View Full Version : Can I save this sucker?
Ablessed
11-19-2012, 07:22 PM
I cut a water sucker out from my banana plant because I was afraid the mother was dying from overwatering (rotting). The sucker was a foot tall and had about 6 good roots on it. I planted it in a pot with a mixture of half potting soil and half sand. I watered it and waited. Well it started rotting a few days later. I took it out and washed it. I let it dry for about 3 days, but then all the roots dried up and I had to cut them off. The leaves are still green and I am wondering if this poor guy can still be salvaged. If yes, how?
Abnshrek
11-19-2012, 08:09 PM
ad some perlite to your mix & light, heat and patience you should be good. :^)
venturabananas
11-20-2012, 12:02 AM
Like Abnshrek says, it can definitely be salvaged if you keep the root zone warm -- 70+ F -- and on the dry side until you see growth of new roots.
2woodensticks
11-20-2012, 03:37 PM
should be enough corm left to grow a new one..slow and steady..i did have only a golf ball size one about 2 years ago..was the size of a soft ball ..after cutting off all bad parts i still go it to go...fingers crossed...nice and warm is the key
Ablessed
11-20-2012, 08:54 PM
I'll get some perlite. In the meantime should I cut off the soft parts and place the corm end in a bit of waterlike suggested in the thread by LilRaverBoi?
venturabananas
11-20-2012, 09:58 PM
I'll get some perlite. In the meantime should I cut off the soft parts and place the corm end in a bit of waterlike suggested in the thread by LilRaverBoi?
Cut off anything that is rotted, i.e., brown and soft. After that, for insurance, you could wipe down the cleaned up corm with hydrogen peroxide or soak it in a 10% bleach solution for a few minutes to kill any fungi on the surface. Then let it dry out completely. At that point, you can plant it in a really coarse, well draining potting mix, or even straight perlite. Moisten the mix a little, but most importantly, keep it warm. Don't let it get wet, just a bit moist, until you see new root growth. If you don't keep it warm, it won't survive, most likely.
barrie
11-21-2012, 03:58 AM
Clean off all the dead leaves, scrape away all the rotting root material with a sharp knife, wash with fungicide and then put a liberal amount of rooting powder over the base. Plant in a 50% perlite/50% compost, water very slightly, cover with a plastic bag and keep warm, about 70 degrees F. Eventually new leaf will appear...just be patient and new roots will take over...about three months in my experience.
Regards, Barrie, from a cold, wet, windy, miserable day here in England!
Ablessed
11-21-2012, 08:39 PM
I have cut off the soft parts of the corm, which is mostly a dark colour by now. I had to cut a significant "v" out of it unfortunately. I also cut off the three opened leaves but left the one curled up leaf at the top. I placed it it some moistened perlite in a small container, put a plastic bag over it and placed it under a lamp. It is now at 70 degrees (I'm in Canada). It appears to be in critical condition. But I guess only time will tell now.
Thanks to all of you who replied.
miaskin
11-26-2012, 10:18 PM
Nothing to worry, give it a good warmth, especially by the roots. I had suckers with no roots at all laying in cold rain water for about 4 weeks in september-october here in NJ, then I planted them right into a gallon pots, brought inside and in 2-3weeks got good growth. One even produced another sucker. I'd suggest 75F+ for first couple of weeks. 70 is barely enough for growth.
Ablessed
11-27-2012, 03:04 PM
I'm just about to give up. Its stem is turning black, and its last leaf yellow. I must have put a bit too much water into the perlite. I have removed the bag to allow more air circulation. It is almost impossible to keep it much above 70 deg.
venturabananas
11-27-2012, 04:48 PM
You may be right, could be a lost cause. It needs more heat. Think 80's not 70 to have a good chance at pulling it back from the brink of death.
Gabe15
11-27-2012, 05:02 PM
You should have cut all the green healthy leaves off from the start. When you dig a sucker, especially a water sucker, you damage what little root system it may have had, and it takes time for it to grow a new one. In the mean time, the leaves are constantly losing water, and with no roots to uptake more, the plants often suffer. It will have plenty of stored energy in the corm to grow more roots, and as soon as it has enough roots to support new leaves, then new leaves will be produced.
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