JenRi

Hello everyone!

I have no banana-growing experience whatsoever but i really fancy having a go at growing some. The species I am most interested in is the blood banana but I beleive they won't germinate unless in a propagator...which I don't have being a poor student. Does anyone know of a reliable-ish way to recreate the conditions seeds would get in a propagator? I was thinking I could use the airing cupboard but I don't know if musa seeds need light to germinate?

I also have no idea if the blood banana is the best species to start with, feel free to give me any suggestions on other species that are easier to grow if necessary

Thanks

Jen

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Regrettably I remain banana-less.....

mskitty38583

you can use what we here call a "germination station". i will be getting a 10 gallon aquarium w/ a lid and thermostat and heat pad to get mine started. we have a thread in the archives about making a germination station out of what you might have laying around your home.

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Chironex

Hi Jen,
Most of the banana seeds really don't require light for germination. In act, many germinate better in the dark.

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Scot

JenRi

Yay! So the airing cupboard might be an okay site for germinating blood banana seeds and I might not need a 'germination station'?

Thanks for your replies

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Regrettably I remain banana-less.....

Chironex

Yes, that should work fine.

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Scot

JenRi

That's good to hear, is it best to plant them and just leave them to their own devices? How often do you need to check them and how long do they take (on average) to germinate? I have some cacti seeds in there atm and I have a dreadful habit of getting them out, uncovering them prodding them a bit putting them back etc. Think I'm just impatient

Well since I'm ordering them from Thailand, it will probably be a while before I have the seeds, nevermind to germinate them but I'll keep you posted on how they do (eventually!)

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Regrettably I remain banana-less.....

Bob

Jen, I got a laugh out of you post first thing this morning. Please (BY FAR) don't think that you're the only impatient gardener, pulling the seeds out , prodding them and putting them back in! From my limited experience banana seeds will take at least a month to germinate(some much longer). While you're waiting for yours to arrive it would be helpful to check out some of the old posts in the seed germination forum.

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Tog Tan

Hi JenRi, you are talking about one of my favorite species, the Musa acuminata subsp sumatrana aka Zebrina aka Rojo aka Blood Banana.

Now if you have viable seeds, they are very easy to sprout. Please refer to the other germn thread for methods which I posted a reply to your inquiry.

All you need is an area of about 90+F constant or a a night drop to 80F. These guys will come up after 12 - 15 days. From then, growth is rapid and they put on the adult colors of red mottling on the upper leaf surface within 3 mths.

Besides Thailand, a good seed source is rarepalmseeds.com. They are a reliable source and my main source for sds. All the best!


These are new sprouts which are a couple of days old. They come up all green.



Pix shows germn box sprouts to sdlgs of various age. Biggest is about 3 months old with the red mottling starting to show.

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

JenRi

Bob - i'm glad I made you giggle, the cacti (and i have some coleus sown too) are the first plants I've tried to grow from seed since I was little...I'm sure the novelty will wear off eventually and I'll be able to leave them alone.


Awww Tog I love your little family of banana plants!

Thanks i'll check that link out...there wasn't any particular reason I picked thailand, I was just after some kaffir lime seeds (which are definitely best sourced from Thailand!) and the seller (on ebay) also had blood banana and a flat postage rate so I thought why not? They are also fresh seeds apparentely, which has to be good.

Unfortunately concerning the lime seeds the seller said I should wait until March at least to sow, so I might buy some of his next lot (he has like 3 week auctions!). I could also get the blood banana seeds from elsewhere though...

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Regrettably I remain banana-less.....

JenRi

Well big family actually I guess, but the ones in the foreground sure look cute

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Regrettably I remain banana-less.....

dsws

I recently checked out the sources about houseplants cutting indoor air pollution, and it sounds solid. Palms are apparently among the best, but getting shipped to a store and then home on the bus tends to shock them. So I decided to try starting a mix of plants from seed, and I included some banana seeds on impulse.

I have a grand total of ten banana seeds: five zebrina and five ornata.

I bought a thermostat in the right range (intended for reptiles, but hey, it's a thermostat), and set up a light bulb as heat source under the box I'm going to use. (Note to anyone who might inexplicably consider following a complete novice as example: Incandescent light bulbs get hot. They're a fire hazard. Use them only in lamps that are designed for them. Do as I say, not as I do.)

The potting medium is in the oven now, and I'm about to start the seeds soaking. I hope you'll hear from me in a few weeks/months, saying that they've germinated.