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View Full Version : Nursery find! Musa zebrina (blood banana)


proletariatcsp
07-18-2008, 10:55 AM
Went back to the Nursey yesterday and found this little guy hiding in the mature plants.
It didn't look very good as it was really water logged, and growing in moldy pine bark mulch.

Still, it seemed to have some potential with having so many pups, so I adopted it!

Here it is as found, labeled "sangria banana?" or, Musa zebrina (blood banana)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=11472&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11472&ppuser=3766)

When I got it home I immediately removed it from this muck and washed it clean before putting it in the new pot.
50/50 Scotts and African Violet mix (pH 6.0-6.8). There was leftovers from the former parent plant, so I removed
the mushy roots and exposed the thick white ones.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=11475&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11475&ppuser=3766)

You can see just how many pups there are here, and also note, the mold damage on the p.stems.
With any luck it will clear up since the newer leaves seem to be healthy still.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=11478&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11478&ppuser=3766)

Weird happenings. . .

When I opened up my bag of potting mix there were about 20, 2-3mm baby tree frogs on top, inside the bag.
It was really strange because there was no water, so how did they hatch?

Apparently, they are born in self contained swimming pools
known as "direct development eggs", thereby, completely skipping the tadpole stage.

Pretty awesome!
http://www.ryanphotographic.com/Cleaned%20(washed)%20Fiji%20tree%20frog%20eggs.jpg
I didn't take this picture, I'm not that good! LOL

Dean W.
07-18-2008, 11:05 AM
Great find, and alot of pups too. That's also neat about the frogs. Did you relocate them some where?

proletariatcsp
07-18-2008, 11:16 AM
Great find, and alot of pups too. That's also neat about the frogs. Did you relocate them some where? -Dean W.

I collected as many as I could, and put them in a bucket for the time being. Then, I carefully scooped out the soil I needed from the bag, as I did this I spread the soil losely over a tray and picked out the remaining ones.

Afterwards, I rolled down the bag opening so that it was level with the soil, and placed all the frogs back on top of it. I left that sit open overnight. This morning, it appeared they had all vacated. Including the mother, who was also in with them! LOL

natedogg1026
07-18-2008, 11:19 AM
Nice lil plant. Good color.

marksbananas
07-18-2008, 11:22 AM
Nice find wish i had your luck, I am sure it will do really well no it is with someone to care for it.

proletariatcsp
07-18-2008, 11:26 AM
Banana's are a safe addiction. Right? Maybe I need classes. -natedogg

Anyone you know gotten divorced over growing nanners? :ha:

marksbananas
07-18-2008, 12:30 PM
Anyone you know gotten divorced over growing nanners? :ha:

On the edge been told i am not allowed anymore lol, havn't told her yet got another one on the way, anyone take in a lodger lol

Nancy
07-18-2008, 05:11 PM
Wow, that is really interesting about the frogs. I'm glad the story has a happy ending, too. Wouldn't it be horrible to open a bag of potting soil and find dozens of dead/dying frogs? I'm also glad you seem to have gotten a nice little banana plant out of the deal.

stumpy4700
07-18-2008, 09:18 PM
Anyone you know gotten divorced over growing nanners? :ha:

I've been threatened a few times if I didn't get off the computer looking at those da@# bananas.....lol

Magilla Gorilla
07-18-2008, 09:45 PM
Nice plant with two happy endings. Good for you!

proletariatcsp
07-18-2008, 11:19 PM
I've been threatened a few times if I didn't get off the computer looking at those da@# bananas.....lol

I know exactly what you mean. . . I'm in the midst of rebuilding our staircase, its not finished, and yet I still find time for my plants! lol

Well I know I did good with the frogs, figured they'd repay the favor when those jap-beetles start chewing. Besides, I didn't eat dinner until 9,
and missed my movie. That banana had better make it or else!

Well I'm afraid my good deeds went without reward as, today I learned that my dwf cav, and java look like they are starting to develope
signs of sigatoka and possibly a lack of calcium.

Hey, at least I still have my pineapples!!!