Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

( Photos included in middle of write up. )

I want to preface this with that the actual plant sent to me looks like it would have been beautiful had it arrived to me sooner:

The p-stem was a little over a foot tall, good thickness, good sized rhizome. They'd even left two leaves attached. Can't comment about the roots because they were none to be seen.

So to be clear, this isn't a case where I was shipped a faulty plant.

What happened was much too long a transit with a sensitive type of musa (AeAe).

It *was* shipped express, and the sticker on the box confirms this.


Unfortuantly it fell off radar for about a week once it hit USA, and then once it shipped out from UPS , it took another 6 days to arrive. All in all it was in transit for 12 days. (I know this is very likely due to Covid.)


I removed as much black as I could. The p-stem was complete mush, and kept showing black with each cut, so it also got cut down very far. Little is left. I actually never got to any healthy part, as any exposed flesh immediatly turned black once exposed to air, and the water that oozed up from the rhizome was grey and black.

I also shaved and cut into quite a bit of the rhizome looking for healthy tissue and was unable to find any. Basiclly at this point I gave up.

I did contact the seller...He believes the plant is still alive and salvagable..... I am skeptical, but I have followed his instructions in an attempt to save it. Though as far as I can tell it's all rotten and will just revert into compost. *Weep*

**Warning, Crime Scene photos below**














Verdict:

I think under normal circumstances reputable thailand vendors are fine to order Musa from, even sensitive AeAe,(IF shipped express!) though unless you live in or near Miami , where their shipments arrive, I definitly would hold off or purchase from somewhere closer until the mail system is back to a more normal pace.


Soapbox:

I must admit I am very very sad and dissapointed to have recieved such a beautiful plant that I was looking forward to in this condition. Part of it is yes because of the money, as we all know these are expensive plants. The other part is I had a rather rough week last week and into this week and was looking forward to a little "sunshine".

*sob sob weep*

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Very sorry to see this! I also gambled on an AEAE from Indonesia, and am considering attempting to cancel after seeing this. So sorry for you and your plant!

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

This is what I would do .......Wash/soak the corm in bleach water for 15 or 20 min. 1/2 cup of bleach/ gal...Fill a pot (12 -14") half full with potting mix (50% perlite); then the top half with course builders sand (do not use 'play sand'). Set the corn in the sand and give 1/4 cup of water. No more water until you see new growth. It will take several weeks. The potting mix will nourish the corm when the roots grow into it. The dryer/ airy sand will help to kill/prevent any root rot. Good luck.

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

I believe you will still be OK!

My Florida took an entire month for it to recover and start growing. By the end it looked like a completely dead husk!
The cut stem will shrivel up and turn completely black but the rhizome will be growing roots and recovering underneath so don't lose hope!

Follow the steps that edwmax posted

Bananas are very resilient!

Good Luck! :bananas_b

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

There is a good chance the plant will sort itself out in a few months.

Bananas have issues when shipped for long periods with full foliage ,humidity and heat......that is what they can look like.

The corm looks viable....but hard to say.

You can tell by giving it the sniff test.

Many overseas plants are shipped bare corm which look similar to your corm.
Follow instructions what some of the forum members have to offer and check out Hmelendez posts and photos....he grows from overseas bare corm often.
He has some great documented photos of his no root corms and plants.

Good luck.

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

I’m confused. Is it an AeAe or a Florida? Good luck with the plant.

Bill

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Thanks guys for your comments, tips, and support! :)

I've followed through on the given advice, though I still need to get the aforementioned sand.

cincinnana When I was cutting up the poor plant, I noticed besides the musty smell it still smelt like bananas . Like an not quite ripe cavendish. Is this a good sign?


Florida is a strain of AeAe. :)

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Hi Sundra

Looking at the corm, it looks very small by the photos, there is hardly any corm at the bottom of it, it should be more onion shaped, which means there wont be enough energy in the central cylinder to send roots out. A corm in 12 days transition, should still be in a lot better condition, you need to send the photos, to the seller and ask him,if it does not root, he needs to send another one out, or you want your money back.


It takes usually takes me around 4 weeks to root a corm unless you live in very humid conditions,then possibly a couple of weeks.

I would take the advice what everyone else is saying, all you can do right now, is pot it up with perlite/ potting mix and just wait.

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Florida is not a strain of AeAe. They are very different types of banana. They aren’t even in the same family. So what is it?

Bill

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Agree with Bill, Ae Ae is a ABB cultivar while Florida is AAA cultivar, that's why Florida is more cold sensitive.

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Good evening,

I did send photos to the seller. He says "AeAe are drama queens" and basiclly that this is typical of them to react this way during shipping. He seems confident it will survive. I don't have high hopes, but I am trying by following everyones' advice. Not sure he'd be open to a refund, though I am considering strongly to try and get the shipping refunded from UPS. (I know, good luck right? lol)

Florida is often referred to as "AeAe Florida." or "AeAe Florida Strain." etc.

Though it seems this is factually incorrect :ha:

Thanks for the info/correction. :2738:

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Any update on your plant?

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

It would be inspiring to see life return....I'd like an update also.

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

With my basjoo, which is the only banana I've chopped up, the sap rapidly oxidizes to black (it also stains). Same goes for the corm cuts. Black doesn't automatically mean rot. If it's squishy then it's a bad sign. The pstem and corm looked pretty good (apart from being small)

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

I'll definitely do that :)

That's very informative, thank you! Gives me more hope :goteam:

What is left of the stem...Another outer layer blackened and seperated, however beneath that it IS green and solid. I take this to mean it ISN'T dead? At least not yet? I'd think by now it would have rotted through, especially with the heat we've been having.

I'll take+post an updated pic soon.

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

@Sundra if you feel confident enough to do this what you can do is carefully dig up the rhizome and see if roots are growing. If they are, you're GOLDEN! That means what you're doing is right and all you need is patience.

The seller I bought mine from had me do this for reassurance and sure enough it had plenty of roots growing at the 2 week mark even though the stem looked bad.

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Well , drats, no roots and the stem seems to be rotting all the way through now. >_<

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Based on the photo of the corm, it did look like you could possibly salvage it. I'd have used sterile potting mix and kept it lightly damp, but there are no guarantees. Sucks to lose a new nanner.

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

That sucks :(
Maybe the seller can work with you and make things right

Re: Variegated Florida arrived...And not good news :(
 

Just leave it and see if it makes a comeback. Forum member pitangadeigo said, "Never give up till their is a hole in the ground." ( meaning where the corm was lol)