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jbclem
11-13-2017, 10:54 PM
Is there a way to encourage a banana plant to pup, or is it strictly a genetic limitation in certain varieties?

John

Richard
11-13-2017, 11:49 PM
Is there a way to encourage a banana plant to pup, or is it strictly a genetic limitation in certain varieties?

John

Grow them in a tight container (e.g., 15 gallon) or a modest planter bed (e.g., 3 x 3) with cinder block walls going down 24 inches. Also, regularly feed them with equal values of NPK (e.g., 5-5-5, 10-10-10, etc.).

sputinc7
11-13-2017, 11:50 PM
Nitrogen seems to encourage pupping, I have seen that.

crazy banana
11-14-2017, 02:19 PM
Fertilizer application and stress to a corm (accidental damage by garden tools, overcrowding) will encourage pupping. In the past I have also used Azomite, but nowadays I have way too many pups, so I should start a thread on "how to discourage pupping" ;)

cincinnana
11-17-2017, 04:20 PM
Is there a way to encourage a banana plant to pup, or is it strictly a genetic limitation in certain varieties?

John

Along the lines what Richard had said many of my plants are in irrigated containers and most are tight.
I get pups out the ying yang.


For fertilizers I use whatever is on sale.
Triple 12 ,16,19 have worked for me.

I also have a few local plant society members swear by a large dose of 46-0-0 in March for their inground Basjoos and Mekong Giants.
The results are kinda like giving a Redbull to a crackhead:)

.This photo is from March and results are consistent.
Plant is 14 feet tall 5.5years old and container is a tight 14 gal.
.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1493/25470803452_22d0f0cbb9_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/ENLwtE)
Overwintered AeAe with pups (https://flic.kr/p/ENLwtE)
by
Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hostafarian/),
on Flickr

aruzinsky
11-18-2017, 10:08 AM
Is there a way to encourage a banana plant to pup, or is it strictly a genetic limitation in certain varieties?

John

I have no experience with this because I always want to discourage pupping. But, if I wanted to encourage pupping, based on theory, I would try to kill the terminal bud of the plant. I would use an electric hand drill with a wide bit to drill through the pseudostem at an angle to destroy the meristem. Of course, I would first practice on plants that I can afford to lose.