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Robbio
10-03-2009, 02:38 PM
So, sorry for being such a banana - noob (ie. bananoob), but I just bought a place in Hawaii with a banana tree. I have no idea what kind, but I **know** it's a banana tree because of course it has a giant bunch of green bananas hanging on it. The problem is it hasn't been trimmed / pruned in oh say, EVER. I need to clean it up, but I don't have the first clue how to do it right. I've resisted the urge to go buy a machete and start hacking, hoping that a group of enthusiasts like yourselves might be able to point me to some kind of "banana kindergarden" as to the care and feeding. The climate here is such that I obviously don't have to worry about wintering, watering, or fertilizing. I just need to know how to prune the dead leaves off to cut down on the various "critters" around , and how to cut down the bananas (not to mention how I'm supposed to know when to do that...)
Thanks
Robbio

Eric
10-03-2009, 03:29 PM
Welcome aboard, Robbio :) ! The prime time for cutting the bunch is when the first banana starts to turn yellow. That yellowing banana gives off a natural gas that triggers rippening for all the other bananas in the bunch. A long-stemmed hook or rope is used to lean the tree over. Two angular cuts, with a machete, will bring the bunch down. But be carefull, a banana bunch can be Very Heavy!
Also, even in Hawaii, commercial banana cultivators use (typically) a 2-1-3 ratio fertilizer, sprinkled around the plants once every 2-3 weeks. Also, watering is always crucial. If the corm (rhizome below the ground) stays too wet, it'll develop corm-rot and kill the plant.
I almost never cut the dead leaves off mine cause the plant can suck potassium from them but, for those who like nice looking plants, it doesn't hurt & any sharp blade can be used. Simply pull down on the leaf & cut it at a point where the dead part ends.
An important thing to know, at this point, is that once a banana plant produces a bunch of bananas, it dies. Bananas usually take about 6 months from initial flowering to ripe bananas.
Congratulations on the banana bunch :) ! Look around the base of the plant for any pups (small banana plants). They are connected to the main corm & take over (as new plants) after the mother plant has died.
It's a very friendly & info-packed forum, here, with lots of nanner specialists. We also have info on lots of other tropical & sub-tropical plants. If you have any questions about using the forum, just ask.
Enjoy!

planetrj
10-03-2009, 03:30 PM
Hey! Congrats on your purchase!

First off, maybe a photo of what you have to deal with might help decide of what grade of utensil you might need. If it's a mat or if it's just one tree, it can make quite a difference of the tool of choice.

It sort of sounds like you have (as you say) a banana tree... which gives sort of the indication that it hasn't yet created a mat. In this case, if there's just one (and even just some pups around the perimeter), you could simply go at it with a stepladder and some nice large scissors. I find if there's just one to a few stalks to care for, that sharp Fiscars are great for doing the task cleanly and efficiently. Make sure that you clean off your scissors with H2O2 before and after to prevent any disease/fungal spreading.
The simple way to trim back would be just to 1-2 inches into the dry part of the petiole (leaf stem) that's against the trunk. Go all the way up the trunk until you get to a nice (non yellowed) leaf and stop there. Once all of your fruit has been removed, then you can use your machete to hack the trunk back half way.
As far as nutrients, that's quite a bit more complex, as there's a million factors involved, and is probably a bit too much of a can of worms for me to write out. It's all too easy to say what to use without so many considerations, and I'd also check with your neighbors to see if there are any restrictions on what you can and can't use, because I know many parts of the islands, there's many things you can and can't do, because of wildlife, water supply, etc, etc....

Eric
10-03-2009, 03:44 PM
PlanetRJ definitely knows more about trimming that I do. BTW, :) Thanx for the info on trimming, RJ, just in case I need to trim one sometime!
He's also right on target with fertilizers. Having never lived in Hawaii, I'm not familiar with those rules & regs. But what I gave you was a "generalized" fertilizer for many nanners. Each species has it's own individual needs. To really give the nanner the best care, you might wanna post a photo in the "Banana Identification" forum. Once they figure out what you have, there is a "Banana plant soil, additives, & Fertilizer" forum where you can learn more about what would be best for your particular banana plant.

planetrj
10-03-2009, 04:16 PM
Hey Eric, looks like we were writing at the same time.. LOL!

I'm no pro, but when it comes to the easiest and fastest way to get things done, I am a master of that... I'm 100% for quick and simple.

Scott
10-03-2009, 04:21 PM
Hey Rob. I would go with asking your neighbors, they probably have a few in their yard too.
I use to live Kailua on Oahu. We had about 30 plants rolling all the time. When the 1st few bananas start to turn yellow at the top, then follow that 'trunk' up and over ( a big hook ) and cut from the tree. Hang it in the garage or at work in the shade. Critters and birds will feast, so pick wisely. Also, put down some cardboard...nana juice will stain ur garage.
You can do dis too
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=22731&size=1
I use scizzors to cut the leaves off. Easy enough. The 'pups' popping up around the base...those need a vertical cut to seperate from the 'mother' plant. Hacking at the ground will not get rid of em.
If you can reach the fruit, you probably have the apple-banana in your yard. Our sprinklers hit them everyday for a short bit. Windward rain did the rest. Best banana eva.
Mother plant...it's like a huge piece of celery. You can probably squeeze them down. I use a saw, 2 sweeps and TIMBER! Lot of fluids will bleed out. Eye protection :ha: Bananas on the ground will bring in the rats at night. Good to feed a few cats during the day to keep that racket down.
Clean up time:
http://www.bananas.org/f2/time-separate-pups-spring-1814.html

Eric
10-03-2009, 04:40 PM
Hey Eric, looks like we were writing at the same time.. LOL!

I'm no pro, but when it comes to the easiest and fastest way to get things done, I am a master of that... I'm 100% for quick and simple.

Knew it was either that OR that you were the fatest typer in the known universe :ha: !!
Oh, and I'll definitely keep that in mind (100%) :) !! Quickest & Simplest is Exactly how I like to work too.... whenever I can!!
Anyway, Thanx for the great extra info :) !!

Robbio
10-04-2009, 01:48 AM
I'll try to take a picture tomorrow, but right now it's a mess. The bananas are at about the 7' level, with a dead flowery part that's about a foot long. The mother tree really dies after the bananas are gone? Wow - that's a helluva lot of plant growth.

Apparently the snails also dig bananas, as I just encountered the biggest snailfest I've ever seen while I was trapsing around back there trying to hunt coqui's. Paradise was a lot better before I knew hiw much work was involved.... There are a couple of full mature trees back there with bananas hanging, and a whole mess of other ones coming up. One has already started dropping bananas so it's probably too late for that one. the other's are all still green.

It would be impossible for them to need fertilizer as it stands, because there's about a 6" base of dead vegetation currently in the process of serving as compost. (Sorry, but between the coquis, the snails, and the rats I haven't yet completely embraced the ecosystem here yet... Frankly the snails wouldn't be an issue for me, except that like 90% of them carry rat lungworm disease, a lovely little parasite which can infect humans where it migrates to the brain. There's no cure, they just try to make you comfy till you get better or croak.)

Anyway, I have to clean this mess up before it's completely impossible to deal with. If my wife ever ventures back there and finds the snails which have shells the size of a cellphone, I'll probably have to sell!

Thanks for the tips!

bencelest
10-04-2009, 11:32 AM
I'll try to take a picture tomorrow, but right now it's a mess. The bananas are at about the 7' level, with a dead flowery part
Anyway, I have to clean this mess up before it's completely impossible to deal with. If my wife ever ventures back there and finds the snails which have shells the size of a cellphone, I'll probably have to sell!

Thanks for the tips!

Robbio: If you need to sell , keep me in mind. Half-prize of course!!!! (LOL)
I know how to clean up those bananas>http://www.bananas.org/images/icons/icon10.gif

Dalmatiansoap
10-04-2009, 11:51 AM
And course Robbio if U dont know what to do with all banana pups they are allways welcome here.
Cheers:nanadrink:
postage is on me:ha::ha::ha:
BTW welcome from Croatia
:woohoonaner:

austinl01
10-04-2009, 01:14 PM
Awesome banana pic. I visited Maui in August and had a blast. A beautiful, tropical place indeed.

Welcome to the best banana board in the universe and beyond!

LilRaverBoi
10-04-2009, 03:48 PM
Welcome to the site...I'll spare you the info since I think you already got the answers you were looking for. Hope you enjoy the site!

cherokee_greg
10-05-2009, 12:38 PM
welcome wow you live in a great place. Grow lots more bananas. welcome to this great group.