View Full Version : Fruiting in container
Zacarias
05-04-2017, 07:54 PM
Hello!
I remember over the years people have been saying on here that you can get a dwarf banana bloom and fruit in a 20,25, or 30 gallon pot. My question is, what about in fabric pots or smart pots? They root trim and prevent root circling so I'm wondering if that would decrease significantly the gallons required to fruit a banana.
I'm in San Diego now, a wonderful banana growing area but have an apt with a patio balcony. I want to give a dwarf banana plenty of room but if I can give it less than a 25 gallon in a fabric/smart pot, I would do it in a second. Thanks!
Z
Slizarus
05-05-2017, 06:11 PM
According to a post from user G.W. about growing in Coir:
Recipe
5 gallon bucket
drill a pencil sized hole 3 inches up the side NONE BELOW THIS !!!
rinse coir
mix your coir with 25% perlite and a handful of dolomite
plant your nanner
water with soluble complete ferts @500ppm UNTIL WATER COMES OUT OF THE HOLE
to check water needs simply lift (I kick) the bucket to feel the weight heavy=ok light=add water till it comes out of the hole
hang on to your britches
if you grow tired of your (giant freakin) nanners going all Mary Poppins every time a breeze blows then you can bury the bucket half way in the dirt
it will still drain, although more slowly
If 5gals is too small, then consider a 18 gal or larger rough tote or the like.
Just be aware that coir has huge absorbency and a small plant like 1ft WILL be waterlogged in a container this size. A strong 3ft plant is the smallest I would put in a 18 gal tote.
In a 25 gal I would expect a 15ft+ plant to do fine, maybe only needing watered every other day. The more perlite you add the less water holding capacity.
---
So he refers to getting large trees in containers (and smart pots/fabric containers specifically), and I can't imagine it going to 15 ft and not fruiting, but I'm a banana newb.
Link: http://www.bananas.org/f312/coconut-coir-11808.html
scottu
05-05-2017, 06:18 PM
no expert on this but, i did/do use the fabric pots on several larger sizes. i liked the handles for moving them in and out etc., the roots not circling works, they don't.
watering them is better also, you can see and feel what is going on in the whole plant not just the top.
But,on the big ones the handles don't hold up after a while. and the plants root system gets kind of squished when you move one, straps contort the bottom when you pick it up.
I think they are good for medium sized or smaller plants and not helpful for flowering as the roots are too disturbed with any moves.
if you don't have to move them it may be a differet story
I think i would plant in the ground any chance i got, no matter how long til you need to repot
Gabe15
05-05-2017, 06:30 PM
You can fruit them in smaller pots, but they will take longer, and the bunches will be smaller. I personally wouldn't spend any money on any kind of special container. A good potting mix, adequate sunlight, and careful attention to water fertilizer (typically more water and less fertilizer than is required for growing in the ground) is more likely to result in a harvestable yield than a specific special container in my opinion. To have any serious shot at fruit, I wouldn't go smaller than 10gal, but would still recommend 20-25gal. Just a standard plastic pot works fine, or even a rubbermaid type bin with holes drilled in the bottom.
Zacarias
05-06-2017, 11:45 PM
Thank you for all your replies especially expert Gabe who I have respected for years on these forums!
I think I will try the smart pots just to see if the non-circling of the roots is helpful. I will likely try a 20 gallon as that is the biggest smart pot that has handles.
Z
PR-Giants
05-07-2017, 10:04 PM
I use a lot of these pots and prefer them to in ground planting because they shorten the vegetative phase and keep the tall cultivars much shorter. They work great for plantains and that's what's most important for me. I bought over a thousand of these pots from China and the 80 gallon ones cost about $5 delivered if you buy them one at a time. 40 gallon is about the smallest I use for fruiting and was not happy with the bunch sizes from the 25 gallon pots. They work absolutely great in a hydro setup and cut the vegetative phase in half for some cultivars.
Here's a plant crop comparison between a dwarf red and a tall red. In a properly sized pot the tall will bloom at about the same height as an in-ground dwarf red but it will produce the larger bunch. Not only will it produce a larger bunch it will also be harvested before the dwarf even blooms.
Island Brah
05-08-2017, 09:48 AM
80 gallon ones cost about $5 delivered if you buy them one at a time.
My back just broke reading "80 gallon" LOL
PR-Giants
05-10-2017, 07:19 AM
My back just broke reading "80 gallon" LOL
One of the things nice about starting with a larger pot is that you don't need to fill it completely and you can always add to it as the plant grows.
:goteam:
PR-Giants
05-10-2017, 07:29 AM
The Dwarf Gros Michel Highgate bloomed at 4.5 months in a 40 gallon pot with a very nice size bunch. I'll post the photos next time I run across them.
:08:
Island Brah
05-10-2017, 10:48 AM
One of the things nice about starting with a larger pot is that you don't need to fill it completely and you can always add to it as the plant grows.
:goteam:
Would you have to re-pot it in the same container when adding soil or just add soil to the container? It seems that if you added the soil without re-potting, it would get buried over time?
Kegas76
05-10-2017, 12:05 PM
I was wondering that also.
My guess would just be planting low in the pot and top filling over time. It would be like planting a corm deep in the ground and hopefully the roots grow upwards to fill the pot.
Either that or you grab the p-stem, lift it up, and jam more dirt under it. :ha:
PR-Giants
05-10-2017, 12:06 PM
I never even considered that someone would not be able to figure that out.
When fruiting a banana plant in a fabric pot you have realize the plant is going to grow large and that the fabric pot is only being held together with a thread. So enough spacers need be added during planting to accommodate the rhizome as it grows. More spacers can also be added to reduce the pot size so the plant can be planted at any desired level. These spacers also promote root development which helps the plants grow bigger and faster.
Would you have to re-pot it in the same container when adding soil or just add soil to the container? It seems that if you added the soil without re-potting, it would get buried over time?
PR-Giants
05-10-2017, 12:08 PM
:ha:
I was wondering that also.
My guess would just be planting low in the pot and top filling over time. It would be like planting a corm deep in the ground and hopefully the roots grow upwards to fill the pot.
Either that or you grab the p-stem, lift it up, and jam more dirt under it. :ha:
Island Brah
05-10-2017, 12:26 PM
I never even considered that someone would not be able to figure that out.
Welcome to bananas
cincinnana
05-11-2017, 08:17 PM
A few nurseries in south Florida have plants in "soft containers"...they work.:08:
Zacarias
05-11-2017, 08:41 PM
I never even considered that someone would not be able to figure that out.
When fruiting a banana plant in a fabric pot you have realize the plant is going to grow large and that the fabric pot is only being held together with a thread. So enough spacers need be added during planting to accommodate the rhizome as it grows. More spacers can also be added to reduce the pot size so the plant can be planted at any desired level. These spacers also promote root development which helps the plants grow bigger and faster.
FEELING DUMB...PR-Giants, can you explain what you mean my spacers?? I think people are confused because we are taught not to put the corm too deep so as not to rot it out.
So if one puts a banana in a smart pot with it 1/3 or 1/2 full with soil, then what does one do? Thanks.
Z
geissene
05-12-2017, 12:00 PM
For what it's worth, I found that it is very easy to roll down a fabric pot and remove plants with little effort or mess.
Perhaps side spacers of cardboard or those shipping 'air bags' used in boxes would be good. That way the bottom of the pot stays anchored and stable and you just have to remove the side pieces to grow the pot....
PR-Giants
05-13-2017, 03:50 PM
A spacer can be anything that occupies space. A good spacer would be light and have smooth walls as to not damage any roots upon removal. If you anticipate a rhizome will be 3 liters then adding 3 one liter objects would equal the space your mature rhizome would occupy and can be removed independently when the space is needed. In North Florida we use spacers that can also warm the rhizome during the winter months so that the fruit can continue to fill properly.
:lurk:
Zacarias
05-29-2017, 10:48 PM
OK Thanks! Yeah at least now I know what a spacer is! :)... I'll see what I need to do.
Z
cincinnana
05-30-2017, 09:42 PM
Generally one would plant or replant in larger container at the same height/elevation as it was in the previous container.
This is general good gardening practice.
The plant will always grow into the new container.
No need to put spacers in containers for the novice/backyard gardener.
Some growers use this method to control growing costs.....if used at all.
In South Florida USA I have not seen this....growers just put the plant in a large airpot.
Locally we do one container for a plant .
The larger the plant the larger the container
Save Your Dirt: Best Planter Inserts For Containers | Apartment Therapy (http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/save-your-dirt-best-planter-in-115943)
eharriett
06-11-2017, 09:46 PM
OK this is great! So reading this post has answered a question/concern I've had with my GM. Today I took it out of my 22 gal. pot and put in the ground for the summer and saw it was a bit root-bound. So obviously I need to up that in the winter (sorry, Ohio ain't the spot for a GM in the ground all year). I saw on Amazon some of those fabric pots and people were hit or miss. I was getting ready to post that as a question in a couple months when it became time to start thinking about indoor transplanting. The reviews on the pots had a bunch of people complaining about handles breaking though, and water absorbing out the sides of the pot (which to me seemed like that would be expected, but I don't know enough to judge).
Good to know the GM can grow safely in one of these in the cold winter months.
Zacarias
06-15-2017, 09:02 AM
I really like the fabric pots. While there's no proof, my guess is that with the air pruning that the fabric pots do which encourage new feeder roots, I assume that this will only help the banana achieve a great size with better health and possibly larger flower/bunch. Someday maybe I'll do an actual pseudo-scientific trial.
Z
eharriett
06-15-2017, 10:27 AM
I really like the fabric pots. While there's no proof, my guess is that with the air pruning that the fabric pots do which encourage new feeder roots, I assume that this will only help the banana achieve a great size with better health and possibly larger flower/bunch. Someday maybe I'll do an actual pseudo-scientific trial.
Z
Is there any problem with water absorption out of the pot? I mean on the sides? Or is there any issues with the roots poking through?
Thanks.
Tytaylor77
06-15-2017, 07:37 PM
I totally agree. I have been using all fabric pots for awhile now! I have run tests and banana pups do root faster and create better root-balls. Which is very very important. When transplanting a banana from pot->larger pot or pot->ground if you keep the root-ball together and there is no damage to it you will see 0 transplant shock!
I do not grow in pots long term , but I'm sure you would notice good effects long term! Banana roots can grow over 30 foot long! So would you rather one huge 30' circling root or 100 smaller more efficient roots!
Root pouch is an awesome one I use. Also I (my wife) make my own with high quality landscape fabric. I try to find the thick black one made of recycled water bottles! It's the best. Check out YouTube for (how to make fabric pots). Lots of videos.
Zacarias
06-15-2017, 08:03 PM
Ty,
I'm glad to hear of your positive experiences with fabric pots! The latest ones I have are root pouches and I really like them. I can't wait to try a dwarf brazilian and a double mahoi in it.
Z
Zacarias
06-19-2017, 10:24 AM
The only time I had problems with roots poking through (well trying to) was when the pots were directly touching the ground, but it wasn't a problem. Also the pots drain the water out of the pots quite readily so don't worry about that. Despite them saying it is not necessary, depending on on the pot I have made holes in the bottom just to assure myself that the water will drain.
Z
jbclem
07-17-2017, 06:13 AM
Tytaylor, could you name (or link to) the source of the high quality landscape fabric that you use to make your own grow bags.
Thanks, John
CraigSS
03-18-2018, 12:08 PM
Has anyone raised a full grown plant (Manzano/Gros Michel/Blue Java) indoors and had fruit? I am 18 months into growing 2 of each indoors and am hoping for a flower this year (or sometime). What are my chances?
Craig:nanerwaveytrain:
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