Water suckers
 

Give me your take on water suckers. Do you chop em off or let em grow. Do you think there is a big difference in water as apposed to a sword. I've always just saved all the pups I can for me or to give away. I've never deliberately chopped one back but maybe I should. Do you think it really slows mama's growth rate? What's your thoughts?-Thanx N advance-Nate:03:

Re: Water suckers
 

What do they look like?

:pics: :D

Re: Water suckers
 

I was just reading where they said to cut em off. I know what they look like, just wanna know if I should start choppin em off and not waste my time with them. Thanx-Nate

Re: Water suckers
 

I wonder what the difference is between a water sucker and sword sucker? A pic showing the two would be very helpful for beginners learning about bananas.

Re: Water suckers
 

A water sucker looks more like a midget plant and is said to be a small fruit bearer and a weak plant. A sword sucker has thin pointy leaves and is said to be what you should save for propagation or as a replacement for mom.

Re: Water suckers
 

They tend to grow well and look nice as small plants because they get true leaves earlier than the sword suckers, but have less well developed root systems and seem to lack vigor throughout their life cycle, in my experience. Remove them and use as ornamentals, but not for fruit production. These are both about 6-8" tall - one obviously looks like a little banana plant (water sucker), and the other will be much taller before it has any true leaves (sword).

Re: Water suckers
 

Thanks for the pics! Now I know all the pups around my plants are swords and should be good for fruit. Now the dilemma of letting them just grow naturally and creating a thick banana patch, or relocating them to different places.

Re: Water suckers
 

great question,

I was getting ready to discard the swords on my mysores, saba and basjoos. guess will wait till they are decent height and transplant.

do the suckers hinder the moms growth?

Re: Water suckers
 

Great thread, I would like to follow it.

Re: Water suckers
 

Praying Hands sword suckers:02::woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonaner:

Re: Water suckers
 

Awsome pups!:woohoonaner:

Re: Water suckers
 

Praying Hands sword suckers:02::woohoonaner::woohoonaner::woohoonaner:

Re: Water suckers
 

Thanks for the pictures, guys. That really helps distinguish between the two.

Re: Water suckers
 

what no corona? LOL!
nice looking nanas!

Re: Water suckers
 

Here is an example of the huge difference in root development and corm size between water and sword suckers. Both are Goldfinger pups removed at the same time from the same parent plant.

Re: Water suckers
 

Thanks for posting that.

Re: Water suckers
 

Is it possible to grow water suckers and have them form sword suckers?

Re: Water suckers
 

Good question Dean. My dwarf Cav seems like all it gives are water suckers.

Re: Water suckers
 

Wow, the difference is amazing. That picture really shows it all very well. Water suckers must be so weak.

Re: Water suckers
 

Excellent pics Pitanga! Thanx for illustrating what I was trying to explain.