Musa Poquito--what do you think?
 

Received it yesterday. 9" tall, in a 4" pot. Should I wait to repot it until spring? It's in a west window, will get dappled sun in late afternoon. I'm in S. California. It will be a strictly indoor plant.
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Re: Musa Poquito--what do you think?
 

If you can visually see new growth over the next week or so then yes, go ahead and repot. If you do repot, don't jump too many sizes. You are in a 4 inch now, so go to a 6 or 8. Much bigger than that and you will really have to pay attention to soil moisture so the roots don't rot. What kind of pot are you planing on using?

Re: Musa Poquito--what do you think?
 

Do you know how long she's been in that pot? If you have contact with the seller, can you or have your asked their opinion about your next "step"? I don't necessarily agree with Mark's pot size suggestions but I do know that it seems that in the past you have over watered or should that be "over watched" your plants so perhaps his advice is right in totatlity.

A quick little OT story: This Yankee attempting to grow veggies in Central FL (totally upside and inside out climate compared to MD/OH) I have planted tomato and other seeds recently. Add in that I'm testing old heirloom seeds I saved (some from 2000!) so the results were bound to be quite varied. Except most of the old I tried a year ago and they did fine. This year? Nada. Or nearly. Same technique as usual and for the most part, bubkiss. Even with new seeds!

I've babied these things! And got nowhere? There I happened to notice that the pepper seeds I saved from fruit I ate planning to plant but tossed in a new totally weedless bed were coming up. No water and it hasn't rained much. I am so not a seedling killer; I could never prick the lesser ever. What to do with 90+ babies? I'll plant some and find homes for others.

Re: Musa Poquito--what do you think?
 

Mark, I will watch for growth. Should I take off all the old medium and spread the roots, or plop it into a bigger pot as is? I don't want to stress it unnecessarily, so thought that might be kinder and more gentle.

I still can't believe I over watered, as I let them get dry before I watered, every time. That is a real mystery to me. I don't know how long she's been in the pot, but I could contact the seller and see if I get a reply. That's amazing Kat, about the seeds! I guess sometimes neglect really is the best thing! LOL

Re: Musa Poquito--what do you think?
 

Can you slide the pot off of the plant without disturbing the dirt to check and see if it is root bound? It looks like a lot of plant for that pot.

Also I wouldn't keep it under that wire shelf, not much room left in there for the leaves to unfurl.

Re: Musa Poquito--what do you think?
 

My first two banana plants(may they rest in piece) were overwatered by me. I tried,and tried to bring them back to life. It didn't work no mater how much water I gave it.
What kind of pot are you going to use? For me, I have found that the plain taracota pots the best. 1,they are heavy,less chance of tip over.2,they breath better because the clay is porous.
I always just plop them in the next pot. The roots seem to find a way out of the tangled mess.
Watering is a crazy deal. If the plant is not showing growth,it needs very little water. If it is showing fast growth(leaf a week) you almost could not overwater.
Well draining soil+lots of light=you should be fine

Re: Musa Poquito--what do you think?
 

Well, I slipped it out of the pot, and it has nice, white roots that fill the pot. I mean, not COMPLETELY, because there is some soil, but it's mostly roots. So... I guess that means I should put it into one size up? A terracotta pot makes sense to me because it can breathe, and I hate the toppling over risk! Thanks, Mark. And I love the idea of just plopping it into a bigger pot without disturbing the roots! That always seems to set my plants back, if not kill them. I'll just add more medium with 50% perlite.

I'm going to have to keep right on top of these bananas. The one that died (Truly Tiny) was putting out new growth, and I was watering it only when dry. So I must have under watered it. I didn't realize they need much more water when growing. I feel sick about it. It was doing so well!

And you're right about that plant stand, Kegas! I am planning on adjusting it to give that particular shelf six more inches of clearance today. Thanks everyone, so much!

Re: Musa Poquito--what do you think?
 

The real tattle tale on the Truly Tiny would be when you first saw the decline in health. At that point if we would have looked at the roots, they would have told the story. Brown roots=rotting roots,to much water,not enough air to the roots. Nice white roots like on the new plant=healthy roots.
Every plant is different. Through experience, and making changes slowly,you will notice those differences and adapt your practice to them.
Good luck with the new plant!
:woohoonaner:

Re: Musa Poquito--what do you think?
 

Thank you, Mark. Now I know the first thing I should do is look at the roots when I suspect a problem. I re-potted it today into a 6 inch pot. Didn't have an terracotta that size, so I used a plastic one, but with a layer of rocks on the bottom, and an inch or so of perlite on top, for extra drainage, then the coarse orchid mix that includes a little bark mixed with 50% perlite. We'll see how it does!