Pollinating question

ytsur231 · 04-10-2007, 05:07 PM

My questions relate to Ensete maurelii. The plants will be two years old this spring. At what age will they flower? Exactly, how would I pollinate to produce seeds? Any info. anyone can give would be apreciated.

Differant subject. Two years ago I was given a banana seedling with three leaves to try. One of the three leaves had a white stripe down the middle. It is 16' tall at this time with three pups. The name it came with was "little pearl" That first leaf was the only one to show any varigation. If it blooms I might be able to identify it. Is this unusual?

I have two 'AEAE's under shade cloth in the green house. Realy enjoyed the discusions and gained alot of useful info.

Thanks

STEELVIPER · 04-10-2007, 05:57 PM

Ensete maurelii can flower in 2 to 8 years. I have one currently flowering at the age of 4 years. In my experience over the last 15 years, it depends on the amount of sun, heat and water they receive. It seems to me that the warmer the climate, the sooner it will come to flower. I have had one grow 10 feet in one year and flower the next. As far as pollinating. You need more then one to get seed. And i think they have to bloom at around or the same time. I do not think the pollen last very long in storage either.

MediaHound · 04-10-2007, 08:21 PM

That variegation you describe, it's not that uncommon. A lot of factors can make a plant look variegated. When it was given to you, did they point out the variegation or did you notice it yourself?

And I wouldn't call a 16' plant little. Pearl, maybe.. but 'little pearl' is a little misleading as "little" is used to describe the height on other banana cultivars.

ytsur231 · 04-11-2007, 04:38 PM

The varigation was the reason the seedling was given to me. We were hoping the stripe would be a constant with the new leaves. When I recieved the plant it was 3" tall with 3 leaves. You are right, it is not little now. I was hoping that one of the pups would show some type of color.

MediaHound · 04-11-2007, 11:30 PM

Interesting. Maybe it was a quirk or maybe the plant is heterozygous for something that's not showing at the moment.

bigdog · 04-12-2007, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STEELVIPER

As far as pollinating. You need more then one to get seed. And i think they have to bloom at around or the same time. I do not think the pollen last very long in storage either.

Actually, you only need one plant in flower for seeds. They have hermaphroditic flowers.

04-10-2007, 05:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
ytsur231 Junior Member Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 279 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Welcomes: 0	Pollinating question My questions relate to Ensete maurelii. The plants will be two years old this spring. At what age will they flower? Exactly, how would I pollinate to produce seeds? Any info. anyone can give would be apreciated. Differant subject. Two years ago I was given a banana seedling with three leaves to try. One of the three leaves had a white stripe down the middle. It is 16' tall at this time with three pups. The name it came with was "little pearl" That first leaf was the only one to show any varigation. If it blooms I might be able to identify it. Is this unusual? I have two 'AEAE's under shade cloth in the green house. Realy enjoyed the discusions and gained alot of useful info. Thanks

04-10-2007, 05:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
STEELVIPER Mechwarrior STEELVIPER's Photo Gallery Location: Riverside,CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Name: Mark Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 724 BananaBucks : 4,598 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 44 Thanked 56 Times in 44 Posts Welcomes: 169	Re: Pollinating question Ensete maurelii can flower in 2 to 8 years. I have one currently flowering at the age of 4 years. In my experience over the last 15 years, it depends on the amount of sun, heat and water they receive. It seems to me that the warmer the climate, the sooner it will come to flower. I have had one grow 10 feet in one year and flower the next. As far as pollinating. You need more then one to get seed. And i think they have to bloom at around or the same time. I do not think the pollen last very long in storage either. __________________

04-10-2007, 08:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: South Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10b Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,887 BananaBucks : 44,534 Feedback: 57 / 100% Thanks: 802 Thanked 1,023 Times in 331 Posts Welcomes: 223	Re: Pollinating question That variegation you describe, it's not that uncommon. A lot of factors can make a plant look variegated. When it was given to you, did they point out the variegation or did you notice it yourself? And I wouldn't call a 16' plant little. Pearl, maybe.. but 'little pearl' is a little misleading as "little" is used to describe the height on other banana cultivars.

04-11-2007, 04:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
ytsur231 Junior Member Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 279 Feedback: 0 / 0% Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Pollinating question The varigation was the reason the seedling was given to me. We were hoping the stripe would be a constant with the new leaves. When I recieved the plant it was 3" tall with 3 leaves. You are right, it is not little now. I was hoping that one of the pups would show some type of color.

04-11-2007, 11:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
MediaHound Tally-man MediaHound's Photo Gallery Location: South Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 10b Name: Jarred Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,887 BananaBucks : 44,534 Feedback: 57 / 100% Thanks: 802 Thanked 1,023 Times in 331 Posts Welcomes: 223	Re: Pollinating question Interesting. Maybe it was a quirk or maybe the plant is heterozygous for something that's not showing at the moment.

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