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View Full Version : Broken basjoo.


john_ny
03-19-2009, 01:42 PM
This is something else that could be in the Never give up category. (I recently posted about my 5 month fight to get a debit card, promised as a rebate.)
Camera is broken, so you'll have to put up with my little drawing.

One day, last summer, I found one of my in ground basjoos broken off, at just about ground level.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=16203&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=16203&ppuser=826)

The drawing, on the left, shows about what it looked like. The drawing, on the right, is looking at it from the bottom. The heavy black line, on the left, corresponds to the black shaded part, on the right.

The black part of the diagram was the part of the p-stem that was brown; not mushy, dut dark colored, like a banana fruit, or peel, left exposed to air. The light part, on the right, was cream colored.

What I deduced had happened was that an animal brushed against it, or the wind broke it off partially, (this cracked part sat for some time, and got dark) and then, at some later time, more wind, or another animal, finished the job. I picked the stem up, and cut it off at about 2 feet. There were no visible roots. (just about what is in the diagram) I dumped it in a 14 inch container, and let it sit. The center of the p-stem pushed out about an inch, and then stopped. A couple of months later (October) I moved it into the cellar, along with some other different plants. It still looked the same, with the center pushed out about an inch. The cellar is about 70° F, because the boiler is there. There are a few fluorescent shop lights there, the closest several feet from the plant. Everything got regular watering, about every 5 days, or so.

Now, 5 months later, I see a pup, with a 6" p-stem and 2 leaves, the largest about a foot (Total height about 18")

saltydad
03-19-2009, 03:01 PM
Wow. The initiative to grow is so strong in these guys. Congrats on the success of your faith.

:woohoonaner:

Bob
03-19-2009, 03:07 PM
Good stuff to know John. I thought they didn't do so well indoors? Persistance pays....

Chironex
03-19-2009, 05:17 PM
How cool is that?!!!

r3tic
03-19-2009, 06:21 PM
Did you check the condition off the corm in the ground this spring...might get a couple more pups out of it as well.

john_ny
03-19-2009, 06:33 PM
I've had some things that I thought had bought the farm, and actually threw them in the trash (pineapples and gingers) only to have them sprout and grow in the garbage can.

The most surprising thing about this was that it was just getting normal watering (the other plants were Sanseveria, Spathyphyllum, Angel Wing Begonia, Anthurium, Pineapple, etc., etc.), and the lighting was, really, relatively poor. So, warm temps, not so good light, and regular (maybe, too much) water, and we still got the thing growing again.

I do have some plants in some big bay windows, also. They get good light, watered every few days, and they are doing great, growing to beat the band. Among others, banana varieties are Musella lasiocarpa, M. basjoo, zebrina, Dwarf Cavendish, Margarita, and Ensette Maurelli.

john_ny
03-20-2009, 07:53 AM
Dave- To answer your question, the corm, in the ground, along with several pups, is still covered up. I'll probably be waiting another couple of weeks before uncovering.