Basjoo - what's going on?
 

So I noticed my basjoo's primary stem is doing something different and I am curious what might be happening.

This is the 3rd year of growth for this lady, and the 3rd leaf of the season is shaping up to be quite a bit smaller than would be expected based on my experience up to this point. As can be seen from the following pic, the leaf is opening up at a much smaller height/length than typical for her size - as compared to the 2 previous leaves to emerge. I have fertilized her 2 times with fairly dilute soluble 20-20-20 and I just put down a lite application of granular lawn fert with added K (can't find the bag at the moment so not sure what the ratios are - but definitely smaller quantity than I have used on her in the past)



Just wondering if she might be thinking about flowering? Unfortunately she doesn't have many leaves to support a bloom, and I was planning on starting the pup removal cycle later this week.

Can I still remove one of the bigger pups or should I leave her alone for now.

Any other thoughts?

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

I can not tell by the pic but if the plant is actively growing and the leaf is healthy, shorter, and maybe thicker in texture, than the previous leaf, then it is probably blooming. Might as well cut that trunk down so the corm energy can go to the pups. You can remove all or some pups now. The ones left will allow them to draw energy from the blooming (main/mother) corm. The blooming corm should sprout new pups whether removing all pups or some.

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

I'd love to be seeing this on my basjoo, keep them pictures coming please mate!

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

Thanks for the response. She is definitely actively growing and so far the newest leaf looks healthy, just small.

Just so I am clear - assuming she is trying to flower, you are suggesting it is not worth letting her do so?

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

Any update mate?

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

"Unfortunately she doesn't have many leaves to support a bloom, and I was planning on starting the pup removal cycle later this week."

My response was mostly based on your above statement. Of course if a bloom is what you actually want then just let it go. I don't often let my bananas bloom, preferring to cut them down so I can make more offsets.

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

So I decided to remove one of the big pups and to leave the mainstem for now to see what happens. Another funky leaf has started to emerge, so I am assuming it is in fact trying to bloom.

I do want to see what happens if I give the bloom a chance mostly for my own edification, but I am pretty convinced it won't be able to develop very far by the end of the growing season. So, I haven't completely made up my mind whether to let it bloom or give the another follower a chance to get as big as possible this year......

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

I see, I'd like mine to flower but what encouraged me was that yours are 3 years and not Hugh, mine are 3 years, 6ft stem/ 10ft to the tip of the latest leaf. I cut them down to about 4ft each winter to wrap them.

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

Fair enough, I appreciate your input.

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

Judging by the size of those plants, and the number, their roots have escaped that raised bed and are in the surrounding soil. If that is the case the thick grass is competing for air and nutrients and most likely the grass roots are into the bed too. If you plan to leave them in the raised bed it would probably benefit the bananas to cut the grass back from around the bed.

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

The only difference I see is that I protect the entirety of the mainstem (minus the leaves of course) mostly because I wanted it to get as big as possible. The p-stem is currently about 7.5 ft tall, so nut much bigger than yours. Hopefully yours pushes out more leaves before it decides to flower, but I suspect you are close based on the limited experience I have here (a buddy had a basjoo flower in his 3rd season too - seed pods :) never fully developed I suspect, in part, due to lack of a another pollinator plant)

Keep us posted!

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

Thank you. Yeah my intention is to completely redo the landscaping in that entire area, I just haven't gotten around to it yet :D

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

it's hard to tell in the picture, one close of just the small leaf itself would help a bunch. but buddy when they decide to fruit they fruit, a few leaves or no leaves. best of luck. i don't know but i would wait till she flowers, you have waited this long. and after she flowers then carefully remove anything that is over 1ft. my thoughts.

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

Thank you:) Not sure I understand exactly what you mean by this last sentence. It sounds like maybe you are suggesting I remove any pups over 1ft......If so, do you mean pups other than the main follower(s), or am I missing something?

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

it's still hard to tell.

if she is flowering she has quit growing, so i would assume she will not put out roots anymore either, assume. and if your planning to transplant some of those to another spot then you would not want to as little damage to her roots as possible. if not then just let everything go, she will flower fine as is.

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

Its definitely a strange leaf, looking like a flag to me, but a few days should clear things up...I will post a pic when it has emerged further.

Ok, thank you. Just curious, do you (or anyone) know whether the pups typically stop growing too, or is it just the mother that stops putting energy into the pups?

Considering they are attached, it seems to me it could go either way....the pups could continue to do their own thing, or they could put energy back into the mother.....or, I suppose, they could take energy away from her (I've seen a number of threads suggesting only leaving one follower ever for best fruiting....and others that disagree with that position). I've noticed the pups often seem to outpace the mother when no flower is imminent, so it seems like more energy is being put into them. Is that typically the case? If so, does that change once the plant decides to toss a flower?

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

Apparently I have been fishing too long…..p-stem only 6.5’…..oops:D - so All, any time now;)

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

If that's a flower congrats.

Locally when Basjoo flower the grower does nothing but let the plant finish.
The plant will complete the flower cycle even if it has just a few leaves.
Our only limitation is the shorter grown season.

No pups are removed or the clump disturbed.
Overall I have never observed a flower being a liability to a clump of healthy basjoo....they keep going and going.

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

I personally would let it flower. It's exciting to see them bloom. Mine bloomed but never made it to the mature banana stage because of our short seasons in Illinois. But I was so glad to see a bloom on a Basjoo. I believe that short leaf is called a flag leaf, letting you know the next one will be a bloom. The bloom is yellow. [IMG]http://[/IMG]

Re: Basjoo - what's going on?
 

Looks like bloom time to me :)