How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

Hi, I have 4 healthy young banana plants, but none of them are showing any signs of pups! Is that normal or is there anything I can do to encourage pups? I have them under lights and on a heating pad. They are Black Balbisana, Musella Lasiocarpa, Super Dwarf Cavindish and one I'm not sure of the name.

Any advise would be appreciated.
Thanks, Carla

Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

Banana plants vary in their level of apical dominance and some will not pup until they are quite large, while others will pup freely. For increasing a variety you can cut the mother pseudostem down which breaks apical dominance and will allow the lateral buds to grow.

Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

How big are the plants?

Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

I've had the same with Musa sikkimensis (planted out) some years ago, really big plants already and no pups, while Musa basjo the same size was pupping like crazy.

Someone gave me the tip of boosting it with Potassium, so I did (giving it a few hands full of lawn fertilizer, rich in Potasium) and within a few weeks some pups started showing themselves! So appartnely it works, and there is no need to damage the mother pseudostem, although that will work as well.

Kind regards,
Remko.

Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

A lil root stimulator goes a long way in helping make pups.. :^)

Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

Vitamins and water

Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

Thanks for all your help, the root stimulator sounds like a good one to try. I have some that is in powder form, but there are no instruction on using other than dipping cuttings in powder. If someone can explain how to use it on the established plants I would appreciate it.

Thanks, Carla

Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

Several Companies have it in a concentrated liquid form. I have Green light.. :^)

Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

Bump.

Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup?
 

I have never used root stimulator on my bananas and have more pups than I can handle.