peterhardtail

after uncovering all my musa stumps at the end of march three of the stumps "hardened over" and the new pups came from either the side of the stump or off to the side (like they should) the rest of my trees started growing from the center like they normally would. all the stumps were mulched and covered in the same matter. any idea as to why some would harden over like this?
thanks

natej740

Hi, I live in Chillicothe too. I had mixed results with my Basjoos. I cut mine down to around 12" to 16" inches and covered with 2 and a half bags of mulch. One pstem made it and one didnt. The one that didnt was protected better and got more sun so i have no idea why it didnt. It had two pups that shot up though and they are doing great now. Here is a thread i made with pics of them coming along...

Fist Year Musa Basjoo Success!!

Abnshrek

Well I never protected mine first of all. In five years I only noticed 3 grow from center. I did notice that pups shoot up faster than from center. Other folks may have other experiences? :^)

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sandy0225

I've noticed in a less harsh winter they come back from the center, in one where there's less snow cover, they come back as pups. I think it makes a difference in how far they freeze down in the winter. If they freeze down too far, then the only part of the corm that's alive = bottom= pups. Not so freezing=the top stays alive=center growth.
I've noticed around here though that when mine come from the center they grow faster, not slower though.

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Abnshrek

I had a very large corm, so the ones coming from center were fighting with at least a dozen to dozen & a half pups. The last year before I dug it up there were 35 on the one corm. The one from center would place a close second, but wasn't the tallest in the end. :^)

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peterhardtail

hi guys and thanks for the ideas. I have one theory and I'd like your input on. like I said, I mulched all my trees in the same matter for the winter. the trees that came back with new growth from the center of the "stump" had no pups growing from them at the time that I put them to bed for the winter. each of the stumps that hardened over had no less than six to eight pups at least 14-18" tall at the time I cut them down.( I already had 18 plants potted to bring inside for the winter so I was out of room!) so here's my theory, I'm thinking that it could be that all the spring growth was going to the pups and not to the mother plant. in the two pictures below I hope you can see what I am referring to. I have already transplanted the pups from these trees and all were around the 18-24" range. (I uncovered mine the last day of march, and yes we have had three frosts since then so I had to throw a blanket over all) I hope the pictures come through. by the way, i have quite a few plants for sale if anybody is interested in my area.
thanks,again

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