My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Hello everyone I am new to this forum and new to growing banana plants. I have been learning about growing banana plants for only a year now. I do have experience with different types of trees but banana plants are in a class of their own. My Wife and I started by just wanting to line the outside of our pool cage with banana plants for the exotic look. We started with 5 plants of different variety. Then I learned about reproducing them from pups and now have around 20 or so around the pool cage. My Wife fell in love with the Variegated Manini. Lucky for me I found PR-GIANTS.

PR-GIANTS wanted to make sure I knew as much as possible. So after a few conversations and my million questions I received my first 2 Manini corms. I opened the box and there were 2 Giant Corms (I thought WHAT THE HELL I COULD KILL SOMEONE WITH THESE). This was the best transaction I ever had. No twigs and sticks in this box. After some testing and discussion I decide to use 100% large chunk perlite and 7galllon pots I was a little short of the large chunks so I mixed in some regular perlite. After soaking the perlite and letting it drain for a day I found it held almost 2 gal of water by weighting it on a parcel scale. Since we didn't know what to expect using 100% perlite I have sent pics to PR-GIANTS after a week and crossed my fingers. PR-GIANTS told me their growing great. I pray they continue. I am posting my pics and will continue to post their progress. If it weren't for this site and help from PR-GIANTS this would never happen since their a fussy bunch and my experience is near none.

My 2 Manini Corms just out the box


POT #1


POT #2


After 1 week

POT #1


POT #2


My Wife loves the Manini and I Love the Manini but also the challenge.

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Would love to see a pic of your outdoor area!

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Welcome to the forum, I'm happy to see you posting. Many Manini owners joined, wrote a PM, and then disappeared.

This will be interesting to follow. I've never seen perlite and know very little about it, but how you explained it I really couldn't see any reason why it wouldn't work well during the initial stage of root development. All that is really needed is the proper temperature and air to moisture ratio, and if those can be maintained it should work fine. That being said, I would never put all my Maninis in the same proverbial basket.

Thanks & Happy Thanksgiving

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

You could be on the cutting edge of a corm starting technology. Perlite gives the air space yet holds a little water. I like it! Please keep us updated along the way.
:woohoonaner:

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

I tried this idea a few year back, in theory it looks great, while the practical results are poor. Perlite does what is says on the pack when you buy the product, its for aeration and drainage.

I am surprised that you have used a manini for this experiment, while you will not see any problems in the initial root development, but as the plant starts to grow, nutrient deficiencies will start to show. Variegation could also be poor growing in perlite. Warmer weather will also be a problem as constant watering with liquid fertilizers will be needed, if the 100% perlite gets dry in warm weather the roots will fry.

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

I would top with a few scoops of manure and soil before watering when it gets more growth. The waterings will wash down the soil / manure mix to fill the gaps between the perlite. You can also use pine bark.
I do a 5 parts pine barkbto 1 part manure and 1 part top soil and the drainage is amazing but the bark also can retain and release water as needed.

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

How about a picture of the roots? :bananas_b

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Thanks for the replies and tips I am so new at this variety and I am hoping for the best. I will post pics of my outdoor area as soon as I take some.

I decided to use chunky perlite since a course sand is recommended and i cant find one I like. I have used perlite as a medium to root a variety of plants. I would never plan on keeping these Manni's in 100% perlite and keep them there. I just want good root growth from this only. I will inspect the corms weekly. The corms come out of the perlite so easily but like everything else I will take my time so I don't break the fragile roots. If all goes well as soon as I see a decent amount root growth I will incorporate a compost or manure and soil mix and do a 50/50 mix with the perlite. I will change the mix to 50/50 after I inspect the corm hopefully for the last time till spring. Then in the ground they go. I have brought them indoors in a room that stays 80 degrees or so. I get a little more control this way. Good or bad results I will post pictures weekly after I pull them to inspect them.

I want to mention like everybody I just want these Manni's to make it. When I bought these I didn't just get a couple plants in a box. I got detailed instruction and advice. So I decided to post the steps I'm taking using perlite because its easy to get perlite here. If the way I'm doing this works well great someone may benefit from it. If it fails then you'll know what not to do.

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

I similarly use sphagnum moss to rescue corms and EE tubers that show rot, or are having issues, because its airy and sterile, antifungal, and antibacterial. It works great to just rescue the corms and they root fast and rot usually stops, but once the corm starts actively growing, the sphagnum cannot maintain moisture levels for the plant and it has to be placed in soil. The perlite should work to just root the corms.

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

That's a terrible idea.

An inspection should only have to be done once and is used to validate the methodology.

A failed inspection allows the abuser to see what they have done and the opportunity to make corrections.

Adding manure is a terrible idea.

Many good folks continue to do bad things to plants because they can't always notice the abuse and some plants can tolerate it.

What can be learned by growing a more sensitive banana like a Manini can dramatically improve your growing techniques.

After becoming proficient growing the Manini, which took years, I was truly able to look back and see how little I knew even after decades of farming thousands of bananas.

After understanding that the proper air to moisture ratio for a corm is different than that for the roots, many folks simply put a few inches of potting mix at the bottom for the roots and place the corm in a course material above that.

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

I removed 4 pups off of the OP's Manini corms on Nov 14 and checked on them today. They have all rooted and appear fine and the one in the bottom photo is in the lead. The important thing to remember when growing Manini corms is to maintain an environment that prevents rotting but is also conducive for rooting for as long as possible. Good things will happen.

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Folks, please try to behave while I'm on vacation for the next week. I just banned one member for one month and asked the administrator to review my actions if he so wishes. I was tempted to make the ban permanent but just didn't have the time to research further but there was clearly several policy violations.

Also, just a tip - when a user deletes or edits their post, a moderator is still able to view the original comment. So think carefully before posting.

This is a forum intended for the friendly sharing of information and ideas. Please post accordingly. World peace would be a great thing and begins with each one of us.

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Harvey, off subject but just want to thank you for volunteering for a thankless job. We all need a reminder every now and then. Have a good vacation!:2738:

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Another precursory appendage, it's amazing how fast they grow.

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Here are some pics of the progress from two corms above that I got from
PR-Giants. They're still in perlite I will probably keep them there indoors till spring. The last pic of the smaller plant with slimmer longer leaves is soposed to be a florida a friend gave it to me and it seems to be growing well also.












FLORIDA

FLORIDA

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Congrats!.......Plants looking very good!.....

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

seem to be growing slow to me... how often do you water?

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

yea I felt the same way that they were growing slowly. We do have cooler temps that may have a little to do with it. Maybe the straight perlite is contributing to slower growth. I did put them in several hours of filtered sun and the whites were getting burned dried out. I brought them indoors and all the burn went away and the leaves got back to their vibrant color. As for watering I water sparingly to prevent rot. So if they are growing slowly i don't care at least there growing and seem to look very healthy. I will wait till spring to plant them out doors and introduce some compost on the outskirts and see what happens

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Your plants look great! Please keep the updates coming.
:woohoonaner:

Re: My first Manini Corms in 100% perlite
 

Looking Good !