Helen's Hybrid Update
 

The 2 bigger plants are the younger ones (shoots) from this thread, http://www.bananas.org/f30/overwatered-49471.html

They both stayed inside and the older, now smallest one, went outside. I am going to move it back inside to see if its retarded growth is a function of the stress I caused it earlier or it just didn't like it where I had it outside.

I will post another update if anything significant happens.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

you need them in larger pots. 50% perlite

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Thanks Beam - The one in the middle is the only one not in a 50% perlite mix and the 2 bigger ones seem to be growing well, at least as far as I can tell with my VERY limited banana seedling growing experience.

I don't think the roots on the bigger plants have used more than probably 50% of the space in those pots, and the little one is growing so slowly I am sure its probably less than that. Do you still think it is worth doing at this time?

Thank you very much for taking the time to advise the newbies.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

yes its worth doing helps keep you from overwatering for one. many roots will want to go downwards and need space for that for 2. and 3 some grow very quickly in pots.

my tc's go in pots the first minute I get them. pot size depends on the size of the plant.

but if you really want to get them to go is in the ground with 50% shade cloth to keep the sun off them.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

As Beam stated large pots will help keep you from over watering. The soil will hold more water without be overly wet and you would then only need to water about every 10 days. ... Get a long stem moisture meter to make sure the soil in the bottom & middle of the pot is near dry before watering. ... Make sure the pot drains very well & fast and do not let it sit in the excess water that drains out.


Remember these are tropical plants accustom to high humidity in its natural habitat. In the home (Airconditioning) and most areas of the US & Can, the humidity is low. So misting the leaves will help to keep the plant from drying out and take on additional water while the roots & corm are growing.


Also, vertical green growth may seem slow. That's because the plant has to grow its corm and roots system. So misting the plant with a weak solution of miracle grow about every 7 to 10 days would help to

supplement nutrients while the corm grows. ... Don't over fertilize the pot and burn the roots. 2 teaspoons of balanced fertilizer in the pot should be good for a couple of months.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Done - thank you very much you two, that all makes sense, much appreciated!

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Another quick question: Beam, you mention TCs - I have just kind of assumed that meant tissue culture clones, however in the context of your advice, I am not so sure I am understanding it correctly. What exactly does TC mean if I am incorrect in my assumption? And if it does mean tissue culture clone, how do they differ from regular seedlings once they are potted in regular potting mix?

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Yet another question - after moving the small plant inside and spraying it with a soapy solution for mites, etc., I have noticed some fine fungal growth on the top of the soil, which of course isn't unexpected. Just wondering what you all might recommend for dealing with it? Should i replace the soil completely and dip the roots, should i use some sort of antifungal solution/spray, other?

I did spray one small corner of the soil surface with a 10% NaClO solution (1 part laundry bleach and 9 parts water) just to see what might happen

It is separated from my other plants, so I don't think there is much worry about cross contamination.

Again, thank you very much for the assistance.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

i have bought a lot of tc's to plant and not to sell. killed a lot of them learning how to keep them alive. the members here have helped immensely in this department.

well when I see a plant that size in those pots I immediately assume tc. at this point doesn't matter if I am wrong, plants that size need to go in a larger pot. 6'' might do 8" would be better.

sorry about the confusion.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

No worries at all, more my ignorance than your explanation. Thank you for clarifying.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Here's one of my Helen's Hybrid seedlings I grew from seed




I'd show you more pictures of all the different stages of growth it went through, including seed germination, but pictures are really hard to post on this forum.
It's indoors inside and contained in a warm humid grow enclosure under constant artificial light. It is surprisingly fast growing. That banana you see is only a little more than 2 months old. I got the seeds exactly 76 days ago, and then it took that seed 11 days wrapped in a moist paper towel inside a sealed plastic bag to begin to germinate.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

End Of June - Starting to take off

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Looks great! Beautiful landscape!

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Thank you, I appreciate that.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

I am in love with these plants!! The bottom photo is the pup - hard to see in the first picture.

Anyone have a suggestion for when the declining lower leaves should be removed?

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

So this is my first division of a banana....YIKES!! :drum:



I was a little surprised at how difficult it was mentally, this being a seedling, possibly with one of a kind genetics, that I have been babying since summer last year. I am sure all will be fine but....... kind of scary.

This was the single sprout plant previously shown in this thread and I do have two double sprouted plants that are in the ground which I will be separating in the next day or two.

Any recommendations on how long I should protect them from the full sun exposure?

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Looking fine......:08:

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Probably should have posted this - http://www.bananas.org/f15/uncoverin...nas-52001.html - here instead of where I did, but if you are interested in the current status of 2 of my HH seedling that have been in the ground over the last year it is the 2nd post after following the above link.

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

Asking for your expertise here - Just wondering if I should cut these down further....maybe to the ground?

(For some reason I can't upload the current images to the gallery right now, so I am including pics from about a week ago. They look substantially the same now except the tops of the p-stems are more shriveled)






The P-stems are still quite firm on the outside and there is even a little green on the outer leaf sheath...however, the middle is a different story. I wasn't really sure how far I should cut them initially, I of course was hoping the p-stems themselves would show some sign of life, but it has been almost a week of relatively warm daytime temps (72-78F, 21-24C, night time down to 38-40F 4-5C - protected overnight - btw my basjoo is growing quite nicely in these conditions without nighttime coverage) and nothing has changed except at the cut as mentioned above.

I am optimistic the corm is still alive and rearin' to go as soon as the soil warms up enough. However, I am wondering if the p-stem height I have left might somehow adversely affect growth, or worse, hold water that could cause rot at the top of the corm.

Am I being too inpatient and paranoid?

If this was in your garden, what would you do?

Re: Helen's Hybrid Update
 

So I couldn't stand by and watch the tops of the p-stems continue to shrivel, figured there was no point so I started cutting. Unfortunately I got all the way to ground level and and was left wit this:





Soft, brown mushiness, especially in the center where the meristem would be. I am not so optimistic about the viability of the corm now, but I will of course wait and see what happens over the next month or so as things warm up

It seems strange to me that this plant, even though it is a seedling of potentially questionable heritage, would do so poorly from a cold standpoint given our mild year. I have to acknowledge the possibility the soil I used (landscape supply garden soil with minimal amendment on my part) didn't drain well enough, or being a relatively wet area, wicked up (raised bed) enough moisture to keep the corm over wet and therefore causing rot.

Thankfully I have backups to continue the experiment with and will post more updates if anything of interest occurs.