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View Full Version : Triacontanol for bananas


vol-vet
09-13-2012, 02:08 PM
Has anyone tried Triacontanol, a potent Plant Growth Regulator (PGR), on their banana plants ? I obtained some crystaline 90% pure Triacontanol dissolved it in polysorbate 20 to make a water soluble stock solution and sprayed it on my banana plants, elephant ears and palm trees several times this summer/spring. The spraying solution I used was 25ppm. I sprayed everything (after doing some considerable research) but did not have a control group I did not spray. I could not find any info on using it for bananas but its use in most other plants is very impressive.
This is my first year growing Bananas. I planted numerous types of banana plants to see what makes it in zone 7 and which ones don't. My banana plants did incredibly well this first year but I don't have any previous experience to compare to. I sprayed the Triacontanol on a few plants at first in early Spring to see if it had an adverse effect and after they seemed OK I hit everything with it.
I'm amazed at how fast and tall they grew from just the corms (with no pseudostems) I planted. I landscaped around a new pool we put in with palm trees and lots of Banana plants. I thought it would take years to accomplish what my bananas did in one season.
Got LOTS of info, ideas and help from the great people on this website.
THANKS AGAIN !!!

Bob3
09-15-2012, 12:47 PM
My "stock solution" of triacontanol runs only 5 - 6 ppm, but I also add some fertilizer, GA3, & humic & fulvic acids to the brew.
With the rapidity banana plants have with take-up by their root system, I never saw much, if any, effect from foliar application.

The same brew is responsible for 3' of new growth to "dwarf" citrus trees in just a couple - few weeks.

I use +90% isopropyl alcohol to dissolve the triacontanol, but I also use a vibratory mixer to get things whipped up.

Bottom line; bananas grow so dang fast when under ideal conditions that the use of growth regulators & hormones isn't really needed, for the "home gardener", at least.
:bananas_b