new nanners...new trial
 

Hey all,


Ok, some remember I've lost bananas to rot as I put them in a large pot. Well I have much smaller bananas and smaller pots and want to do things right this time. They are full Phoenix shade for now, and I watered them when I potted them but am not sure when to water them next? I really am scared they will rot. Should I wait a week. The pots are smallish that I really don't want to be digging in the pots and disturing the bananas' root development.

I'm excited and while I have and may again fail dismally, I do learn something with each failure!
Zach

Re: new nanners...new trial
 

My humble opinion is to water them once real well and then do not water again until you begin to see new growth. As long as you are using a well drained soil mix, you should be fine... I like to see that you are using clay pots as I don't think they can be beat... Best of luck to you and your nanners...

Re: new nanners...new trial
 

Randy, thanks for the advice. It makes sense what you say. I will wait until new growth.

Re: new nanners...new trial
 

Please give your babies a little "dappled" sun as well. Without sufficient light, they will "do a Frogger" (croak). You are better to under water, than over water. Pot sizes are very good. Being clay, will they dry out too quickly in Phoenix? What is your potting mix? Please don't say it is Miracle Grow. I put a lot of perlite in any "starter mix", even in the desert. You might consider watering with a Green Light product...Green Light Root Stimulator & Starter solution. The product has both a low-fert analysis and...importantly...indole-3-butyric acid...a rooting hormone. ONLY apply the product, if the pots are moist.

Re: new nanners...new trial
 

Musa, I used cactus/palm mix for the soil. Shade in Phoenix is actually bright light sometimes LOL. The sun is horrid on plants and the bananas I think are just too small. If they start growing really good, I'll put them in a place where there is a little bit of morning sun. Thanks!

Zach

Re: new nanners...new trial
 

Limited morning sun would be great. If you can mist the "Newlings", even better. I can't see where there could be a great "Cactus/Palm Mix"..? The two worlds will likely NOT meet? The sun is horrid for us too, in Las Cruces. Not quite as intense as Phoenix,..but..no picnic. Your babies still want light & heat. Humidity...any way you can provide it...would be a major plus.

Re: new nanners...new trial
 

Musa,

Cactus/Palm Mix is a common soil to be pot. I like it cuz it's got excellent drainage and I know that's important for bananas. It's not heavy like standard potting soil. What do you suggest for a good banana soil? I don't really have access to compost...

Zach

Re: new nanners...new trial
 

Just a tip if you do over water by accident, i have found putting the pots on a heat mat seems to recover them well. In my case within 24 hours on two occasions where my hand "slipped" with the watering ccan.

Re: new nanners...new trial
 

i was all over the miricle gro potting mix...till i relized the freaking little gnats that were flying around my head was not a dream. so ive changed up to the expert gardner potting mix. i take a 2 cubic ft. bag of the expert garden potting mix, 1- eight quart bag of citrus and cactus mix, 1- eight quart bag of perilite. mix together well and then pot. i do have one suggestion...clay pots do dry out faster then the plastic ones do. if your gonna use the clay pots here is another suggestion. plant you plant in the clay pot of your choice, take a bigger pot and fill it half way with mulch. set your planted pot into the bigger pot and put mulch between the pots. this will help retain moisture and you can use your clay pot. i love clay pots i think they are wonderful, but you do have to water a little more ofter. thats why i suggested the pot in a pot way. btw...i learned that on the hgtv..gardening by the yard...with paul james the gardner guy. people lived in new mexico( i think) and she wanted some kind of plant that had to be moist. so there you go . just my thoughts.

on another note: you can get organic compost mixed with manure at walmart....i wouldnt use it till your babies get bigger, but just a thought.

Re: new nanners...new trial
 

I use Fertilome potting mix, from one of the local nurseries. It is relatively pricey, but sometimes you get what you pay for. I amend the mix with about 1/4 to 1/3 perlite, which I can get in 3 Cu ft bags. Often, I will add a small amount of horticultural charcoal. In GA I could buy professional-grade Pro-Mix...and add perlite. In WA, I could buy baled Pro Mix at a big wholesale Hort supplier (I grew a lot of plants in WA..not nanners though). If these are un-available...Lowes, here...puts their own moniker on a PEAT-based soil mix. Fairly expensive, as the bags are "loose fill", and not very large. Doesn't seem to be too bad a product. Many of the cheaper mixes are bark-based,...which I will NOT use for any plant. This seems to work for me. :baloonnaner: