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View Full Version : Ensete Glaucum experiment.


Longwoods Tropicals
10-19-2014, 02:04 PM
Without a doubt after this year that the snow banana or ensete glaucum is my favorite banana, it's graceful yet muscular form is a winner. I purchased two tiny seedlings and grew them out slowly for a year before planting them this spring as two foot plants. They both topped out over ten feet high, with pseudostems of five feet.
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q750/LongwoodsTropicals/a54ec7ff-e495-4a0f-a27d-94013ff91e73_zps980aeba9.jpg

Their seeds are known as being fairly easy to germinate as far as bananas go, I tried some a few years back to no avail, so I am trying to reproduce them by division.

Here it is before division.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q750/LongwoodsTropicals/DSCN0961_zps0769940e.jpg
http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q750/LongwoodsTropicals/DSCN0962_zps0fae7c6f.jpg

Just after the not so even division. They were treated with bio fungicide at this time.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q750/LongwoodsTropicals/DSCN0963_zps397ee86e.jpg

And potted out and ready for winter and some vigorous new growth, I hope.

http://i1357.photobucket.com/albums/q750/LongwoodsTropicals/DSCN0964_zps92ad1bd2.jpg

I'll update when and if signs of growth are visable.

Regards Harold

jbyrd88888
10-19-2014, 03:36 PM
Awesome post! Subscribed and anxious me needa know if one needs a home next year!

I'm maybe/probably going to try something like this to my Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii' next year. A similar beefy cousin.

I'm most interested to learn the optimal root level height. Yours seem to be level with the soil surface?

I like your cool tool too! :nanadrink:

Longwoods Tropicals
10-19-2014, 04:19 PM
I'm most interested to learn the optimal root level height. Yours seem to be level with the soil surface?


Half of them are about level, the other half I tried to bury an inch or so.

Good luck keeping them warm too!

They're in my house 72 degrees and the smaller ones are on a heat mat as well.

I'm maybe/probably going to try something like this to my Ensete ventricosum

I had initially meant to disect one of my big Maurellis but I ended up just potting two sizable rooted corm chips and saved the main plants.

I like your cool tool too!

A kitchen knife just don't cut it any more, LOL, that's a good thing.

Thanks

bigdog
10-22-2014, 11:56 PM
Hmm...I'm pretty sure that this doesn't work with E. glaucum. The only Ensete that this can work with is E. ventricusum. Keep us updated though! You never know.

siege2050
10-23-2014, 07:54 PM
I grew this from seed germinated in December and it reached over 10 feet this year also, very fast grower, yeppers I don't think this will work with Glaucum, but hey you never know till you experiment lol.

Longwoods Tropicals
01-11-2015, 11:35 AM
It appears as though this is NOT a viable option for ensete glaucm. After 3 months of bottom heat the only thing growing were white flies. All of the roots and corm were rotted and no longer viable.

At least my other one seems to be happy enough.

Regards Harold

siege2050
01-12-2015, 02:44 PM
Well, its good to know it wont work though. Your post will save many Ensete Glaucum from being chopped up. I just hope mine survives its stay in my crawlspace this winter, I still cant believe how big it got from seed in its first year.