Panaroma

I have 20 seedling musa Helens. They are all in pot and about 1 m tall. One of them has a complete black stem and his leaves are wider then the rest of them. The growthrate was the same, just like the other conditions like; lightexposure, watering, feeding,... I looked at one of his parents (Chini-Champa) and he lookes very much the same.
His hardyness is good, also like the rest of them. They all took a -3 c in the greenhouse (outside it was -12 c). Only their leaves are shattered and their stems are all perfectly unharmed by frost. (maybe, except one, outside layer has a litle frostbite).
Other thing I noticed was that the frozen parts (dead cells) of the the black-stemmed one Dry out very easy, and then it stops. I find this interresting because the quicker it dries its frozen wounds, the better it can protect itself against (inner)rot, fungus, but mostly the frost itself. It creates a nice dry insulation itself. The green stemmed ones frozen parts are more mushy for an extend of time.... infleuence of Sikkimensis? Not enough backcrossed? How much different types of Helens can one find!??

I also have a Helens seedling that is just growing much faster then the rest. He's much higher, taller, he looks like somekind of swordsucker. It's my fastest musa so far. Quite a contrast, if looked next to the one with the black stem wich is more robust.
I'm really going to keep those two! lol
So, to all u interrested readers,

Best of wishes,

Panaroma, Brussels

Tropicallvr

Thanks for that info Panaroma. I've been wondering if anyone got one that had more of the black stem trait of Chini Champa from that hybrid. I wonder if the Musa helens seed that is being sold is F1 hybrid seed or F2 hybrid seed?
Please post some pics when you get a chance, or maybe later in the summer when they look their best!

Bch Grl

Ok...Got pics of the Black P-stem flower...They are kind of messy because I leave the dry leaves on for isulation in the winter. Can anyone ID them for me???? There are a few more pics in my gallery.
Margie