View Full Version : To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting
sputinc7
04-25-2016, 09:05 PM
My Brazilian bananas were great. Now I have a Pstem out there with 4 big green leaves presumably soaking up sunlight and making food. Is it feeding the mat? The pups? Should I leave it up until it dies on it's own or just cut it? I have read somewhere
it helps the pups if you leave it grow until it dies on it's own, but it doesn't seem many people leave them go, so I ask, "Cut? don't cut? & Why?"
I tried searching here, but didn't find my answer. I am sure it is there, somewhere, but maybe it needs rehashing for all us newbies...
crazy banana
04-25-2016, 10:13 PM
I usually cut it down to the ground or at least half way down. It seems that the pups grow faster immediately. I also have more than just one or two follower pups growing, so they certainly like to have more space and light available to grow.
pitangadiego
04-25-2016, 11:04 PM
As long as it has green leaves, it is putting energy into the mat. Leave it alone.
gnappi
04-26-2016, 12:01 PM
I'm no nanna expert but mine are in a less than wonderful spot that does not get full sun all day, and I observe pups come sooner when the PS has been cut off.
cincinnana
04-26-2016, 07:51 PM
Just tossing this in....
Keep you plant as long as you want to.
Mine are in large containers.....I cut the spent stem in 2014 to make the container manageable and harvest the pups.:)
This plant flowered and fruited in 2014... and still putting out pups due to my climate.....
I did cull the plant a few days ago to to compost pile, the plant was not done.
Plant is an Orinoco.......Awsome starter plant and hard to kill.
I suspect the plant will still push pups this summer.:08:
.https://farm1.staticflickr.com/402/18803609520_15c1f87b28_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/uDBq19)
Old fruited corm in center of container with seven pups (https://flic.kr/p/uDBq19)
by
Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hostafarian/),
on Flickr
sputinc7
05-01-2016, 03:43 PM
It seems the "experts" are divided on this issue. Seems to me the way God intended was for it to die back on it's own. When it is dead, then I can cut it up in pieces and put them around the base for fertilizer. I am no "expert" but that is my thinking on the matter.
cincinnana
05-01-2016, 06:23 PM
Your right ...each person has their own process.....
This is a normal mat in South Florida
If you want your mat to look all nice and tidy with no brown stuff at all .....cut it, trim it, manicure it.
If you want your mat to look and perform like it does in nature then do not cut it.
I have seen and practiced both and practice both( in containers).............in the front yard cut it ( looks untidy), in the back yard who cares.......right...
This mat is not cut.......all natural..
The lone pup in the center is now in Ohio. And doing well.
.https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/14096355790_09f78ae599_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ntDvt5)
Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/ntDvt5)
by
Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hostafarian/),
on Flickr
sputinc7
05-01-2016, 07:09 PM
Mine are in the backyard, but I trim them up some so they look presentable, and to slow fungus... I want to help them be more productive, so I feel I may need to remove pups as the mat grows.
What I wanted was a more scientific type answer, but maybe there is none. The way people these days do a study on everything, I hoped someone had scientifically studied this and had an answer as to which is better for production. Thanks to all who contributed.
venturabananas
05-01-2016, 10:56 PM
I've read that leaving 4-5' of p-stem benefits following pups compared to chopping the old p-stem to the ground. However, if you leave the entire plant with leaves after fruiting, then you'll get "self shading" of other p-stems in the mat, which will somewhat decrease photosynthesis (and thus growth and fruit production) on the shaded p-stems. So I chop mine down to 4-5' after fruiting.
gnappi
05-02-2016, 01:47 PM
I have all the confidence in nature being able to mind it's own needs, BUT... clearly improvements are good to know. From human intervention in plant pollination, feeding, localized microclimate influence, and a host of other things we do that "optimize" natures course are good.
Just IMO of course.
venturabananas
05-02-2016, 05:11 PM
Edible (seedless) bananas only exist and propagate in nature through the actions of humans. They have no seeds to disperse, so no get around the world -- we have to move and care for them. A "feral" stand of bananas will not be as productive as one well tended by humans, who water, fertilize, prune pups, etc.
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