Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

I have a friend up in San Jose who wants a banana pup, and it's almost wintertime now, and I want to give her a pup possibly off of my Ice Cream/Tall Namwah. Would it be a bad idea to cut one off, say, in mid-December given my climate? Growing conditions are marginal as of late, and my plants have definitely slowed down. Nighttime lows are dipping into the 40s (although we've had a bit of a warm spell lately), and by then things will definitely be cooler and probably wetter. Should I worry about rot on the main plant or pup if I were to cut a decent sized one off? Given that the pup is a water pup (that's all that's on the plant right now, but it's decent sized, maybe 3.5 to 4 feet of p-stem), should I worry about it not surviving, even if I were to bring it in at night and leave it out in the sun during the day? Also, the pup appears to have a micronutrient deficiency, possibly calcium or boron. Most of the leaves have also been cut off because they have been butchered by the Santa Ana winds. Thanks in advance! :)

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

Personally, I'd wait till spring once they start growing again. Otherwise you kinda open up the possibility of corm rot.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

My experience has been that it is almost better not to desucker in the winter because the pups tend to not get as frost bitten due to the shade provided by the mother plant.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

Frost isn't much of an issue in my area. I never got a single frost last year. I could always bring the plant inside at night. I'm more worried about rot and the survival chances of the sucker that I cut off.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

I have planted suckers in November, February and March, but not December and January. The mother plant will be fine, but I wouldn't try to plant a sucker until spring. Of course, the guy could start the sucker in a greenhouse.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

I was thinking about potting it up and letting it get established in the pot.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

I liborated several pups last year in November just before I wrapped the mother trunk for winter. I found the trick to getting the pups to root was to not over water during the winter months. I lost one pup out of the 7 I harvested. I took them because I was not sure how hard of a winter was in store and wanted keep a representative of that variety.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

It sounds like you're dying to take it off, so go ahead. Put the pup on a heat mat after its cut free. Take a little Lysol type spray and spray the hole of the main mat where you take off the pup, then back fill it with soil after a few minutes drying time.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

You should have no troubles if you are potting it and don't overwater it. I have started many bananas in pots in the dead of winter.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

Sounds good then.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

yeah your in So california there should be no prob with it even if it was put in the ground. but the friend in San Jose, potting it would be much better in that northern part of the state.

Re: Is it wise to cut off pups in the winter?
 

Yeah, I'd advise them to keep it potted until spring, then they can plant it in the ground. Tall Namwah can be successfully grown and fruited in this area.