Banana Rojo
 

I stopped by the BJs in Cutler Ridge (south of Miami) and saw eight banana plants on a cart priced @ $12.99 each. They are Dwarf Cavendish from the K&M Nursery in Boynton Beach, Florida. They measure about 1 meter tall and have two to three young pups in an AMK 1000 black plastic pot with evidence of dry roots coming out the drainage holes. It appears that they have been recently sprayed and heavily fertilized.

Re: Banana Rojo
 

Perhaps they are going into 'defense mode'...or reproduction mode because of lack of water and fert???? Plants will flower/pup in order to produce offspring if they feel threatened....just another thought :nanadrink:

Re: Banana Rojo
 

I watered the plant heavily and will transplant in the early AM. I selected one with a small, tight cigar leaf and it has already grown about 5 cm since I purchased it. I have no idea why, but I imagine that it liked getting out of the air conditioned store and into the sunlight. Now that it has been watered it may grow some more by morning. Any suggestions on how to best repot it and the 25 cm pups?

Re: Banana Rojo
 

Repotting is usually done in a pot that is 2 inches larger in diameter than the one it is coming out of. This encourages continual growth. If the pot you replace it with is larger, the plant will spend it's time re-rooting and will slow on top growth. Use a rich, loamy and well draining soil mix. Vermiculite or perlite with some peat, sterile sand and compost does well for me. Place a few pieces of broken pottery shards in the bottom of the new pot to allow for good drainage and roots to find a breathing spot. good luck with your new plant :)

Re: Banana Rojo
 

Thanks for the good info.