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View Full Version : Musa sikkimensis seeds germinating!


Rico-G
10-26-2013, 12:17 PM
I just want to share my experience trying to germinate musa sikkimensis seeds.
I started soaking 10 seeds on Sept. 20 in distilled water for 2 days, placed in peat pots and waited....on Oct. 7 I received the "cape seed Primer" papers then made a solution, took out the seeds and put it in the solution, I also added 28 more seeds that I was reluctant to try until I read on some post that the more the better since it has a low germination rate. after 2 days all were put in different coco fiber pots under the grow lights and over a heating pad 14 hrs on/10 off........nothing sprouted until I decided to leave the heating pad on all the time and then on Oct. 17 my first baby came out! this week has been a blessing as I had 2 new ones on the 21 & 22, 2 on the 25th and a new one today! :goteam:
That's 6 out of 38 seeds or 16 % germination rate in over 5 weeks time
this is a pic of my eldest http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55043&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55043&ppuser=16951)

on a side note my musa "helen's hybrid" that I started 10 days before the sikkimensis have yet to show signs of life, I bought 10 seeds from "georgia vines"....I will try to buy more from another supplier.

willy1der
10-26-2013, 05:30 PM
Who did you order your sikkimensis seeds through,Ive tried many times and always get seeds that dont germinate!!!!

Rico-G
10-26-2013, 05:44 PM
Who did you order your sikkimensis seeds through,Ive tried many times and always get seeds that dont germinate!!!!

On Ebay look for "gardenarea2012" she has 100% positive feedback, I paid $2.99 Euros(1.50 shipping) for 30 seeds & she sent me 38 :)

siege2050
10-27-2013, 04:08 AM
I am trying to germinate Sikkimensis red tiger but only for about a week and a half now. I hear they are very difficult.:woohoonaner: You left the heat on all the time? I am trying alternating and would be happy with just one sprout lol.

Rico-G
10-27-2013, 09:58 AM
I am trying to germinate Sikkimensis red tiger but only for about a week and a half now. I hear they are very difficult.:woohoonaner: You left the heat on all the time? I am trying alternating and would be happy with just one sprout lol.

At first I left the heat mat on all the time but since I wasn't getting any success I decided to leave it on & then I saw my first 11 days ago & 5 this past week. what a coincidence that you just started "sikkimensis red tiger" as I received 50 seeds this past week, soaked seeds on Oct. 23 in salpetre solution (potassium nitrate) for 24hrs, warm distilled water 48 hrs, cape seed primer solution 24 hrs and now I'm about to put them in coco fiber pots with a mix coco/potting soil mix.:0517:

Iahusca81
11-21-2013, 11:10 PM
I made an order from gardenarea2012 Musa sikkimensis, hopefully to get them soon and put to germinate.

siege2050
11-21-2013, 11:15 PM
Still waiting on mine, its been about 4 weeks if not longer.

dana mastro
11-22-2013, 12:39 AM
OKAY VERY HELPFUL because I've been doing the same thing and only got like 100 goji berrys to sprout :P and not one banana yet but then again I only had like 10 seeds to try it with and saved another 20 for spring so I could make sure I do it right thnx for the post!

Rico-G
11-22-2013, 01:00 AM
Still waiting on mine, its been about 4 weeks if not longer.

I got mine in 2 weeks time, Hopefully you'll get your order by next week maybe it takes more time to get to your place?

Rico-G
11-22-2013, 01:14 AM
OKAY VERY HELPFUL because I've been doing the same thing and only got like 100 goji berrys to sprout :P and not one banana yet but then again I only had like 10 seeds to try it with and saved another 20 for spring so I could make sure I do it right thnx for the post!
you're welcome, it takes a lot of patience to grow bananas from seed but it's worth it, this past week I finally got one sprout from "musa Helen's hybrid" that I've been trying to germinate before I started my sikkimensis seeds & I also got another sprout from "sikkimensis Red Tiger" so I'm really happy, now I only need at least 1 sprout from "musa sikkimensis x paradisiaca" :guitarris

Iahusca81
11-22-2013, 11:35 PM
Rico what kind of soil do you use and where you buy your coco fiber pots.
Thanks

Rico-G
11-23-2013, 10:10 AM
Rico what kind of soil do you use and where you buy your coco fiber pots.
Thanks

I was using a potting & seeding mix (fafard), it has sphagnum peat moss, perlite & vermiculite. Now I'm adding coco substrate to the mix (most hydroponic stores have it)......as for my coco fiber pots I buy them at my local RONA :)

Rico-G
11-23-2013, 10:18 AM
Here's an updated pic of my Musa sikkimensis, I just planted the coco fiber pot into a 2 liter plastic pot, it's growing nicely :guitarris
<a href=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55264&ppuser=16951><img src=http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55264&size=1 border=0></a>

Iahusca81
11-23-2013, 09:58 PM
Very nice plant

Funkthulhu
01-24-2014, 03:30 PM
I've had a tiny ziplock with 6 seeds I Ebay'ed a couple months ago. Just bought a Jiffy Peat-Pot mini-greenhouse for tomatoes and I got my seed mat I wanted for Christmas this year.

So, I soaked the seeds, scored them a bit with a file, and sterilized the peat pots. Planted on the 22nd, we'll see if any come up!

siege2050
01-24-2014, 03:52 PM
I have had 3 out of 10 come up so far, so I am pleased.:woohoonaner:

Funkthulhu
01-31-2014, 11:42 AM
I'm 9 days in and nothing so far. I realize these take a while, but I'm still paranoid I've killed them all already. . .

Rico-G
02-01-2014, 10:36 AM
I have had 3 out of 10 come up so far, so I am pleased.:woohoonaner:

3 out of 10? That's great! it's 30% germination rate :03: as for me, I now have eleven bananas: 6 musa sikkimensis, 1 red tiger, 4 Helen's hybrid
here's some pics of my babies http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55648&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55648&ppuser=16951)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55647&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55647&ppuser=16951)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55646&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55646&ppuser=16951) and here is my biggest one, the leaf is 17 inches long! http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55645&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55645&ppuser=16951)

Rico-G
02-01-2014, 10:42 AM
I'm 9 days in and nothing so far. I realize these take a while, but I'm still paranoid I've killed them all already. . .
Just be patient, it usually takes 3 weeks to notice something, I usually check for sprouts every week, I recommend fluorescent lights instead of putting the pots in front of a window, they need at least 10 hours of constant light, good luck!

siege2050
02-01-2014, 10:28 PM
I put my seeds close to a cold window at night, and in the middle of the room during the day, so I guess the temp fluctuations helped. I also just wrapped them in damp paper towel.

siege2050
02-01-2014, 10:37 PM
Rico-G, what is that reflective material you are using? I need some of that.

Rico-G
02-02-2014, 10:48 AM
I put my seeds close to a cold window at night, and in the middle of the room during the day, so I guess the temp fluctuations helped. I also just wrapped them in damp paper towel.

Good for you, I used to do the paper towel method for flower seeds, glad to know it also worked on musa seeds......now just make sure you keep the temps of the room at least 20 C (68 F) or they won't grow, the room where I keep them is 23C, also they need a minimum 50% humidity but more is better or you'll see the leaves drying out pretty quickly.

Rico-G
02-02-2014, 10:57 AM
Rico-G, what is that reflective material you are using? I need some of that.

it's Reflective Mylar Wall Covering Film, I bought it on ebay here's the item number I bought (221087157285)

Iahusca81
02-11-2014, 12:53 PM
I planted my seeds at the beginning of January and know after 5 weeks my first one is sprouting:woohoonaner:, as for my method they where in the same mixing pot as Rico-G has, so you need to be patient that's the time it takes about 5-6 weeks before something happens.

Funkthulhu
02-12-2014, 11:39 AM
Just be patient, it usually takes 3 weeks to notice something, I usually check for sprouts every week, I recommend fluorescent lights instead of putting the pots in front of a window, they need at least 10 hours of constant light, good luck!

I'm not even concerning myself with lights until there's something there ready to photosynthesize. Right now they're parked in my office where I can keep an eye on them while they sit on this seed warming mat to keep the temp above 70. Still no signs of activity. . .

Funkthulhu
02-18-2014, 11:20 AM
Day 31. . . starting to lose hope.

siege2050
02-18-2014, 01:40 PM
Day 31. . . starting to lose hope.


Don't give up, about the time I did, I got sprouts.

Funkthulhu
03-05-2014, 04:51 PM
Don't give up, about the time I did, I got sprouts.

Day 42. . . still nothing.

siege2050
03-05-2014, 05:42 PM
Day 42. . . still nothing.


I will give you the link to the seller I bought my seeds from just in case you want it. He gets good ratings. I had the sikki and a ensete glaucum from him germinate, the glaucum is already about 3 feet tall, with really fat leaves, I bet it's going to be a monster. GARDENS BORDERS, EXOTIC items in Mark-Davies Seeds store on eBay! (http://stores.ebay.com/Mark-Davies-Seeds?_trksid=p2047675.l2563)

cannasrus
03-07-2014, 09:31 PM
All kinds of good stuff on that site. I have resurected an old fridge in the garage,with a chicken light in it.....temps are staying around 90 to 100 iget some palm seeds and some canna in there so far......fingers are crossed.

Funkthulhu
03-10-2014, 10:41 AM
I will give you the link to the seller I bought my seeds from just in case you want it. He gets good ratings. I had the sikki and a ensete glaucum from him germinate, the glaucum is already about 3 feet tall, with really fat leaves, I bet it's going to be a monster. GARDENS BORDERS, EXOTIC items in Mark-Davies Seeds store on eBay! (http://stores.ebay.com/Mark-Davies-Seeds?_trksid=p2047675.l2563)

I know you're not trying to do me wrong, but WHY?!?! Now I have to buy all the stuff! (I assume, since you're OK that he does ship to the states?)

siege2050
03-10-2014, 11:26 AM
I know you're not trying to do me wrong, but WHY?!?! Now I have to buy all the stuff! (I assume, since you're OK, that he does ship to the states?)

Just in case you decide later to try a different source of seed, I think seed freshness makes a big difference. I bought some from another seller and they still have not germinated. Yes, he ships to the states, takes about a week longer. Honestly germinating bananas is too difficult in my opinion and after I got a few to sprout just to say that I did, I will just be buying plants from now on.

Funkthulhu
04-07-2014, 03:11 PM
we're coming up on 3 months with no results

I think I'm going to call this run a wash...

Rico-G
04-10-2014, 10:15 AM
we're coming up on 3 months with no results

I think I'm going to call this run a wash...

I'm sorry you haven't gotten any success........maybe you got some really old seed but if you bought your seeds from a reputable or recommended vendor maybe there's something you omitted to do like keeping the seeds soil constantly moist or providing enough light(they do need light to germinate) or the right temps, soaking the seeds in water (or in a specific solution described in my earlier posts) for at least 24 hrs is a must. I know your patience has been tested but musa seeds are usually very difficult to germinate and when they do it is so rewarding....best wishes

nelumbo
05-14-2015, 03:53 PM
I'm going to be sowing some Musa sikkimensis tomorrow so thanks for sharing your experiences hopefully I'll have some success