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View Full Version : Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea?


joekun
08-29-2012, 02:47 PM
Hello everyone, this is my first post here and I would appreciate some sage advice so I don't make a mistake with my Ice Cream banana tree.

I bought and planted it just shy of 2 years ago, but unfortunately in May of 2011 some critter absolutely shredded it over night and I was forced to cut it off about 8" or so from the ground. I had no idea at the time that it would grow back, but it had a pup so I left it hoping to salvage a tree from the situation.

Now I have several pups growing that I separated from the original tree, but I left one on there and it has grown to be the same size as the original tree is due to its unfortunate accident (between 5' and 6' tall). I'm thinking I made a mistake letting this pup stay attached and am now thinking I should separate them to give mom the energy needed to produce my first fruits (hopefully next year). Is it dangerous to remove such a large pup? Am I better off leaving them together? I would really like to start seeing some flowers and getting some fruit!

caliboy1994
08-29-2012, 03:18 PM
Wow, I'm not far from you. I'm in Granada Hills! Welcome to the forum!

I guess it would depend on how well rooted the pup is. It would probably be difficult to separate, and you might damage the mother plant. There's nothing wrong with just leaving it on the plant. They should both have energy to make fruit if both have leaves and are contributing to the energy of the mat. Also make sure to fertilize it during the growing season. Good luck!

joekun
08-29-2012, 03:31 PM
Good to see some neighbors here :)

Yes, both of them look good and have leaves. I'm not opposed to leaving them together, so maybe that is the best thing to do. I'm just anxious to get some fruit :) I have been giving each tree about 1 cup of a flower fertilizer I saw recommended while I'm waiting to order some banana fuel.

caliboy1994
08-29-2012, 03:57 PM
Be careful with the banana fuel -- if you overfertilize them with it like I did they will develop a micronutrient deficiency, especially if your soil is heavy clay like mine. I've toned down my use of banana fuel and switched over to organics, and the nutrient deficiency is going away.

Abnshrek
08-29-2012, 04:02 PM
I'd cut the pup and plant the pup where you want it.. 3 weeks from now it will be all good. :^)

joekun
08-29-2012, 04:05 PM
What fert are you using? I've been giving mine espoma plant-tone that I saw recommended somewhere for bananas. Can't recall what the numbers are off the top of my head. Luckily I have sandy well draining soil. Our yard must've been in an ancient riverbed or something.

sunfish
08-29-2012, 04:07 PM
Leave it :)

Abnshrek
08-29-2012, 04:08 PM
I use banana fuel, & FishE

caliboy1994
08-29-2012, 04:30 PM
I use banana fuel every two weeks and Milorganite every month. I might need to add a potassium supplement to that....

sunfish
08-29-2012, 04:41 PM
I don't use any fertilizer

<a href="http://s950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/?action=view&amp;current=004-24.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i950.photobucket.com/albums/ad348/musanamwah/004-24.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

http://www.bananas.org/f2/moving-full-grown-bananas-16548.html

LilRaverBoi
08-29-2012, 05:06 PM
I'm with Tony....just leave it be. Separating it off isn't a terrible idea, but you will disrupt roots and remove some of the mother corm to do so. However, if you leave it, it will continue to grow as usual. The pup may even exceed the mother plant and bloom first. Having 1-2 pups on a plant is a good thing and does not 'drain' the main plant of growth.

sunfish
08-29-2012, 05:13 PM
I'm with Tony....just leave it be. Separating it off isn't a terrible idea, but you will disrupt roots and remove some of the mother corm to do so. However, if you leave it, it will continue to grow as usual. The pup may even exceed the mother plant and bloom first. Having 1-2 pups on a plant is a good thing and does not 'drain' the main plant of growth.

10-4

joekun
08-29-2012, 05:35 PM
Thanks for all the replies everyone, I've decided to leave it as per most of your recommendations.

venturabananas
08-30-2012, 01:52 AM
Yep, leave it. It'll be happier over winter that way. My neighbor has a single mat of "Ice Cream" that she never removes pups from. It currently has 7 bunches hanging.

G.W.
08-30-2012, 02:14 AM
compost it

find a fertilizer store
maybe Brooker chemical 9175 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 818 764 8700
maybe Whittier Fertilizer 9441 Kruse Rd. Pico Rivera, CA 90660 562 699-3461

0-0-52 SOP Sulphate of Potash potassium sulphate

GET SERIOUS

joekun
08-30-2012, 04:21 PM
Looking at the trees again last night I noticed that the mother plant is sticking up several inches out of the ground and is a bit wobbly. I'm concerned a strong wind might knock it down, so I may have to split it and move it anyway to get it in a nice firm spot. I suppose I could mound up dirt around it, but that probably wouldn't make it much stronger, right?

LilRaverBoi
08-30-2012, 08:22 PM
Bananas sometimes do that when they are in water-logged conditions. Not sure if that is the reason in your case, but just a thought.

Abnshrek
08-30-2012, 09:06 PM
I'd add dirt let it settle for 2 weeks and ad as needed then mulch.. :^)

PR-Giants
08-31-2012, 11:40 AM
Looking at the trees again last night I noticed that the mother plant is sticking up several inches out of the ground and is a bit wobbly. I'm concerned a strong wind might knock it down, so I may have to split it and move it anyway to get it in a nice firm spot. I suppose I could mound up dirt around it, but that probably wouldn't make it much stronger, right?

This is an option that I sometimes use with a plant similar to yours.

It is inexpensive, easy and effective.

The form 15" high with a 40" Dia.

The ingredients are soil, water and long dried grass.


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50331&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=50331)

joekun
08-31-2012, 12:34 PM
Hmm, very interesting. So you mix soil and dried grass with water and then form it around the mat?

PR-Giants
08-31-2012, 02:32 PM
How to Make Mud Bricks | eHow.com (http://www.ehow.com/how_2386091_make-mud-bricks.html)

LilRaverBoi
08-31-2012, 03:19 PM
Wow...that IS interesting! Cool idea!