Dwarffing of my Ele Eles

Simply Bananas · 09-16-2007, 02:34 PM

I have two groups of Ele Ele. They both get good fertilizer and plenty of water. They seem stumped at 5-6 feet.

As you can see the leaves are HUUUUUUUUUGE. Shouldn't these plante be taller?

Ice Creams, Sabas, and Tall Orinocos get the same treatment and have grown to the correct heights.

Bananaman88 · 09-17-2007, 06:34 PM

This brings up a question I've had for a while...I've got a similar situation with Dw. Cavendish. The DC I have I originally obtained about 5 yrs ago while living in St. Louis. It is a pup off of a DC that was about 7' tall at the time I took the pup. The odd thing is, ever since I've been in TX, it has never gotten over 3' tall. It's as if it has suddenly changed into a Super DC or something. I even divided some pups off of it here, took it to where I work where we have much better soil than I have here at home to see if it was a soil/nutrient issue, but it is currently no taller than 2' and we've had a ton of rain this year! Anyone know what could cause something like this? I'm beginning to wonder if it's bad genetics or a genetic mutation. My actual SDC is taller that this plant!

MediaHound · 09-17-2007, 09:46 PM

Sometimes clones of the same banana planted in different spots on my property grow differently from the other spots where it's planted.
Just give it a good feeding and some tlc... maybe till the soil a bit.

mrbungalow · 09-18-2007, 12:43 AM

I see you're in SC. You get fairly cold there right? If I remember correctly, Ele Ele is a very cold-sensitive plant that's a "little temperamental" as Pitangadiego would have said! That is: cold-sensitive compared to orinocos, Ice creams, and sabas.

An I suppose you overwinter the plants in the ground? I think this has something to do with it - When you loose some stem in the winter. I have also seen basjoos in extreme northern areas flowering at ridiculously low heights.

I also notice the colour of the plant is not dark brown as it should be. Do you by any chance know the pH of your soil? What are you feeding it?

Regards
Erlend

Simply Bananas · 09-18-2007, 03:41 AM

The all get slow release 12-2-14 once a month, a fish head every now and then, and some vegetable scraps a few times a month. No, I don't know the ph, but they occasionally get some good charcoal ashes from the grill. I know it is not volcanic, but its all I got.

mrbungalow · 09-18-2007, 05:34 AM

Quote:

but they occasionally get some good charcoal ashes from the grill

Oooh, I would stop doing that. These barbecue ashes make the soil highly alkaline, and as far as I know volcanic soil is slightly acidic because of the sulfur. So that's probably why your Ele Ele is looking pale as a Finnish guy in the middle of winter.

(Actually, that's how my great grandmother would make soap in the good old days. She would mix water with ashes from the stove, and then mix this with animal lard. Best soap north of the equator! )

Anyway, I think all bananas love a pH on the slightly acidic side. 5.5 to 7 is probably in the ideal range.

Simply Bananas · 09-21-2007, 06:38 PM

I thought ashes were acidic. They sure do rust the grill when combined with H2O.

mrbungalow · 09-22-2007, 09:13 AM

Hello, I found this on Wikipedia (about soap) to backup what I am claiming:

Quote:

Lye
Reacting fat with sodium hydroxide will produce a hard soap.

Reacting fat with potassium hydroxide will produce a soap that is either soft or liquid. Historically, the alkali used was potassium hydroxide made from the deliberate burning of vegetation such as bracken, or from wood ashes.

mushtaq86 · 05-12-2019, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simply Bananas

I have two groups of Ele Ele. They both get good fertilizer and plenty of water. They seem stumped at 5-6 feet.

As you can see the leaves are HUUUUUUUUUGE. Shouldn't these plante be taller?

Ice Creams, Sabas, and Tall Orinocos get the same treatment and have grown to the correct heights.

Simply

Are you still growing Ele Ele

Simply Bananas · 05-12-2019, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mushtaq86

Simply

Are you still growing Ele Ele

Yes...and they are still short! However...my dwarf namwahs are really tall now..

mushtaq86 · 05-13-2019, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Simply Bananas

Yes...and they are still short! However...my dwarf namwahs are really tall now..

I wonder if the lack of humidity in the winter months, have turned your Ele Ele into dwarfs, your dwarf Namwahs could possibly be tall Namwahs

tve · 05-13-2019, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mushtaq86

I wonder if the lack of humidity in the winter months, have turned your Ele Ele into dwarfs, your dwarf Namwahs could possibly be tall Namwahs

Hmmmmm, I'm reading this thread "upside down"

, I would find it interesting to be able to dwarf bananas on purpose

, is lack of humidity a trick for that? Sounds a bit dangerous 'cause the line between low humidity and dry death is probably thin?

Simply Bananas · 05-14-2019, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mushtaq86

I wonder if the lack of humidity in the winter months, have turned your Ele Ele into dwarfs, your dwarf Namwahs could possibly be tall Namwahs

Charleston has plenty of humidity for bananas.

09-16-2007, 02:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
Simply Bananas Formerly known as porkpi Simply Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: James Island SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b-9a Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 854 BananaBucks : 338,692 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Dwarffing of my Ele Eles I have two groups of Ele Ele. They both get good fertilizer and plenty of water. They seem stumped at 5-6 feet. As you can see the leaves are HUUUUUUUUUGE. Shouldn't these plante be taller? Ice Creams, Sabas, and Tall Orinocos get the same treatment and have grown to the correct heights. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

09-17-2007, 06:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 264,756 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Dwarffing of my Ele Eles This brings up a question I've had for a while...I've got a similar situation with Dw. Cavendish. The DC I have I originally obtained about 5 yrs ago while living in St. Louis. It is a pup off of a DC that was about 7' tall at the time I took the pup. The odd thing is, ever since I've been in TX, it has never gotten over 3' tall. It's as if it has suddenly changed into a Super DC or something. I even divided some pups off of it here, took it to where I work where we have much better soil than I have here at home to see if it was a soil/nutrient issue, but it is currently no taller than 2' and we've had a ton of rain this year! Anyone know what could cause something like this? I'm beginning to wonder if it's bad genetics or a genetic mutation. My actual SDC is taller that this plant!

09-17-2007, 09:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-Man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 5,273 BananaBucks : 2,271,030 Feedback: 66 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,882 Times Was Thanked 5,104 Times in 1,359 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,088 Times	Re: Dwarffing of my Ele Eles Sometimes clones of the same banana planted in different spots on my property grow differently from the other spots where it's planted. Just give it a good feeding and some tlc... maybe till the soil a bit. __________________ Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

09-18-2007, 12:43 AM	#4 (permalink)
mrbungalow Freezing member mrbungalow's Photo Gallery Location: Bergen, Norway Find me on the map! Zone: 8 Name: Erlend Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 598 BananaBucks : 90,465 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 165 Times in 78 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Dwarffing of my Ele Eles I see you're in SC. You get fairly cold there right? If I remember correctly, Ele Ele is a very cold-sensitive plant that's a "little temperamental" as Pitangadiego would have said! That is: cold-sensitive compared to orinocos, Ice creams, and sabas. An I suppose you overwinter the plants in the ground? I think this has something to do with it - When you loose some stem in the winter. I have also seen basjoos in extreme northern areas flowering at ridiculously low heights. I also notice the colour of the plant is not dark brown as it should be. Do you by any chance know the pH of your soil? What are you feeding it? Regards Erlend __________________

09-18-2007, 03:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Simply Bananas Formerly known as porkpi Simply Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: James Island SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b-9a Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 854 BananaBucks : 338,692 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Re: Dwarffing of my Ele Eles The all get slow release 12-2-14 once a month, a fish head every now and then, and some vegetable scraps a few times a month. No, I don't know the ph, but they occasionally get some good charcoal ashes from the grill. I know it is not volcanic, but its all I got. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

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09-21-2007, 06:38 PM	#7 (permalink)
Simply Bananas Formerly known as porkpi Simply Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: James Island SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b-9a Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 854 BananaBucks : 338,692 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Re: Dwarffing of my Ele Eles I thought ashes were acidic. They sure do rust the grill when combined with H2O. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

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