Valor_X

So last year I got a Grand Nain pup from my buddy wstrickland1
Unfortunately it died back completely but then sprouted back up again after it recovered... and then died back again during winter...

This spring it came back... in a really weird way.
At first it was just one sucker coming up... then it stopped growing.
Then 2 more suckers.... then 4....
Now I can count at LEAST 7
Every week there seems to be another one coming up.

It's like the corm went into survival mode or something after dying back twice and is sending tons of tiny suckers. They are like small TC cultures.

You would think I cut up the corm into pieces or something, but I didn't!

There are so many of them competing with each other that they are growing very slowly - although they do look very healthy.

Anyone seen this? Any advice? The only thing I can think about doing is carefully cutting them apart from each other but at that point they will literally be just like small TC plants. I doubt the corm was able to grow much last year so I don't know if it's the best idea to be cutting it up.

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Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

sirdoofus

Not really sure if I am in the ballpark here, but I wonder if the apical meristem died back but not the rest of the corm, essentially having the same effect as cutting it out. Anyway, its interesting to see, thanks for posting!

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Who keeps calling me nuts??

wstrickland1

So the main plant of the one I sent you and 2 others (main plants) that were exploding last year died all the way down over the winter. Since March they've been prolific pup producers and some are looking very strong. Every single main plant didn't come back but the pups are cray cray.

Didn't answer your question but know that your plant's fahdder was a pupper. Heck his mudder was a pupper.

Also am pretty much learning that if you want the main plant to make it over the winter and have a shot at fruit some care will have to be taken. They do NOT like the cold, and out winter was pretty mild.

wstrickland1

Some of your plants kin folk today:

Valor_X

Wow! You do have a lot and they look great!
Good info too btw, I know Cavendish varieties like to pup... but mine's crazy
The corm is probably the size of a golf ball and sending out all these pups in like a 6" area!

If I had just ONE main plant I wouldn't mind all the pups

I'm thinking maybe just cut the stems of all the smaller ones except the biggest one to encourage that one to grow while keeping the corm intact

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Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

wstrickland1

The first full year one of them went nuts and I didn't know which one to call the mama. Pretty sure the advice I got from someone here was to wait it out and see which one took charge. Neither did so I ended up splitting it all up and potting about 8 or so pups and they were all over the place. They pup like it's their job

Valor_X

Yeah I guess I can just continue to wait and see what happens...
Might place it on the ground somewhere to see if it helps give it an extra kick

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Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

wstrickland1

I quickly learned that potted up they make great patio plants. I brought a couple in over the winter for insurance. Now I know I can just mulch the heck out of them and at least have pups for next year. My expectations are low in terms of fruit production. Honestly I'm really after a tropical look around the pool more than anything so even one banana is gravy. I did get a couple of flowers on the bordelons in 2019 so technically I have produced "bananas". Gorgeous flowers

Valor_X

I completely agree! I love the tropical look as well.
Cavendish varieties are my favorite by far to have as patio plants.
They have a very unique look with the wide leaves with wine stains, spotted stem with pink coloring.

You should be able to get fruit from the Orinoco it's one of the better cold hardy varieties
We get fruit here every year in 9A even if the stem dies back a bit during winter.

__________________
Varieties I'm Growing

From Corm/Pup
Dwarf Cavendish ○ Super Dwarf Cavendish ○ Grand Nain ○ Niño ○ Manzano ○ Raja Puri ○ Tall Namwah ○ Blue Java ○ 1000 Fingers ○ Praying Hands ○ Orinoco ○ Variegated Florida ○ PR Red ○ California Gold ○ FHIA-03 Sweetheart

Plantains
Puerto Rican Dwarf Plantain ○ African Rhino Horn

From TC
Truly Tiny ○ Manzano ○ "Blue Java" ○ Dwarf Namwah ○ Thai Black ○ Veinte Cohol

wstrickland1

That will be nice. I have a good spot picked out for it.