How do you encourage bananas to pup?

cbezak · 03-13-2013, 09:24 PM

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

Nicolas Naranja · 03-13-2013, 09:58 PM

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.

kaczercat · 03-14-2013, 01:55 AM

How big are the plants?

griphuz · 03-14-2013, 05:26 AM

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.

Abnshrek · 03-14-2013, 06:38 AM

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

sunfish · 03-14-2013, 08:20 AM

Vitamins and water

cbezak · 03-14-2013, 08:54 PM

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

Abnshrek · 03-15-2013, 05:49 AM

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

sunfish · 03-15-2013, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaczercat

How big are the plants?

Bump.

sunfish · 03-15-2013, 08:27 AM

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

03-13-2013, 09:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
cbezak Location: Steubenville, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Carla Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 44 BananaBucks : 26,696 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 106 Times Was Thanked 26 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 67 Times	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 __________________

03-13-2013, 09:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nicolas Naranja Muck bananas Nicolas Naranja 's Photo Gallery Location: Pahokee, FL Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Nick Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 2,217 BananaBucks : 449,352 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 66 Times Was Thanked 5,662 Times in 1,562 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 7 Times	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. __________________ Some people go bananas, I went plantains.

03-14-2013, 01:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
kaczercat kaczercat's Photo Gallery Location: Southern ON Find me on the map! Zone: 5b 9b Name: Matt Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 1,874 BananaBucks : 216,849 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,116 Times Was Thanked 2,111 Times in 750 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 11 Times	Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup? How big are the plants? __________________ Matt

03-14-2013, 05:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
griphuz Cold-tolerant collector griphuz's Photo Gallery Location: Netherlands Find me on the map! Zone: 7 - 8a Name: Remko Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 295 BananaBucks : 81,087 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 317 Times Was Thanked 290 Times in 114 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 827 Times	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.

03-14-2013, 06:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,492 BananaBucks : 182,929 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,440 Times in 5,237 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup? A lil root stimulator goes a long way in helping make pups.. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

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03-14-2013, 08:20 AM	#6 (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 : 896,796 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: How do you encourage bananas to pup? Vitamins and water

03-14-2013, 08:54 PM	#7 (permalink)
cbezak Location: Steubenville, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Carla Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 44 BananaBucks : 26,696 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 106 Times Was Thanked 26 Times in 12 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 67 Times	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 __________________

03-15-2013, 05:49 AM	#8 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek 's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,492 BananaBucks : 182,929 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,440 Times in 5,237 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: How do you encourage bananas to pup? Several Companies have it in a concentrated liquid form. I have Green light.. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

03-15-2013, 08:27 AM	#10 (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 : 896,796 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: How do you encourage bananas to pup? I have never used root stimulator on my bananas and have more pups than I can handle.

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