Need some advice!

cbezak · 11-19-2012, 04:44 PM

Hi, my husband and I are raising our grandson, he is 13yrs old and has been diagnosed with ADHD and pervasive developmental delay. He is totally absorbed in his model trains, one track mind!! We would love to find something else that he could become involved with.
Since I have become so interested in bananas and other tropicals, I would like to get him interested in some part of it too!
I would appreciate some advice on a couple seeds I could start with him that would sprout relatively quickly and look interesting enough to keep him involved!
Would like to know where to get the seeds too if info is available.

Any help would be appreciated!!
Carla

Dalmatiansoap · 11-19-2012, 05:39 PM

Try Ensete seeds, avoid Musas, Ensetes are easyier from seeds and grows relative fast. Palms are slow grower but more interesting in long terms.
Good luck there

gymbotc · 11-19-2012, 05:47 PM

Use the seedlings as part of the layout for the trains perhaps a jungle theme, or find small artificial banana plants that are scaled to his trains.

He may show interest in growing full size plants if he has them for his trains.
Many kids with his characteristics love trains, because they are consistent, predictable, and controllable.

Olafhenny · 11-19-2012, 07:51 PM

Hi Carla,

While bananas are great plants and are great conversation pieces in places like Ohio and here
(HZ6), they take quite some time to develop from seed. And 13 year old boys do not have a
whole lot of attention span, especially if they are victims of ADHD.

Here is, what I would suggest instead of or concurrently with the bananas: Try castor beans
instead, more specifically the New Zealand purple.

I have received some seeds from a friend, living in Ontario, but due to a screw-up by Canada
post (their automated equipment read the sender’s address instead of the recipient’s and
promptly returned them

), they arrived quite late on May 15. I have no record when I actually
soaked/planted them, but it must have been on May 16/18 respectively or thereafter.

This picture of the sprouting plant was taken on May 25

Another shot of the same plant on June 14

And here toward the end of the season on October 24, a truly magnificent plant, 6 feet
high and seven wide, dwarfing the two year old basjoo banana behind it

A detail of some of the leaves.

Your Hardiness Zone is slightly warmer than mine. Therefore your son should have no problem
duplicating the above growth pattern. Unfortunately it will not be winter hardy in our climes.
Dave’s Plant Files specify it as hardy to -12^C (10^F), but it froze to death at -8.

If you are interested and give me your street address by private mail, I can spare 2 or 3 seeds
without costs to you (seeds I can be sure about germinating are scarce this year because of the
late planting) and if you include your email address, I can send you a copy of a write-up I did
for the local garden club, comparing the New Zealand purple with the common purple.

Good luck in your search for diversions for your son,
Olaf

sunfish · 11-19-2012, 08:18 PM

Poisonous

Canna would be a better choice

Papaya would work

Olafhenny · 11-19-2012, 08:47 PM

Right, Tony,

I should have mentioned that, thank you, but so are rhododendron, azalea and a host of other
broadleaved evergreens, as are rhubarb leaves. The dark purple seed pods of the NZ are not
as tempting for little children to put into the mouth as the bright red ones of the common
purple.

PR-Giants · 11-19-2012, 08:48 PM

I'd start with making a banana split and use the stickers to make a
Chiquita car for his train set. Maybe he'll show an interest on his own.

If you're intent on getting him interested in germinating seeds, perhaps
start with an avocado. The seeds are big, ugly, sprout quickly and can be
done in a glass of water for easy viewing.

Good Luck

Olafhenny · 11-19-2012, 08:57 PM

PS: Tony,

Carla lives in Zone 6-7. Papaya won't survive the winter there.

PR-Giants · 11-19-2012, 09:01 PM

On second thought he's 13, buy him a weight set.

sunfish · 11-19-2012, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Olafhenny

PS: Tony,

Carla lives in Zone 6-7. Papaya won't survive the winter there.

I believe they will indoors

Abnshrek · 11-19-2012, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunfish

I believe they will indoors

They grow indoors.. I have 3 inside.. :^)

Olafhenny · 11-19-2012, 09:51 PM

Everything will survive indoors, providing you have enough heat, light and in some cases humidity.

cbezak · 11-19-2012, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abnshrek

They grow indoors.. I have 3 inside.. :^)

Hi Migael, ok, tell me about the papaya you have inside, do they fruit as well and how big do they get? I just looked at your profile, you have more bananas than I knew existed!

Also see you are retired military, I am an Army Brat!

Thanks,
Carla

david. · 11-20-2012, 09:35 AM

If of any help. I have sugar apple, papaya and I can spare only pups of some bananas that I have( no seeds though.

11-19-2012, 04:44 PM	#1 (permalink)
cbezak Location: Steubenville, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Carla Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 44 BananaBucks : 27,602 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 106 Times Was Thanked 26 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 67 Times	Need some advice! Hi, my husband and I are raising our grandson, he is 13yrs old and has been diagnosed with ADHD and pervasive developmental delay. He is totally absorbed in his model trains, one track mind!! We would love to find something else that he could become involved with. Since I have become so interested in bananas and other tropicals, I would like to get him interested in some part of it too! I would appreciate some advice on a couple seeds I could start with him that would sprout relatively quickly and look interesting enough to keep him involved! Would like to know where to get the seeds too if info is available. Any help would be appreciated!! Carla __________________

11-19-2012, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Dalmatiansoap Let there be light Dalmatiansoap's Photo Gallery Location: Makarska, Croatia Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ante Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 9,160 BananaBucks : 606,317 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,508 Times Was Thanked 8,381 Times in 3,031 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times	Re: Need some advice! Try Ensete seeds, avoid Musas, Ensetes are easyier from seeds and grows relative fast. Palms are slow grower but more interesting in long terms. Good luck there __________________ https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib

11-19-2012, 05:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
gymbotc Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 2 BananaBucks : 2,014 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 2 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need some advice! Use the seedlings as part of the layout for the trains perhaps a jungle theme, or find small artificial banana plants that are scaled to his trains. He may show interest in growing full size plants if he has them for his trains. Many kids with his characteristics love trains, because they are consistent, predictable, and controllable.

11-19-2012, 07:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 246,005 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Need some advice! Hi Carla, While bananas are great plants and are great conversation pieces in places like Ohio and here (HZ6), they take quite some time to develop from seed. And 13 year old boys do not have a whole lot of attention span, especially if they are victims of ADHD. Here is, what I would suggest instead of or concurrently with the bananas: Try castor beans instead, more specifically the New Zealand purple. I have received some seeds from a friend, living in Ontario, but due to a screw-up by Canada post (their automated equipment read the sender’s address instead of the recipient’s and promptly returned them ), they arrived quite late on May 15. I have no record when I actually soaked/planted them, but it must have been on May 16/18 respectively or thereafter. This picture of the sprouting plant was taken on May 25 Another shot of the same plant on June 14 And here toward the end of the season on October 24, a truly magnificent plant, 6 feet high and seven wide, dwarfing the two year old basjoo banana behind it A detail of some of the leaves. Your Hardiness Zone is slightly warmer than mine. Therefore your son should have no problem duplicating the above growth pattern. Unfortunately it will not be winter hardy in our climes. Dave’s Plant Files specify it as hardy to -12^C (10^F), but it froze to death at -8. If you are interested and give me your street address by private mail, I can spare 2 or 3 seeds without costs to you (seeds I can be sure about germinating are scarce this year because of the late planting) and if you include your email address, I can send you a copy of a write-up I did for the local garden club, comparing the New Zealand purple with the common purple. Good luck in your search for diversions for your son, Olaf __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

11-19-2012, 08:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 946,402 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,591 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Need some advice! Poisonous Canna would be a better choice Papaya would work Last edited by sunfish : 11-19-2012 at 08:31 PM.

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11-19-2012, 08:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 246,005 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Need some advice! Right, Tony, I should have mentioned that, thank you, but so are rhododendron, azalea and a host of other broadleaved evergreens, as are rhubarb leaves. The dark purple seed pods of the NZ are not as tempting for little children to put into the mouth as the bright red ones of the common purple. __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

11-19-2012, 08:48 PM	#7 (permalink)
PR-Giants Commercial Grower Location: Florida & Greater Antilles Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,544 BananaBucks : 2,732 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,900 Times Was Thanked 12,463 Times in 3,620 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,204 Times	Re: Need some advice! I'd start with making a banana split and use the stickers to make a Chiquita car for his train set. Maybe he'll show an interest on his own. If you're intent on getting him interested in germinating seeds, perhaps start with an avocado. The seeds are big, ugly, sprout quickly and can be done in a glass of water for easy viewing. Good Luck __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

11-19-2012, 08:57 PM	#8 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 246,005 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Need some advice! PS: Tony, Carla lives in Zone 6-7. Papaya won't survive the winter there. __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

11-19-2012, 09:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
PR-Giants Commercial Grower Location: Florida & Greater Antilles Find me on the map! Join Date: Feb 2012 Posts: 4,544 BananaBucks : 2,732 Feedback: 16 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,900 Times Was Thanked 12,463 Times in 3,620 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3,204 Times	Re: Need some advice! On second thought he's 13, buy him a weight set. __________________ PR-Giants Photo Gallery 15,000+ Varieties

11-19-2012, 09:51 PM	#12 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 246,005 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: Need some advice! Everything will survive indoors, providing you have enough heat, light and in some cases humidity. __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

11-20-2012, 09:35 AM	#14 (permalink)
david. Location: San benito Texas Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 134 BananaBucks : 38,589 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 136 Times in 67 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Need some advice! If of any help. I have sugar apple, papaya and I can spare only pups of some bananas that I have( no seeds though.

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