Vickie H.

Someone suggested we have a discussion of bananas grown in water. I have grown bananas in water since 2007 when I bought one at a greenhouse. I had seen them growing in water on some of our pond tours. In 2008 or 2009 I cannot remember which I decided to try and grow my own. I put a pup in a saucer of water. Over the period of two months I slowly brought the water up over the top of the pot. I moved the pot from the saucer to a bucket. I have had that banana in water even during the winter like my first one, They are in my basement in winter under shop lights. It never gets colder then 50*F

Vickie H.

Here is the origional one I bought in the summer of 2007 this pic is of this year


this is the one I started myself this is this yr pic

nullzero

Interesting concept, dissolved oxygen levels must be very good. I like it .

Vickie H.

Thanks nullzero. But I am wondering if any banana can do this? I did it last year with a musa basjoo that had hardly any roots when we dug it up. It was in water all summer and I gave it away, so I don't still have it.

nullzero

Try increasing the aeration of water, by using air pumps with airstones around the root system of the banana.

Vickie H.

The banana in the second picture has a pump by it and that banana took off this year. The other picture of my first banana, it is not near a pump. But then I don't want a huge banana in water.

nullzero

Root rot will lead to a dead banana plant, if the dissolved oxygen levels are not enough to sustain the plant. I would make sure there is a pump near it, just use a variety like 'Super Dwarf Cavendish' if the size is a problem.

Vickie H.

Both bananas survive in a seperate tub of water in the basement all winter. Last winter they were in the basement from Oct until mid june. No pumps. The one I bought in the summer of 2007 has survived every winter that way. The other one has too. Last year the 2007 one put out a pup. I sent it to my friend in Memphis this spring. It is in her pond and doing great. It has more pups I will seperate soon

scottu

OK, great job Vickie! But, come on you can't just slowly submerge your banana plant in tap water can you?
Can you lay out the basics for us'ins who might try this? Like, water, must it be aerated etc.?How often does it need to be changed?, tap water? How to fertilize for the naners? Best or better dirt types? Depth/ water levels? Temps, different than normal grown? etc.,etc.,etc.? Motion of the ocean, is a strong current good? What else, I know when I try this there will be more questions, is there a site etc. that you recommend for reference?
Thanks ScottU

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Viva La Banana

Vickie H.

Scott your making this way to hard. I put a banana in yard dirt and set it in a saucer of water. Then after a couple of weeks I set it in a bucket and made the water a little higher up on the pot. It was not a big pot either, maybe 8-10 inches across the top of the pot. I used hose water and sometimes pond water to add water over 2 months time as I raised the water level. I did not aerate it whatsoever. I did not change the water it evaporated fairly fast in the summer heat. Then after two months I set it in a shallow pond with no pump or aeration with about 3 or 4 inches of water over the top of the pot. In Oct I set the pot in a tub of water in my basement with shoplights and I did put a couple of mosquito fish in that pot of water. No pump no aerator. Last winter I put both bananas again in water in a bigger tub each. I did not feed all winter and did not even put mosquito fish in the tubs. I have used pond tabs to feed the bananas in my ponds before. I also have used nothing but fish poo that is natural in the water.. Depends on my mood at the time. Maybe this sounds too easy? It was. I put musa basjoo pups in water last summer and they did fine. Same way only 6 pots in a tub. Maybe it is beginners luck or just hap hazzard but it works for me. I will do more bananas next year. I have a couple of pups to take off the first banana from 2007. If they live next year if you pay shipping I will send you one to check all this out for yourself.

scottu

I guess I'm just having a problem with the roots and corm being permanently submerged. I can't see how that would be different then having a plant sit in soggy soil, which I know from experience would be a bad thing.
I would like to know the theory that separates the two situations. Does anyone out there know a source where one could find such info?
Vickie your are a pioneer! Thank you for a new twist in banana tending and I would surely like to try your seasoned water born pup and maybe a non water born pup next to it in my pond next spring. Can't wait!
Thank you Vickie
SCOTT

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Vickie H.

I seperated the pups today. Not sure if they will make it. One I only got 1 root and the other two have a few, The pot was to big for me to lift I sould have waited for my hubby to help. I cut them off rather then dumping the pot and slowly doing it. But with any luck one will survive and have good enough roots for winter storage.. We will see how it goes. I am not a pioneer I saw bananas in others ponds on a tour. And I bought one in water at a greenhouse. But next year I am going to grow more in water. My friend in Memphis tells me the one I sent her this spring is doing well in her pond. Here is an old pic of my banana in water in basement one winter. It is hard to see but there is water in the pot.

jeffreyp

I suppose not very different from taro

http://www.texaswaterlilies.com/GreenTaro_jpg.jpg

scottu

Yes your are a pioneer! Maybe not "The" first but "A" pioneer all the same, since I don't see much response in the area of water growing bananas here, or anywhere else for that matter so I can only assume there is not much on record about the subject! Else there would be a lot more pontificating going on.
Does anyone have more info on this subject!
Thanks Vickie
Scottu

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Vickie H.

yes I grow cannas and taro in water too. This picture shows both cannas and taros in this kiddy pool.

Vickie H.

Scott I have been doing a search I just cannot find anything. I have posted on pond forums and no one else tells me they have bananas in water. I know I have seen a few in others water gardens in our Water Garden Society but we have 770 members and I do not remember who had them. This is where I got the banana that grew in water in 2007. But I have not seen anymore there the last couple of years.



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scottu

Me too that is why I call you Pioneer!

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musa_monkey

The key to this for me is simply the temperature and 02 content of the water.
If the water temperature is at least temperate and the 02 level at near saturation then there should be no problem growing bananas in water.

If the temps and/or 02 level are low then rot is very likely to occur.

I use something similar to stimulate rooting in pups when i remove them and then find they have no roots. Its a primitive aquaponic set up. The pups are held in a gravel basket suspended over the pond and are constantly saturated with pond water so they take 02 from the air and nutrients from the water. Its never failed to work for me yet.

Jananas Bananas

I've got a tiny Little Prince pup that I have started in my AeroGarden. So far so good, but it really hasn't been in there very long.



I will give you updates here if you guys are interested.

Vicki I LOVE your gardens so much!!!!

~JaNan

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Jananas Bananas

Vickie H.

Thanks all for posting. Last year we dug some musa basjoo pups and some had no roots. Is that a water sucker? They call them water sucker for some reason? Anyway I potted them all up even the ones with no roots and set them in a tub of water and over the summer the ones with no roots rooted. I sent it to a friend in Alabama this spring. Jananas what is an areogarden? Musa Monkey how many have you rooted that way, and do you not keep them in water after they root?