse-18518-2.html).
GreenFin Gardens: High Tunnel Aquaponics (http://www.greenfingardens.com/p/blog-page.html)
thewebgal
05-31-2014, 02:47 PM
Thats AWESOME VIckie - please tell us more!!
How deep are the tanks you are growing them in?
I see goldfish and waterlillies in there too, that's very cool too!
I have a 1 foot deep concrete pond out back, a previous owner of the home built it, but it only gets maybe 3 hrs of sun a day, and I don't think thats enough for the bananas ...
Here is the origional one I bought in the summer of 2007 this pic is of this year
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5648.jpg
this is the one I started myself this is this yr pic
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5619.jpg
Vickie H.
06-07-2014, 09:15 AM
they are still going strong this year
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_6651_zpsbde1349e.jpg (http://s53.photobucket.com/user/PHPong/media/100_6651_zpsbde1349e.jpg.html)
Tortuga
01-29-2015, 11:57 AM
As we push through winter I'm starting to think about what I will do with my bananas this Spring. I have a dwarf red and a faux blue java that are both in fairly small pots. Both of them have done very well over the winter (California has had mild winters the past few years) and have continued their growth, although slowly. I have a 10 gallon mixing tub (Plasgad Medium Mixing Tub-887101A - The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Plasgad-Medium-Mixing-Tub-887101A/202086173)) that I had planned on using as a grow bed for an aquaponics setup that never materialized. I'm thinking of getting another one so they each have one, hooking them up to a reservoir and filling them with gravel as a grow medium. I'm thinking a flood/drain system would get plenty of oxygen to the roots and keep them very well fed/watered.
How much water do bananas generally suck up in a water based growing system?
Vickie H.
01-29-2015, 08:54 PM
I grow my water bananas in my watergardens all summer. Then in the fall I put them in my basement under shop lights and setting in water. I have done this since 2007. In the winter they are still in their pots of dirt setting in a couple inches of water.
shawndac1
01-29-2015, 11:58 PM
Ok im confused do theyhave to be in a pond? Or xan it be in ay type o f water an how is this possiable because mine where in the ground an i killed them from to much water lol
Richard
01-30-2015, 01:34 AM
Vickie, all the pictures from you are of Bananas in a very infantile stage. The bananas I've grown ... some of which are the same cultivar ... attain 8-10" diameter at the base and 11-14 feet height before they flower or fruit. So I agree that bananas can be grown in water culture (with aerated water) at a young stage, but what do you do when they approach the juvenile stage?
Snarkie
02-04-2015, 10:42 AM
I guess I'm just having a problem with the roots and corm being permanently submerged. I can't see how that would be different then having a plant sit in soggy soil, which I know from experience would be a bad thing.
I would like to know the theory that separates the two situations. Does anyone out there know a source where one could find such info?I would postulate that it follows a theory similar to a hiker wearing boots that get waterlogged and causes trench foot, as opposed to one who spends almost all of their time in water wearing sandals. I suspect it has to do with the waterlogged dirt not being able to breathe, as opposed to water that lets the plant take in air and nutrients without being suffocated. Even though there is dirt in the planter, it is probably suspended like quicksand. Just a guess though.
Vickie H.
03-10-2015, 08:19 PM
look at this again
Growing a banana tree in a pond (http://www.bonniesplants.com/banana.htm)
I slowly got my bananas used to being in water I did not plunge them in a pond all at once, I posted what I did earlier in this thread
Vickie H.
03-10-2015, 08:29 PM
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5978.jpg (http://s53.photobucket.com/user/PHPong/media/100_5978.jpg.html)
I grow bananas out of my ponds too. I do not want 8 ft banana plants in my pond to lift out of the water
Snarkie
03-10-2015, 08:32 PM
Looks nice.
Vickie H.
03-11-2015, 07:53 PM
Richard I have had bananas grow 10 or 12 ft but I am zone 6 missouri I am fighting a whole different zone then you for tropicals. I have also had bananas on trees before. But they do not have long enough to ripen. I have bananas in water all winter in my basement setting in several inches of water no water circulating all winter. I have done this since 2007. As a matter of fact they do better then my bananas in pots not setting in water.
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