ladyflyfsh

My poor Ae Ae has had a difficult time from cold temps its first winter and then tropical storm Debby last summer, this year it is finally coming around and has three pups. I'm happy and they look fabulous and healthy.

jbyrd88888

wooo hoo mmMMm, purty purty purty pups. I Would be very interested in offering you some $ Moola Paypal style for one pup if you are interested. PM Me? I'm SURE my N.C. Weather would take care of this nicely. . . I would keep you updated with pics of this baby? You wouldn't even miss it!

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sunfish

[quote=ladyflyfsh;226544]My poor Ae Ae has had a difficult time from cold temps its first winter and then tropical storm Debby last summer, this year it is finally coming around and has three pups. I'm happy and they look fabulous and healthy.

How cold did your temps. get. Just wondering if I am going to need to protect mine this winter.

cincinnana

[quote=ladyflyfsh;226544]My poor Ae Ae has had a difficult time from cold temps its first winter and then tropical storm Debby last summer, this year it is finally coming around and has three pups. I'm happy and they

Good luck with those!!!!

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ladyflyfsh

It was actually acquired and planted in Nov. 2011 and that winter ended up being pretty cold. I lost my beloved Red Lady papaya from the frosts that winter. I had the bananas wrapped up snug as a bug but the papaya was too big to wrap. Then last summer we had that tropical storm sit over us for days on end dumping buckets of water for days. Last winter wasn't bad and I don't think we had any frost, but I've had issues with the leaves getting sun burned. Now things are shading in a bit more and it is a little more protected. It is small for its age and I've had to cut off damaged leaves so it looks pretty pitiful, although this summer has been good for it. It gets plenty of fertilizer and I keep it mulched so now I am being rewarded with three very healthy and pretty pups. They will probably out grow the Pstem at this point.

caliboy1994

All nicely variegated. Wow, you are a lucky one!

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ladyflyfsh

Hi again,

It was suggested to me privately by one of our members that I cut the main pstem to 6" and it will help the pups grow faster and stronger. The main pstem doesn't really look all that great, so do you all agree this is a good idea? I just want as much feedback as possible before I go hacking this thing off.

Thanks!

Mary

jbyrd88888

You should have no problems! I recently learned about a similar hacking-the-corm technique, I'd suggest to you.
Chopping corm/replanting technique
As long as the corm isn't mushy and rotten it should grow, if taken care of properly and not neglected.

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Cheryl

Help! I am in Houston and my little house has maaaaany large banana plants on 3 sides. The fronds are taller than my house.. My question is this: I had 8 plants with green bananas on them, half of them quite large already, BUT they have ALL BENT IN HALF! We've had storms/rain lately and the weight of the fruit apparently pulled the plants over. Some are on utility lines, one on a fence and one on the roof. The plants are way too heavy to pick up (and am not able anyway).
Is there ANY WAY to preserve the bananas or even the plants WITH the fruit intact? If I leave them "as is" will the bananas continue to mature or are they a lost cause?

jbyrd88888

Lots of factors will determine whether your fruit will finish before winter.
If I were you I'd prop the fruit up off the ground at least 6 inches to prevent rotting and bug damage. If you try to reposition them it might Break the stem and destroy the production of your nanas.

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ladyflyfsh

YIKES! I could potentially see myself doing that with something that is not so precious to me, but I could never do this drastic measure to my Ae Ae! Best to experiment on something that didn't cost me $$ in the first place and if it doesn't make it, I won't be heartbroken. I could see myself cutting the pstem to 6" but not pulling it out and hacking it to bits! Yowsa!

jbyrd88888

As for the Power-lines I'd stay away until it dies and wilts/looses all its water weight, then with Thick Rubber Gloves hack it off as high as you can reach, tug on it and let it fall.
The Fence leaners: Place a 2x4 at 45degree angle on the other side of the fence so it doesn't sag or fall down and just leave it there.

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jbyrd88888

Yeah I understand. Anyways the old dieing Stem is preventing new leaves from being push through. Cutting this will encourage growth but be aware that bananas and flower formed on this plant will not be a plentiful as the year before.

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ladyflyfsh

This pstem isn't dying, it is just a bit weak and wimpy. I've had to cut numerous leaves off due to being dried up and burnt or broken from wind etc. It is about 5'4" tall and has grown very slowly. Here are more photos of the main pstem.

jbyrd88888

oh I see, I'm probably going to try to keep my outer-most-leaf chopped as low on the stem as possible, just to keep a clean looking stem.
Plants are kinda like people: the older it gets the slower its reproductive system "puts out" and its metabolism slows production of fruit+flower also, but it grows bigger leaves and taller.

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■□■ J-Bert's Nana Grow Log ○●○
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