banana root propagation.
 

Hi everyone,

I have my Musa Sikkimensis 'Red Tiger' planted in the garden now for two years. As I was digging around the plant yesterday there were two pups growing!:0490:

That's great, but my question is this:

I dug up this rogue root which must be about 2 feet long (shallow lateral root) with lots of small rootlets (if that's what you call them) growing from the main plant. I have cut this into several sections and potted up. Will they produce pups in this way, as not sure. Or am I wasting my time with this action.

Any help would be great!

Thanks.

Re: banana root propagation.
 

The underground structure of the Musa consists of
corm = similar to a bulb in function, but more of a fleshy mass in structure.
rhizome = tuberous runners that link corms together.
roots = extended from corms, and occasionally from rhizomes.

A lateral root from a corm may develop into a rhizome provided it is developing from a corm. An adventurous rhizome can develop corms at nodes or the terminal end provided it is developing from a corm. Pups sprout from corms -- either on the side of the "mother" corm or from a newly developed one on a lateral rhizome.

Here's a helpful diagram from Gabe:

Re: banana root propagation.
 

Thanks for the reply Richard.

Nice diagram.

So, does this mean I might get pups from this root?

If so, what time scale and does it need watering a lot or just slightly moist at the moment. Quite keen to know.

Thanks.

Re: banana root propagation.
 

Hi carpy.So you over wintered a sikki redtiger well done mate how did you do it?I got one last autum but sadly lost it to the winter.I,m wanting another one mate if you get any pups you would like to sell to me please.All the best ...daz

Re: banana root propagation.
 

Hi Daz,

I have my Red Tiger planted against a south facing fence in the ground direct (no pot).

In November, after the first frosts had damaged the leaves I trimmed everything back to the main stem (about five feet high in one season!).

I then wrapped several thick layers of garden fleece around from the bottom to the top. The top part was only slightly fleeced. Another thing I did was place a very thick old curtain around the roots and new pups.

Temp got down to minus 5 here!

Lo and behold new growth shoved up the fleece and is about one foot long now! I have taken the top part fleece off to let it breath and look around the garden. Still have kept the main fleece on and taken up the curtain to let the pups look around as well!

As its warm down here at the moment (no frost) I will keep an eye on any late frosts before removing all fleece.

If new pups grow from the root cuttings then yes I can spread the pups, but still awaiting an expert on this.

Re: banana root propagation.
 

Thanks carpy for the pup thing thats great.Here in lincolnshire we had temps down to -9 on a couple of times.However im sure if i overwintered using your meathod it would live...I hope lol.Thanks again mate.

Re: banana root propagation.
 

The diagram is correct, but you will not be able to form plants from the roots alone. The roots are not capable of forming stem (corm and rhizome are the true stems of the plant). Rhizomes may form additional shoots, but roots and rhizomes should not be confused, they are different structures. For propagation, you need a whole sucker, an underground lateral stem (rhizome), or you can cut up the mother corm into 3-4 sections and plant each of those, but stem must be present.

Re: banana root propagation.
 

Thanks for the info gabe, just will have to rely on my attached pups.

Heres a photo taken this morning of my Musa Sikkimensis 'Red Tiger' with its jacket on and hoody off! Note new growth. Fence is 6 feet high.

Too the left is a variegated Oleander (slightly damaged by frost, should recover) and the right is another Oleander.

Re: banana root propagation.
 

Thanks for bringing this up carpy, I've been pulling my hair out on the interent, trying to get similar info. When I first read your post, I thought the "root" you where talking about might have been a long lateral rhyzome, perhaps connecting a water pup to the mother plant. In which case I would be very interested in knowing if the any new plants emerged from this.

But it seems as Gabe said, that it is indeed a root.

But just to be clear on this,,, the root you're talking about was a ratty looking, discolored real root with little tiny roots coming out of it and not a smooth rhyzome?

Either way, happy bananaing! :bungejumpnaner:

Re: banana root propagation.
 

Hi Mike,

Just to let you know I have kept the sections and placed in a pot. Yes they are just roots with hair like rootlets growing from this, although there was some nodules along the length. If anything happens I will let you know. Time will tell. My pups are growing bigger as well now!:0489:

Re: banana root propagation.
 

carpy,

Good luck with your Musa Sikkimensis 'Red Tiger'. :o