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View Full Version : Ooverwintered inside dwarf cavendish flowering


scottu
05-12-2016, 05:57 PM
I've been digging up and bringing inside for winter, this 4 year old dwarf cavendish. It got pressed up against the ceiling this last winter. I was going to give up on it in the fall if it didn't bloom this year "too big and heavy". Got it out and in the ground about 2 weeks ago. Now It has a bud, unfortunately it also has a flag leaf, preflag and etc. all at once. I can only see the top of the bud but, it's petals are already starting to open.just seems all jammed up. nothing is coming out fully, seems the next in line is trying to emerge before the previous is even close to done.
Anyone run into this? I had a sdc do the same thing last year. it never fully emerged and died with tiny little bananas still pointing up.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Pics are too large will convert and download shortly.
Thanks Scottu

scottu
05-12-2016, 06:22 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59743&size=1http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59742&size=1

scottu
05-12-2016, 06:35 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59745&size=1http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59744&size=1

Botanical_Bryce
05-12-2016, 06:40 PM
Thats cool

Kat2
05-12-2016, 09:48 PM
At the risk of sounding really stupid, I'll say what I'd do. (Since you were already considering trashing the plant, why not take a chance?) I'd very carefully cut back the extra leaves in order to give the bananas a chance. Yes, I realize you want as much green as possible on a plant but I believe some members have harvested fruit on P-stems that had very few leaves after a rough winter.

I hope someone who has experience with this issue checks in to correct my ignorance. BTW, after 3 years I have my very 1st flag leaf (ear of corn) opening now; I've counted 24 fingers thus far. It's developing normally I guess...I honestly don't know but I am excited except when I get conked on the head turning on the hose...poor location planning but I'm not moving her now.

Gabe15
05-13-2016, 12:08 AM
The plant will need the leaves to fill out the fruit, so I wouldn't cut them off, but perhaps if you make a slit down the side of the pseudostem to allow the bunch to plop out of the pseudostem a bit, it would allow some extra room for the fruit to develop.

There is a cultivar in Hawaii called 'Mai'a Hapai', which means "pregnant banana". It is known for having the bunches choke midway in the pseudostem, creating a large bulge and making the plant look like it's pregnant. In order for the fruit to develop when this happens, a "c-section" must be performed by cutting a slit in the pseudostem and allowing the bunch to fall out of the side. Perhaps a similar job will work for you.

Musa Mai'a Hapai - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/w/index.php?title=Musa_Mai%27a_Hapai&printable=yes)

JP
05-13-2016, 06:44 AM
The plant will need the leaves to fill out the fruit, so I wouldn't cut them off, but perhaps if you make a slit down the side of the pseudostem to allow the bunch to plop out of the pseudostem a bit, it would allow some extra room for the fruit to develop.

There is a cultivar in Hawaii called 'Mai'a Hapai', which means "pregnant banana". It is known for having the bunches choke midway in the pseudostem, creating a large bulge and making the plant look like it's pregnant. In order for the fruit to develop when this happens, a "c-section" must be performed by cutting a slit in the pseudostem and allowing the bunch to fall out of the side. Perhaps a similar job will work for you.

Musa Mai'a Hapai - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/w/index.php?title=Musa_Mai%27a_Hapai&printable=yes)
I was about to suggest the same. I would make a vertical cut on the side maybe 8" down. Do it carefully, 1 layer at a time and make sure you stop before the bud. It should help the flower get out of the stem. If not, make a couple more cuts. Congrats.

scottu
05-13-2016, 01:58 PM
Thanks for the advice! I hope i didn't over do, never make http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59748&size=1it as a surgeon
didn't cut any green, just opened the leaves that were jammed.

sputinc7
05-13-2016, 03:38 PM
That was my thinking as well. It must be frustrating after 4 years of babying it and bringing it in for it to do this now...

scottu
05-13-2016, 05:07 PM
Very!

Kat2
05-13-2016, 07:43 PM
Please, please, please take pictures and let us see what happens! My plebeian banana bunch forming is not worthy of such attention. The knot on my head formed after being smacked by that thing might be but I"m not into selfies. Actually, though the womps smarted momentarily, there is no evidence of musa attacks so apparently only my pride has been wounded. She's supposedly a Raja Puri so not very tall and she again attacked me a couple of times today when I wasn't looking. Sheesh...

scottu
05-13-2016, 09:22 PM
Hey Kat, me thinks you need A helmet to deal with such a sneaky plant.or boxing lessons
Will surely post pics as we progress.
And I would love to see how yours and you get along.
You need to continue that thread so we can follow.
thanks for your wit!

KYpalmer
05-13-2016, 10:54 PM
I have a super dwarf cavendish and it started to bunch up this year and the pstem seemed to cause the issue so I very very carefully cut away all the dead brown parts from the pstem. It has recovered and is doing great and has pushed up a sucker also.

scottu
05-14-2016, 01:48 PM
I was afraid the green was gethttp://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59750&size=1ting too much sun!

scottu
05-14-2016, 01:52 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59753&size=1http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59752&size=1

sputinc7
05-14-2016, 02:29 PM
YAY! It worked! You should let it get the sun, though. Nanners like sun.

scottu
05-14-2016, 04:35 PM
Hey Steve et al, Yes it worked, bloom has emerged and it is looking more normal.
Sun is good yes! but sunburn bad no, especially when it can't grow any more green. Remember it was inside, out of the sun all winter, and did not get much outside after. It had 14 days of no sun after i put her out. It lost 2 leaves before I saw the bud and now 2 more are turning yellow. Not many left, makes me worry and That is just a sheet with slits. still gets sun, just filtered. will give it full sun soon!
really needs those leaves or all has been for naught!
Thank you all for caring
Scottu

Kegas76
05-14-2016, 06:24 PM
The banana parasol make it look like some prehistoric mushroom.

scottu
05-14-2016, 07:51 PM
I'm thinking a little poppy ish? too.
just glad i saved the umbrella frame and had a king sized fitted sheet my wife would let me ruin

scottu
05-15-2016, 03:38 PM
supposed to go down in the low 30's tonight
neighbors prob. think i am nutshttp://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59754&size=1

Kat2
05-15-2016, 04:12 PM
supposed to go down in the low 30's tonight
neighbors prob. think i am nutshttp://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59754&size=1I suspect they past wondering some time ago. :ha:

geissene
05-16-2016, 12:36 PM
Hi Scott

Congrats on getting a flower and it looks like you had a successful banana surgery!


Erik G

scottu
05-20-2016, 02:33 PM
Seems to be doing pretty good. I am still a little worried about losing too many leaves. should i let it have full sun? I think I am going to keep it filtered for a while yet.http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59774&size=1http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59773&size=1

sputinc7
05-20-2016, 03:14 PM
Start with a couple hours a day of full sun, and increase it an hour every couple days, since those are all the leaves it's gonna get, you don't wanna burn them. It's gonna need the power to make fruit though, since it's been indoors all winter.

psa
05-21-2016, 12:57 AM
Looking good--your surgical skills are impressive. I've got a somewhat choked bloom on my own dwarf cavendish, so I can only hope for such a good outcome. I've cut back a bit, but there's more female flowers in the neck, so I'm agonizing over whether to do more cutting.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59780&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59780&ppuser=4866)

JP
05-21-2016, 05:51 AM
Looking good--your surgical skills are impressive. I've got a somewhat choked bloom on my own dwarf cavendish, so I can only hope for such a good outcome. I've cut back a bit, but there's more female flowers in the neck, so I'm agonizing over whether to do more cutting.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59780&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59780&ppuser=4866)

Cut!!!

scottu
05-21-2016, 06:58 AM
After having been there for the second time, I say cut also and soon. I wish i cut my sdc last yearhttp://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59781&size=1

scottu
05-29-2016, 04:50 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59841&size=1well finally un covered and doing well considering what is left of the leaves http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59840&size=1http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59842&size=1

barbc
05-29-2016, 04:58 PM
Amazing. You really deserve some sort of award for your surgical skills.

JCA433
05-29-2016, 05:43 PM
You have a very nice looking banana bunch which is impressive considering it was grown in a cold climate. I am growing bananas in Zone 10 and even some of my bunches are inferior to the bunch displayed in this thread.

barbc
05-29-2016, 06:19 PM
Yes, I think we're gonna want a hand/finger count on your bunch.

JP
05-29-2016, 06:34 PM
I'll guess 108 final count.

scottu
05-29-2016, 08:46 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59845&size=1I can't believe I found another bud coming on the basjoo on the other side of the house, holy crap was not expecting that.
Thanks for the accolades but I think there is a lot of luck going on here!

Have not counted them, kinda superstitious and didn't think the dealing is done yet!
Thanks!

Mark Dragt
05-29-2016, 09:17 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59845&size=1I can't believe I found another bud coming on the basjoo on the other side of the house, holy crap was not expecting that.
Thanks for the accolades but I think there is a lot of luck going on here!

Have not counted them, kinda superstitious and didn't think the dealing is done yet!
Thanks!

Looks like you have some zone 6 magic going on there. Something in the water? Great thread!
:woohoonaner:

scottu
05-30-2016, 05:20 AM
Could blame it on Richards fertilizer,

HMelendez
05-30-2016, 06:02 AM
Congrats!:bananarow:

barbc
05-30-2016, 10:13 AM
Also, please share how you overwintered...potted in the house with leaves, or ??? Really looking forward to seeing your future photos of the progression!:lurk:

scottu
05-30-2016, 11:43 AM
"potted in the house with leaves" and kept growing or alive all winter.
A friend of mine has a 10' ceiling in the basement of his pool house. It stays around 60 degrees all winter. I hooked up some hps fixtures that were replaced with leds from a job a few years ago so, I traded him bananas and care for overwintering rights.
The only problem was getting them in and out, quite a few steps down to that bsmt.

barbc
05-30-2016, 12:47 PM
For potting, is it OK to have a pretty shallow but wide pot? Just trying to think of how to get the most out of my 9' ceilings in my heated basement.

scottu
05-30-2016, 02:05 PM
Yes that is actually preferred! Just put something in between pot and cold cement floor.

barbc
05-30-2016, 05:08 PM
Good. We heat the basement with hydronic radiant tubing in the floor. Toasty warm.

sputinc7
06-08-2016, 12:21 AM
So, how they lookin' now? What is the final count on the cav bunch?

scottu
06-08-2016, 06:34 PM
Well we have 67 bananas that look like they will fill out plus another 60 or so that are progressively smaller and smaller so still not sure officially.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59911&size=1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59913&size=1
Leaves are still slowly turning yellow and they seem to be curling under on the edges.
Not sure what the problem is, can't be the rain, sun or temp.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59912&size=1
basjoo bud is huge!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59914&size=1

sputinc7
06-08-2016, 07:58 PM
Looks real good, all things considered. Given the time of year, they just might make good. Glad for you.

Myself, if it's done makin good ones, I would cut off the bud so more power goes to the nanners. Not everyone agrees on this point, but I would.

scottu
06-20-2016, 08:42 AM
Bananas updatehttp://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59985&size=1
The Cavendish does not look a lot different, filling a little.http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59984&size=1
basjoo is growing........... and another flag leaf!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59986&size=1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59983&size=1

sputinc7
06-20-2016, 08:52 AM
I would cut the bud off. More power for the bunch, and with the lack of many leaves, every bit counts. My opinion.

scottu
06-20-2016, 11:28 AM
it's too pretty to cut off. It grows right in front of where I park, so cool!!!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59987&size=1

Kat2
06-20-2016, 11:59 AM
I cut mine off because some idiot planted a banana right in front of the hose bib and I stupidly kept clunking myself on the head when I needed to water. If I forget to duck, I still get clocked--developing fingers are not very soft.

Tytaylor77
06-20-2016, 12:10 PM
it's too pretty to cut off. It grows right in front of where I park, so cool!!!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59987&size=1

I don't blame you. Looks great!! I bet everyone that sees it is amazed. I don't cut mine off either. Research I have read shows no real difference. Mine are all out of the way and don't bother anything so I let them do their thing.

Great looking bunch!!

scottu
07-04-2016, 11:03 AM
Well it's been two weeks
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60086
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60087&size=1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60088&size=1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60089&size=1
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60091&size=1

barbc
07-04-2016, 01:15 PM
They look so happy!

kaczercat
11-11-2016, 09:42 AM
any updates?? how did they turn out?

scottu
11-11-2016, 08:24 PM
They hung in there for most of the summer but they never filled out and eventually turned black.
I could have over watered or ?. So... you finally get a healthy plant to flower, with plenty of leaves, in the early summer and the fruit hangs out for months and then rots, very disheartening but,
the many days that i came home to that beautiful flower and fruit made it so worthwhile!! One day we will get it right!
Thanks for asking!

cincinnana
11-11-2016, 09:12 PM
They hung in there for most of the summer but they never filled out and eventually turned black.
I could have over watered or ?. So... you finally get a healthy plant to flower, with plenty of leaves, in the early summer and the fruit hangs out for months and then rots, very disheartening but,
the many days that i came home to that beautiful flower and fruit made it so worthwhile!! One day we will get it right!
Thanks for asking!

We have it right....""."".we just need 30o more dayz.

Kudos

kaczercat
11-11-2016, 11:07 PM
I'm sorry to hear that! I can't imagine waiting like that and for it to happen. At least you can now say you've had one fruit. Theres always hope for next year