Are my bananas too big for these pots?

Aranon · 09-12-2013, 07:32 PM

Hello, before I ordered my banana plants online I went to Walmart and purchased 4 of the self watering 16.7 inch pots for the plants when they arrived. I have 2 of the Blue Java variety and 2 of the Dwarf Cavendish variety. My question is if any of you think this pot size is insufficient for the proper growth of my Blue Javas, the dwarfs I'm not all too concerned about considering they are well..dwarfs. But the Blue Java are a rather large variety. I provided some pictures to show you how they are currently doing. They seem to be growing well aside from the sun damage. According to a chart I looked up online the pot is about 11 gallons give or take.

robguz24 · 09-12-2013, 08:20 PM

What type of banana is that supposed to be? It doesn't really look like either of the 2 you mentioned, so that would affect potential size.

Aranon · 09-12-2013, 08:25 PM

The two you see in the picture are the Blue Java's, they are about 5 months old.

Abnshrek · 09-12-2013, 09:56 PM

Look like Namwah's to me.. and they can make in those pots till spring.. :^)

robguz24 · 09-12-2013, 10:19 PM

Petioles on my Namwah and Ice Cream are all almost totally closed, which is why I asked. I'd be surprised if they were either. If it is a Namwah, again only from my own experience, they get a few feet taller than real Ice Creams.

Richard · 09-12-2013, 10:49 PM

Aranon -
I see you are in Nebraska. It's time for your fruiting bananas to be indoors at night, if not 24/7. They aren't going to grow much during the time they're indoors, so the pots are ok for now. You'll need to put them in 25 gallon when it warms up next Spring. Expect 3 to 5 years to produce fruit in your environment.

Aranon · 09-12-2013, 10:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robguz24

Petioles on my Namwah and Ice Cream are all almost totally closed, which is why I asked. I'd be surprised if they were either. If it is a Namwah, again only from my own experience, they get a few feet taller than real Ice Creams.

When I purchased my plants on eBay I originally ordered Musa Basjoo and Dwarf Cavendish but by mistake they sent me 2 of what was titled "Ice Cream" on the plants, and from what I read that's the same thing as Blue Java just another name for it. So I'm still new at this as and just figured that's what they were. So both of you think that it's not what they are? If they aren't Blue Java's do these Namwah's you guys mention produce edible fruit?

Aranon · 09-12-2013, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Aranon -
I see you are in Nebraska. It's time for your fruiting bananas to be indoors at night, if not 24/7. They aren't going to grow much during the time they're indoors, so the pots are ok for now. You'll need to put them in 25 gallon when it warms up next Spring. Expect 3 to 5 years to produce fruit in your environment.

3 to 5 years huh? ouch, so do you mean these plants will live that long before fruiting? I wasn't aware one of these could live that long. Or will it take 3 to 5 years of new generation pups to fruit?

robguz24 · 09-12-2013, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aranon

When I purchased my plants on eBay I originally ordered Musa Basjoo and Dwarf Cavendish but by mistake they sent me 2 of what was titled "Ice Cream" on the plants, and from what I read that's the same thing as Blue Java just another name for it. So I'm still new at this as and just figured that's what they were. So both of you think that it's not what they are? If they aren't Blue Java's do these Namwah's you guys mention produce edible fruit?

Yep, you're correct that the two are the same Ice Cream/Blue Java, but you'll find on here most people buy that variety and it turns out to be Namwah, which do produce quite good fruit, though I don't think yours is a Namwah. It's an annoying problem, that many banana types, close to a third for me, are not actually what they were sold as, and it takes a while to find out what they are.

I don't have any idea what yours could be though, if it's not a Namwah.

Richard · 09-13-2013, 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aranon

3 to 5 years huh? ouch, so do you mean these plants will live that long before fruiting? I wasn't aware one of these could live that long. Or will it take 3 to 5 years of new generation pups to fruit?

When the corm of Musa flowers, the corm does not produce more leaves. Once the leaves die, the corm will wither soon afterwards. You will of course have "pups" that live on - hopefully in their own containers.

It takes a certain number of degree-days and solar Watt-days for the corm to mature, produce a flower bud, and (in the case of dessert type bananas) the fruit bunch to mature to a stage that it can be picked and hung to ripen. I do not know of an empirical formula, instead the industry appears to be based on trial-and-error. For the members here from the Midwest US (excepting those with a tropical greenhouse) the experience has been 5 years to produce fruit.

Funkthulhu · 09-17-2013, 12:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Richard

Aranon -
I see you are in Nebraska. It's time for your fruiting bananas to be indoors at night, if not 24/7. They aren't going to grow much during the time they're indoors, so the pots are ok for now. You'll need to put them in 25 gallon when it warms up next Spring. Expect 3 to 5 years to produce fruit in your environment.

Now I'm getting paranoid. . . I still have my Basjoos in the ground.

Richard · 09-17-2013, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funkthulhu

Now I'm getting paranoid. . . I still have my Basjoos in the ground.

Basjoo's can take a freeze. I don't know what their low temperature limit is. I only grow edibles. Check the Wiki.

Heizenberg247 · 01-06-2014, 10:37 AM

hello , i have a question .if anyone can help me . my banana is in a 14 in pot in the house . the banana is about 12 foot to 15 foot tall with some growing lights . it will not grow any pups do you think its because the pot is too small or because its not warm enough ??

Abnshrek · 01-06-2014, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heizenberg247

hello , i have a question .if anyone can help me . my banana is in a 14 in pot in the house . the banana is about 12 foot to 15 foot tall with some growing lights . it will not grow any pups do you think its because the pot is too small or because its not warm enough ??

I'm sure the pot limits the root structure, but depending on type of banana some will pup no matter what size pot they are in, and ultimately bust the pot. I have some types that don't readily pup in 25 gal pots which probably have 3 times the volume of your pot. Winter is not when my pupping has occurred. I've seen weaker pups fade in pots as plants get limited light during this time. Of course Banana's in the ground pup much better than in a pot.. :^)

Heizenberg247 · 01-06-2014, 05:09 PM

Im new to all this but really love the banana trees . I have a blood banana its got redish green leaves . the ground would be great i might try that next spring time . although i live in ohio thats not the greatest for the ground . thank you though !

crazy banana · 01-06-2014, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Heizenberg247

hello , i have a question .if anyone can help me . my banana is in a 14 in pot in the house . the banana is about 12 foot to 15 foot tall with some growing lights . it will not grow any pups do you think its because the pot is too small or because its not warm enough ??

A 14" pot seems really small for a 15' banana plant.
It will be happy in the ground as soon as you can plant it outside. No worries about your soil. I have not seen anybody on here who praises his or her soil as good. All soil types have their advantages or disadvantages. It is about what you will do with your soil: amendments like compost or fertilizers. Anyways, welcome to bananas.org.

Heizenberg247 · 01-07-2014, 10:39 AM

ya, thanks i appreciate it

09-12-2013, 07:32 PM	#1 (permalink)
Aranon Nanner Noob Location: Nebraska Zone: 5 Name: Rodney Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 22 BananaBucks : 24,366 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Are my bananas too big for these pots? Hello, before I ordered my banana plants online I went to Walmart and purchased 4 of the self watering 16.7 inch pots for the plants when they arrived. I have 2 of the Blue Java variety and 2 of the Dwarf Cavendish variety. My question is if any of you think this pot size is insufficient for the proper growth of my Blue Javas, the dwarfs I'm not all too concerned about considering they are well..dwarfs. But the Blue Java are a rather large variety. I provided some pictures to show you how they are currently doing. They seem to be growing well aside from the sun damage. According to a chart I looked up online the pot is about 11 gallons give or take.

09-12-2013, 08:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
robguz24 Rob Location: Kalapana, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 11 Name: Rob Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,506 BananaBucks : 282,588 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,320 Times Was Thanked 4,961 Times in 1,080 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Re: Are my bananas too big for these pots? What type of banana is that supposed to be? It doesn't really look like either of the 2 you mentioned, so that would affect potential size. __________________ My micro-farm Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

09-12-2013, 08:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
Aranon Nanner Noob Location: Nebraska Zone: 5 Name: Rodney Join Date: May 2013 Posts: 22 BananaBucks : 24,366 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Are my bananas too big for these pots? The two you see in the picture are the Blue Java's, they are about 5 months old.

09-12-2013, 09:56 PM	#4 (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: 9,493 BananaBucks : 265,478 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Are my bananas too big for these pots? Look like Namwah's to me.. and they can make in those pots till spring.. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

09-12-2013, 10:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
robguz24 Rob Location: Kalapana, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 11 Name: Rob Join Date: Sep 2010 Posts: 1,506 BananaBucks : 282,588 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,320 Times Was Thanked 4,961 Times in 1,080 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 204 Times	Re: Are my bananas too big for these pots? Petioles on my Namwah and Ice Cream are all almost totally closed, which is why I asked. I'd be surprised if they were either. If it is a Namwah, again only from my own experience, they get a few feet taller than real Ice Creams. __________________ My micro-farm Stay on my Big Island banana farm cottage

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09-12-2013, 10:49 PM	#6 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 718,577 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,537 Times in 4,719 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: Are my bananas too big for these pots? Aranon - I see you are in Nebraska. It's time for your fruiting bananas to be indoors at night, if not 24/7. They aren't going to grow much during the time they're indoors, so the pots are ok for now. You'll need to put them in 25 gallon when it warms up next Spring. Expect 3 to 5 years to produce fruit in your environment. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

01-06-2014, 10:37 AM	#13 (permalink)
Heizenberg247 Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 36 BananaBucks : 14,841 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Are my bananas too big for these pots? hello , i have a question .if anyone can help me . my banana is in a 14 in pot in the house . the banana is about 12 foot to 15 foot tall with some growing lights . it will not grow any pups do you think its because the pot is too small or because its not warm enough ??

01-06-2014, 05:09 PM	#15 (permalink)
Heizenberg247 Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 36 BananaBucks : 14,841 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Are my bananas too big for these pots? Im new to all this but really love the banana trees . I have a blood banana its got redish green leaves . the ground would be great i might try that next spring time . although i live in ohio thats not the greatest for the ground . thank you though !

01-07-2014, 10:39 AM	#17 (permalink)
Heizenberg247 Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 36 BananaBucks : 14,841 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 8 Times Was Thanked 7 Times in 6 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Are my bananas too big for these pots? ya, thanks i appreciate it

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