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RGB
05-17-2009, 04:18 PM
Hey everyone, i just recently caught the bug and got a few naners. I got two E. maurelii and and a Siam ruby from ebay. While at Wal-mart the other day, i spotted some beat up little "Musa acuminata 'Novak'" plants. I couldn't resist rescuing one since it was only $6. Is this the same as a Dwarf Cavendish? It's pretty rootbound in it's little 6" pot so my first task is to re-pot it. I have a 15" diameter x 15" deep (about 11.5 gals) pot that's empty. Would this be a good choice to put it into? I'd rather not have to move it out of the pot so if i need to go bigger i would rather do it now. I was planning on keeping outside on the patio in full sun. So far i've been using plain old Miracle grow mixed with about 20-30% Perlite. Will this suffice?
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=17467&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=17467&ppuser=5296)

chong
05-17-2009, 05:10 PM
That's a Super Dwarf Cavendish (SDC). The banana tag is a dead giveaway as I still have a hundred or so of those tags from when I was growing them from Oglesby TC trays. Since Oglesby has the SDC trademark, only they, or someone authorized by them can propagate them by TC under that name. Pups can be sold under that name though if they come from a true SDC.

alpha010
05-18-2009, 11:37 AM
RGB, 'Novak' is a synnonym for SDC. Also, my DC is in a 18" or 20" wide x 15" deep pot and had been there since he was 8" tall and has yet to show rootbound stress. So for your SDC, 15" x 15" should be perfect in my calculations. Good Luck with the new one!

Shaggy

RGB
05-18-2009, 01:35 PM
Thanks Bob, i just have to get some more soil and i'll be putting the little guy in there. I was gonna use Miracle Grow potting soil with 20-30% Perlite mixed in, does that sound okay? Also, should i wait a little while before i fertilize or start right away?

alpha010
05-18-2009, 09:34 PM
As long as you feel it won't retain too much water and drain out properly, you can use whatever soil you wish. Don't fertilize for a week or so and watch for transplant shock,i.e. drooping or browning leaves, soft p. stem. Give a little bit of water at first but don't soak it down, just a sip or two until you see that everything looks okay. If nothing noticable happens during the first week go easy on the fert and water till you are absolutely sure it is settled.

Thats what I do, others may have other recommendations, so see what others think first so you can have a better piece of mind.

Lagniappe
05-18-2009, 09:43 PM
I never would have dreamed that I would be keeping this plant , but I love the ones I have. They're neat little guys IMO.
My Pal's wife said it was 'cute' though...:2141:....wasn't expecting that.

RGB
05-18-2009, 09:54 PM
The mix i used on my others seems to be draining fairly well so i think i'll stick with that. I'll be careful not to water too soon, i'm bad about that. Thanks for the tips!

alpha010
05-19-2009, 06:22 AM
Pete, I'm on the boat with you about the whole 'cute' thing.......'cool', 'wicked awesome,eh' (for my canadians), 'wow, didn't know you could grow those' are all acceptable phrases, but 'cute'......I don't own anything cute.

Ron, you are welcome hope everything turns out okay for ya!

Shaggy

Patty in Wisc
05-19-2009, 01:56 PM
MG potting mix (feeds for 3 months) is the best you can use for nannas! I mix more perlite in esp toward the bottom half.
It won't suffer shock if you remove it carefully & don't disturb the roots.

Lagniappe
05-19-2009, 05:21 PM
MG potting mix (feeds for 3 months) is the best you can use for nannas! I mix more perlite in esp toward the bottom half.
It won't suffer shock if you remove it carefully & don't disturb the roots.

Patty, every time I've gotten MG it was under-composted (New word I just made up) and smelled like pine sol. The smell was very strong and I had to keep the plants outside for weeks until it went away.

Patty in Wisc
05-19-2009, 06:49 PM
I didn't notice a real strong smell. Maybe 2 diff things? I buy potting 'mix' w/ mostly peat & it has the little time release fert balls. I'll take a good whiff next time.

Scuba_Dave
05-19-2009, 07:02 PM
I picked up a bag of MG 1st time this year
I agree its not composted very good
But my Veggie seedlings took off this year compared to last year

musaboru
05-20-2009, 05:23 PM
RGB, it is only $3.33 in the indoor houseplant section of Home Depot. I couldn't resist and had to grab one since it was so cheap. These are way bigger than the TC babies off of eBay and cost less.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3549275895_6e8b6af89a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38156698@N03/3549275895/)

RGB
05-20-2009, 10:25 PM
My local Home Depot must be out because i didn't see any there. That's a great price though, so i'll keep checking!

chong
05-20-2009, 10:43 PM
RGB, it is only $3.33 in the indoor houseplant section of Home Depot. I couldn't resist and had to grab one since it was so cheap. These are way bigger than the TC babies off of eBay and cost less.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3348/3549275895_6e8b6af89a.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/38156698@N03/3549275895/)

That's a terrific price for an SDC of that size. Our local HDs get their plants from Canadian nurseries. We'd be lucky if they sold them for less than $7 here. 2 weeks ago, I tried to buy a couple of them from Lowe's, they didn't have a price tag on them, but they were in the $5.98 section. So, I asked the cashier to scan it and it said $13.98! And the plantin the picture is probably 25% bigger. So that's a really, really great deal!

Love your Avatar - Magnolia Coco! I have several of them, also. But they don't bloom as much as Michelia Alba. And blooms don't stay long, either.

The Hollyberry Lady
05-20-2009, 11:52 PM
Wow - I live in Canada, and I wish our Wal-mart and Home Depot sold these plants! I am going to double check but I don't recall seeing any before.

I like to grow from seed anyway, but if one looked healthy enough I could be persuaded to buy it...

: )

musaboru
05-21-2009, 01:16 AM
My local Home Depot must be out because i didn't see any there. That's a great price though, so i'll keep checking!

I was lucky I came across them myself. Because they were reorganizing their stock and I almost didn't see it because it was hidden behind carts of newly arrived plants. But good luck anyways...

There is two Lowes around here... I often check them out both every two weeks or so and I amazed at how often some of the rarer plants come and go. So I often visit the nursery section of Home Depot and Lowes (and even Target) every so often and spend an hour each time browsing for the special plants. Most of the time, I don't find anything good (just think of it as a visit to the botanical garden :ha:). But for those few times I do, I think it is totally worth it. :0519:

That's a terrific price for an SDC of that size. Our local HDs get their plants from Canadian nurseries. We'd be lucky if they sold them for less than $7 here. 2 weeks ago, I tried to buy a couple of them from Lowe's, they didn't have a price tag on them, but they were in the $5.98 section. So, I asked the cashier to scan it and it said $13.98! And the plantin the picture is probably 25% bigger. So that's a really, really great deal!

Love your Avatar - Magnolia Coco! I have several of them, also. But they don't bloom as much as Michelia Alba. And blooms don't stay long, either.

Chong, the price is indeed teriffic and I am sorta dying here because I want to go back and buy more but I don't know where I am going to plant them. No space, most of my "garden" is in pots only. Whats ironic is that HD over here has Ice Cream and Dwarf Cavendish in 5 gallon pots in the $20 dollar range and the plants were not that much bigger than the $3.33 6~8 inch pot 'Novak'. :ha:

Not my Magnolia coco, I only dream of having one though. Cannot locate a good source for this plant. The fragrance is legendary from what I know, but I might end up getting Magnolia lilifera (Talauma) instead from Logee'sé.

Dar

chong
05-21-2009, 01:42 AM
I was lucky I came across them myself. Because they were reorganizing their stock and I almost didn't see it because it was hidden behind carts of newly arrived plants. But good luck anyways...

There is two Lowes around here... I often check them out both every two weeks or so and I amazed at how often some of the rarer plants come and go. So I often visit the nursery section of Home Depot and Lowes (and even Target) every so often and spend an hour each time browsing for the special plants. Most of the time, I don't find anything good (just think of it as a visit to the botanical garden :ha:). But for those few times I do, I think it is totally worth it. :0519:



Chong, the price is indeed teriffic and I am sorta dying here because I want to go back and buy more but I don't know where I am going to plant them. No space, most of my "garden" is in pots only. Whats ironic is that HD over here has Ice Cream and Dwarf Cavendish in 5 gallon pots in the $20 dollar range and the plants were not that much bigger than the $3.33 6~8 inch pot 'Novak'. :ha:

Not my Magnolia coco, I only dream of having one though. Cannot locate a good source for this plant. The fragrance is legendary from what I know, but I might end up getting Magnolia lilifera (Talauma) instead from Logee'sé.

Dar

Dar,

Where are you located? I'm getting some more M. Coco's pretty soon. Though I think Talauma Candollei may be a little more fragrant than M. Coco. But I think M. Coco is closer to M. Alba (Joy Perfume Tree) in fragrance. Also, expecting some M. Alba.

We have a tropical form of M. Coco in the Philippines, that only grows to 8 feet in height. It is more of the Magnolia Odoratissima variety. And that one has a really enchanting fragrance.

I don't want to hijack this thread any further. PM me if you're interested in a M. Coco.

Cheers,
Chong

alpha010
05-21-2009, 04:57 AM
I bought my first nanner from a local greenhouse, but the wierd thing is that not a single nursery, hardware store, anyone that sells plants has had a single one since the one I bought. Ever time I cal a smaller one or ask a sales person where one might be at, I get looked at funny and have even been laughed at.
All about the zone envy!

Shaggy