Log in

View Full Version : Ae Ae Help


Mark Hall
05-15-2008, 03:21 PM
I have noticed that the leaves on my biggest ae ae seem to be getting smaller. The trunk is also slightly swollen just below the leaves. Do you think it could possibly be getting ready to flower?

The leaves on the pup are almost twice the size of mum.

Pictures can be seen in my gallery.

Bananaman88
05-15-2008, 09:14 PM
Sounds like potentially good news!

Dean W.
05-15-2008, 09:53 PM
Good luck, Mark.:nanadrink:

harveyc
05-16-2008, 12:39 AM
Mark, good luck and keep us posted!

Also, are your Ae Ae planted in the ground? Are they over-wintered indoors? If so, large of pots do you use? I have one that will need to go into the ground or a larger pot before long and I'm trying to decide what to do.

Mark Hall
05-16-2008, 03:18 AM
Harvey, They are both in pots. The smaller one will need to be re potted soon as its starting to out grow its home.

They are both overwintered in a heated polytunnel and last year I had to cut the mum in half as she was too tall. They both have a bit of RSM damage at the moment but I spray then with the hose each day to try to keep them off.

The biggest one is in a 40 ltr pot ( I think) and the small a 20 ltr. There is a tiny pup forming above the soil on the small one and it looks like another pup on the bigger one.

It would be nice if it did flower but I dont think our temps are warm enough to get the bananas to ripen.
Part of me wants it not to flower as I will lose the main trunk and it only looks like one possible pup will be replacing it.

Bananaman88
05-16-2008, 06:20 AM
Mark,

I think if it does flower you will end up with more than one pup. We used to grow Ae-Ae's where I worked and, believe it or not, they actually pupped very readily. For a short time there we had Ae-Ae's coming out of our ears! I could be wrong, but I feel like you'll get multiple pups if the overall health of your plant is good. Best of luck to you!

Mark Hall
05-16-2008, 08:18 AM
Thanks Brent. It would ease the pain of losing the main stem and I would have no problems selling them on as every one wants them:)

I think the low temps will be my main worry over getting it to flower and pup.

MediaHound
05-16-2008, 12:29 PM
As you probably know, leaves getting smaller on a mature plant usually means it's time is near. We shall see what happens :)