Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

I just today received an Aeae and a Thousand Fingers banana plant that I ordered from Thailand... 11 days total in transit and customs/USDA.

Upon opening the tube, the packing is not quite what I expected. The plants are approximately 16" in length with the leaves removed, no soil, and totally dry. I was prepared for the corms to be wrapped in wet paper toweling or newspaper, with areas of rot and/or fungus, that would need to be trimmed away, but instead the corms are just totally, completely, and purposely dry. Is this the normal procedure for long duration shipping?

So... do I just stick them in a pot with soil and add water, or is there something special I should do?

Thanks in advance for any information or advice!
Carl

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

I'm also in this position with a Gros Michel received yesterday, so interested in any thoughts from the banana hive-mind. I hear these leafless, rootless pseudostems default to rotting...

I've potted using my go-to technique for other plants that need roots, fast -- 100% perlite, high humidity, bottom heat. Watered on potting then not again until signs of life (but they never fully dry due to the humidity). It's usually 100% reliable, but I haven't done this with a banana before -- is there a better technique, anyone?!

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Never been there, but . . . I would remove all dead material from the pseudostem. Maybe prune them back a little in length to verify that they is viable tissue in the stem, and to allow new growth to emerge. Plant them in a loose/well draining mix, water well, and then back off water for a while. If you can get them into a greenhouse or other sunny space that is approx. 90F temp wise, that should stimulate growth. After a couple weeks, assuming there is new growth emerging, I would start adding some 1/2 strength Miracle-Gro once a week, along with watering. Biggest thing is to be patient, patient, patient and not over think this. Let the plant work things out. Don't pot, un-pot, re-pot, fret, un-pot, re-pot, stress out, over-fertilize, over-water.

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Some overseas vendors ship like that to meet phyto specs.
You just happened to get one of those.
Yes ....they are ugly.....but they will still work out.....patience.

tobym has the go to ticket....a few forum members whom get overseas plants do this method to get the roots started.
Some use just clean course sand if perlite is not available

Encanto Farms Nursery is spot on....follow the rules.

Forum member .Hmelendez68
https://www.flickr.com/photos/151124777@N03/albums has done this in the past and quite often and it takes 20-60 days to see progress.

Check out the link....best takeaways and pics .
Do a forum search for his threads......they are step by step.

Do search for Canadian member JP.
This member starts all his corms in clean course sand .

There is some drilling for information to do to!!!

Pm.... if you need more info

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Goodness, this is truly the banana brain trust. Thank you both so much -- that's super useful. Fingers crossed!

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

You have to do some drilling on the information served....

There are many awesome ideas ....just pick and choose what you can afford and can do.
Me...I am on a shoestring

Do not hesitate to ask the forum

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Thanks for all the great information and recommendations everyone! I'm feeling SO much better about my little pups!

I went ahead and removed all dead material from both, trimmed the top a little to remove anything that would block fresh leaves from emerging, planted in 100% perlite, watered, and placed in full sun on my hot deck in mid-80's weather following Mondays cold front. Now the hard part... ignoring for the next 20 - 60 days...

Wish me luck!

Updated Pictures:

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Good luck....however you might need to improvise this one thing.
Full sun on a hot deck with mid 80 temps will harm your plant.
Decks will get up to 130 degrees and a black container will kick the temp up even further.
It is like taking a little skinny white kid with red hair to the beach all day with no sunscreen.
You know the rest of the story:)

Keep the warmth but keep in the shade till a leaf emerges.

Your new plants till go through some more expected changes as it settles in its perlite palace.

Possibly expect your plants to desiccate back to the soil line as the corm put it's energy towards new roots. This will happen soon.

Your plant will be working hard to get its roots before it does anything else.
Good luck on the grow.

Thanx foer asking the question...

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

I am in a similar situation. Luckily the corm of mine were wrapped in sphagnum and plastic wrap, so they were kept moist. I removed all the black / mushy leaves and they both appear pretty healthy under. I just planted them in a 50/50 houseplant potting soil / perlite mixture. I am in NYC and its about to get really dark and cold. Luckily it is in a small bedroom with its own temperature control, so I can crank up the heater in there pretty easily. I am also probably going to put a PAR38 and/or BR30 on a 16/8 hour timer to see if that helps stimulate growth. And maybe a humidifier. The North East is so challenging.

fingers crossed (and any advice welcome)

The larger one is a Musa Tanee, smaller is a Musa Aeae.

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Pilea ....look great??

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

What website did you order these from? how are the plants doing now? Was it worth the money?

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

How can we help you get the plants you need.
Tell us about yourself ...so we may get you the best plant possible.....or steer you to the best possible match .

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

I am just curious to see what this site has and if it is worth it, not looking for any banana in particular as of yet.

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Well..... great having you visit the forum and taking the time to sign in.

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

I purchased them both from asean importers. Took about
Two months to finally ship, then about a week to get here.

Not much to report. They are still sitting in dirt under grow lights for 16 hours a day. I am avoiding the instinct to dig them up to see if roots are growing. Top has tried out a bit, and the bigger one tends to get some mold as it dries up.

I have been really slow to water as I know they are susceptible to root rot when young, but they are quite dry so will probably give them a light water this weekend. The room has been kept at 78-85 degrees, 70% humidity.

Any advice is welcome. Thanks all.

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Ask...

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

The muses have been in dirt for about 3 weeks now. They have been under grow lights for 16 hours a day in a room that stays at 80º. I left the dirt dry out almost completely, and watered for the first time this week, not so much that water was running out the bottom. In another post I showed that the Tanee was getting some little maggots, I believe they were fruit flies, so I dod remove the top part of the plant and outer layers to hopefully get rid of all of them.

Thats about it. No signs of growth. I assume I should just remain patient, but any advice is always welcome.

Thanks.

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Do a photo!!

I have one which has its own 24 watt lamp on it ......and all it does is sit there.
But I do know it will start moving soon.



Sorry.... i do not know your conditions

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

here are some photos:

Re: Post-delivery care & planting of bananas from overseas
 

Digging up this thread as it's confession time: who managed to get some growth?!

My Gros Michel bit the dust with no sign of life... will try again now the greenhouse is getting even warmer.