Do you let your pups “dry out” before potting?
 

I don’t have a place in the yard ready to put my pups in the ground, I’m working on preparing some areas. But I have had to get some of the pups off my dwarf cavendish and namwahs. The 3 water suckers I potted up with roots and a tiny bit of corm immediately after digging up. They did great! I dug up 2 namwah pups and a DC pup a week or so ago. I let them sit in the garage for about 6 hours before potting. I rinsed them off around the corm and the old dirt (I think that was a mistake) and I potted them up with the damaged corm side out without dirt on it. After a few days I covered them fully with dirt. The two namwahs look fine barely stressed. The DC rotted quick and I didn’t protect if from all the rain we got. The main plant had a new leaf but totally brown and I peeled a couple leaves off, brown underneath. But the corm has little pups going so it’s not all a loss.

Last night I dug up two DC off a plant I think will fruit in the near future and one big namwah. They’ve been sitting in a bin in the shade for a little over 24 hours to “dry out” because I’m scared that cut section will rot if I pot them up. In the future when I have some more areas tilled up and ready for bananas I’ll put them in the ground immediately I never have issues when I do that.

I’m just curious what you guys do if you can’t plant them into the ground right away. I see a common method is to let them dry out for a couple days and clip all the leaves but one. Also do certain species of pups propagate better than others for you?

Re: Do you let your pups “dry out” before potting?
 

I know that dc hate having their roots hacked at. I always dry my pups out but with my first banana pup I got (first banana plant for me ever) I didn't dry it out because I didn't want the roots to dry, which I now know is fine. I planted it right away and didn't have any promlemo. I also soak in a 1:3 ratio if bleach to water prior to replanting.

Re: Do you let your pups “dry out” before potting?
 

Thanks dude, so how long do you let them dry out? And do you always dip them in the bleach solution? All 3 of the pups I just dug up still had that sap on the corm cut part so i figure I shouldn’t plant till that’s totally gone ? Idk

Re: Do you let your pups “dry out” before potting?
 

I normally dig, soak, them let dry out. Or you can dry then soak, haven't tested it!

I normally dig in the morning and pot up next morning depending on the size of corm.

Re: Do you let your pups “dry out” before potting?
 

Dig them up, pot them up 10 minutes later. Never had a problem.

Re: Do you let your pups “dry out” before potting?
 

I lose some pups that I pot up. I now keep the soil drier then before. I have also started letting the corm brown over before I pot it. I let it sit for 30-60 minutes until a skin forms over the fresh cut. I figure this reduces the new soil from sticking to the wound and causing rot. I seem to have better luck now.

Bill

Re: Do you let your pups “dry out” before potting?
 

Okay good I’m glad I’m not the only one, thanks Bill. After losing that one I’ll definitely keep them drier for the first couple weeks or so. I actually let my last 3 pups sit out for almost 2 days this time

Re: Do you let your pups “dry out” before potting?
 

My transplants have been most successful by watering first, and try and keep as much dirt on the roots while digging as you can. Then I immediately pot them, clipping the leaves to half, water sparingly after potting (I've lost some by watering too much after potting) and place them in the shade to recover. Whether that is the right way or not, it is for me....I've started adding perlite to the potting soil to help with drainage.