Two water suckers growing closely together - what next?

wickedt · 03-01-2025, 02:51 AM

Hi all, I'm new to growing bananas

I purchased a 5" musa 'Truly Tiny' that arrived in great condition. I guess it was not happy that I transplanted it 2 weeks later to a larger pot and over three months died off. Whoops!

The 'Truly Tiny' plants seem to have pretty broad leaves to begin with but regardless, I have these two (probably?) water sucker pups and they're growing very close to one another. If they're growing off the same corm would it be healthier if I remove one of them, or just wait and try to separate both down the middle at some point? I would love to keep both alive. The tip of the highest leaf is 3" above the soil, and they popped up about 2 months ago. Thanks in advance for any advice!

Iowa · 03-02-2025, 06:51 AM

Let them grow, it is easier to separate when larger.

Jeff zone 8 N.C. · 03-02-2025, 11:25 AM

I agree. You should wait until they are bigger. Seems you have plenty of fertilizer laying on top of the soil so I would not add more. Just do not over water, give them as much full sun as you can or very bright light, and keep them as warm as you can. Once they are fighting each other for room and have larger leaves and a larger swollen base you can divide.

wickedt · 03-02-2025, 09:21 PM

Thank you so much for the advice, Iowa and Jeff! I'll definitely wait then.

That's a southern facing window so they should be happy for now. Later, I might keep one indoors and try the other one outdoors.

03-01-2025, 02:51 AM	#1 (permalink)
wickedt Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Zone: 10b Join Date: Mar 2025 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 830 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Two water suckers growing closely together - what next? Hi all, I'm new to growing bananas I purchased a 5" musa 'Truly Tiny' that arrived in great condition. I guess it was not happy that I transplanted it 2 weeks later to a larger pot and over three months died off. Whoops! The 'Truly Tiny' plants seem to have pretty broad leaves to begin with but regardless, I have these two (probably?) water sucker pups and they're growing very close to one another. If they're growing off the same corm would it be healthier if I remove one of them, or just wait and try to separate both down the middle at some point? I would love to keep both alive. The tip of the highest leaf is 3" above the soil, and they popped up about 2 months ago. Thanks in advance for any advice!

03-02-2025, 06:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
Iowa Location: Burlington,Iowa Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Mike Join Date: Dec 2016 Posts: 706 BananaBucks : 50,661 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 573 Times Was Thanked 1,022 Times in 384 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 603 Times	Re: Two water suckers growing closely together - what next? Let them grow, it is easier to separate when larger. __________________ Growing Musa Orinoco since 1993 - Added 2018-Basjoo, Zebrina' Rojo, Ensete Red Abyssinian - Added 2019-Goldfinger - Added 2020-Kokopo (Short Cycle), Double (Mahoi), Highgate, Super Dwarf Cavendish - Added 2021-Pisang Ceylon(Mysore), Musa Margarita, Ensete Ventricosum - Added 2023 - Siam Ruby

03-02-2025, 11:25 AM	#3 (permalink)
Jeff zone 8 N.C. Junior Member Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 253 BananaBucks : 9,450 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 615 Times Was Thanked 495 Times in 227 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 26 Times	Re: Two water suckers growing closely together - what next? I agree. You should wait until they are bigger. Seems you have plenty of fertilizer laying on top of the soil so I would not add more. Just do not over water, give them as much full sun as you can or very bright light, and keep them as warm as you can. Once they are fighting each other for room and have larger leaves and a larger swollen base you can divide. Last edited by Jeff zone 8 N.C. : 03-02-2025 at 11:38 AM.

03-02-2025, 09:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
wickedt Location: Los Angeles, California, USA Zone: 10b Join Date: Mar 2025 Posts: 3 BananaBucks : 830 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 3 Times Was Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Two water suckers growing closely together - what next? Thank you so much for the advice, Iowa and Jeff! I'll definitely wait then. That's a southern facing window so they should be happy for now. Later, I might keep one indoors and try the other one outdoors.

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