EdwardWood

I'm not new to growing bananas, but I am new to starting them by seed. I read on here last night that using jiffy pots is not a good idea because they are not sterile. Is this true, and if so are ziplock bags the answer? I have a few different kinds including some palms, birds of paradise, passion flowers. Here is a list:


Qty Item Description
1 Ensete glaucum Giant Snow Banana
1 Ensete ventricosum Abyssinian Banana
1 Jubaea chilensis Chilean Wine Palm
1 Monstera deliciosa Splitleaf Philodendron
1 Musa balbisiana Sweet Wild Banana
1 Musa ornata Lavender Banana
1 Musa sikkimensis Himalayan Banana
1 Musa velutina Velvet Pink Banana
1 Musella lasiocarpa Chinese Dwarf Banana
1 Meconopsis betonicifolia Himalayan Blue Poppy
1 Passiflora coccinea Red Passion Flower
1 Passiflora edulis Passion Flower/Fruit
1 Passiflora flavicarpa Yellow Passion Fruit
1 Phoenix canariensis Canary Island Date Palm
1 Physalis franchetii Chinese Lanterns
1 Pritchardia thurstonii Thurston Fan Palm
1 Sagina subulata Irish Moss
1 Strelitzia nicolai Giant White Bird of Paradise
1 Strelitzia reginae Orange Bird-of-Paradise
1 Strelitzia Mandela Gold Yellow Bird of Paradise
1 Syagrus romanzoffiana Queen Palm


Any advice/help you are able to give would be greatly appreciated! Right now I have the palm seeds in 1 gallon ziplock bags, the bananas in 3" jiffy pots covered in plastic wrap, the Philodendron, birds of paradise, and passion flowers are in jiffy seed trays. Please let me know if this is wrong, I will do whatever I have to do to get right.

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Edward ♫ ♫

Banana Tree Addict

jmoore

I'm not sure what a jiffy pot is. However, it doesn't matter if it's sterile or not. If you want it sterile put it and the compost in the microwave for 30 seconds.

I think you'll do well if you get anything to germinate if you only have one seed of each, especially with the bananas.

edit: I now know what a jiffy pot is

waggoner41

Heating the pots and compost to 180 degrees will sterilize the pots and soil.

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Soil Type: Black Loam

EdwardWood

I should have asked before I planted! I had read a post here this week that says not to use them. The guy that wrote it was banned...... Any new advice since I have already planted them. I have either plastic lids or plastic wrap on the trays with 3" pots or the seed trays. Should I uncover them periodically for fresh air or just leave them covered until I see something sprouting?

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Edward ♫ ♫

Banana Tree Addict

EdwardWood

Today I noticed a Ensete Ventricosum (Abyssinian Banana) coming up! So the jiffy pots may be fine. I also had some passion flowers, and Canary Island Date palms sprout! It has been a good day!

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Edward ♫ ♫

Banana Tree Addict