New Pups, Your Suggestions?
 

Apologies if this post is misplaced, but it hits a few different topics that crosses multiple-subforums.

I have 8 Thai Black Bananas arriving today from Wellspring Gardens. They were TC grown, and will likely be between 3"-8" in height, planted in 3.5" pots.

They'll obviously need some time to harden off, so they'll be repotted and placed in a good mixed shade area of my yard. I was going to give them 2 or 3 weeks before planting them in their permanent beds.

Questions:

1. is there a "best" soil/less mix for young tc-bred pups? They'll have decent strands of roots, but certainly won't be potbound or cormed.
2. how often can/should I liquid fertilize, and at what strength? I have Dyna-gro 9-3-6 (+essentials) and Miracle-Gro 24-8-16.
3. suggested temporary pot size?
4. Should they be planted after a particular time, or after something specific happens to them?

I've raised 12+ basjoo pups from Wellspring before with decent results, but I could likely have had better/faster results if I put more effort into nurturing them their first month.

Minor cold-front here right now, dipping into the 50s at night, but 70s during the day. I might bring them in at night until this front passes.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Edit - Package just arrived.

Re: New Pups, Your Suggestions?
 

I look forward to replies to your post as I am in the process of hardening off 2 x tissue cultured bananas too. As a newbie I'm hoping I got it right, I will wait and see :D

Re: New Pups, Your Suggestions?
 

Hey Sam,

Without any replies, I went ahead and potted the plants up today. Basic summary:

-Lamberts potting mix (Home Depot) fluffy, light, moisture retentive, without sogginess should prove useful as an early transitioning medium.
-2 quart pots - roomy enough for growth, small enough to prevent wasted nutrients.
-Morning sun/dappled shade

From here on out:

-Every two days or so, I'll water, rotating between 1/2 strength liquid 9-3-6, and plain water.

In 2 weeks I might repot with some organics in the mix, and move the plants to a 3/4 strength sunny location, maintaining the fert schedule, while adding a touch of osmocote to the pots.

If all looks good, I'll move the plants into their final location around the middle of April. Hopefully by then they'll have another inch or three on them, and produce a new leaf every week.

That's the plan. I'll certainly consider amending it if any of the resident experts have suggestions.

Re: New Pups, Your Suggestions?
 

Bananas need a fert ratio of med-low-high. I use 6-3-16 with minors from Diamond R ag supply. They sell to the public and you have one near you in Plant City.

Can't beat the prices. I bought a bag today for $18.20 at 50 lbs. When the mats are mature you need 2 lbs a month for March thru Nov. Two lbs is a full 16 oz Club cup.

Best to repot or stick inground when roots show in the drain holes.

Re: New Pups, Your Suggestions?
 

Bananimal,

I thought ornamentals always want Nitrogen first, Potash second.

After my pups put some time in hardening off, a stronger fertilizing regimen will be used. It's this tender period where I'm trying to do things differently.

All the same, thanks.

Re: New Pups, Your Suggestions?
 

Just thought I'd offer an early update.

Plants have been potted up for about 6 days now. In the original pic, one of the Thai had slightly curled leaves. Those leaves straightened themselves out within 12 hours or so.

I've watered the bananas with 9-3-6 twice so far. They've been getting ample light, but only direct, morning sun till about 9am. Half the plants are already producing new leaves, and I'm sure the others will be quick to follow.

I left my plants out during their first week when temps dropped into the mid-to-high 50s once or twice. No signs of ill effect. There's another cold front or two coming through the rest of the week. Overnight temps could drop into the high 40s once or twice, so I might toss an old sheet over them just to play it safe. The rest of the time, temps have been climbing to the high 70s and culminating at 80 degrees today.

While I've got a couple of containers of water soluble Miracle Grow 24-8-16, I'm planning to purchase a 25lb bag of Grow More 28-8-18 from Plantsthatproduce.com. Between my growing Basjoo and these Thai Black (in a month or two), I should make good use of that bag, and even with shipping, it's a pretty good deal.

I'm considering trying to (lightly) supplement the fert regimen with some additional Phosphate to help push the root system, but I won't act on that until I do more research and see others' advice from old threads.