Potting up?
 

I've always been taught to "pot up" that is transplant a plant into a pot 2-4 inches larger in diameter than the one it came from. I think this is to prevent root rot and aid in aeration if using clay pots. BUT with fabric pots and fast growing bananas I was wondering if it pays to transplant my 2 ft nana into her final home (a 45 gallon fabric pot) sooner rather than later. The reason I worry is that she grows so fast Ive had to trim some woody bound roots and am repotting every 3-4 weeks which seems, frankly, kind of stressful for us all (me and the nanner) I'm growing in a greenhouse with average daytime temps in the high 80's to 90, lows I shoot not to go below 60 but get the occasional 55 f or so. So she's growing fast about a leaf every 2-3 days when it is sunny, every 5 or so when cloudy. It's kind of insane to this neophyte. I'd never dream of doing this to my mangos or citrus but how about naners!? Thanks in advance for your wisdom.

Oh she's a dwarf Iholena and is currently in a 8 inch pot but looks ridiculous right now. I bought her in a 2 inch pot. Or something like that.

Re: Potting up?
 

I would go ahead and put it in the 45 gallon pot and let it grow. A lot of plants go from a small pot to the garden.

Re: Potting up?
 

I agree I would also. When you get to transplanting bigger sizes you will end up breaking the rootball which will cause setbacks. Also I'm curious where did you get the dwarf iholena TC plant?

Great plant! Good luck.

Re: Potting up?
 

I think this is a poor practice for plants grown in true soils. It rapidly leads to root-bound plants, that are root-bound upon root bound, etc.

In transplanting from something like a 4-inch pot:

• IF the plant is inherently a small annual or perennial, I'll put it in either the ground or the "final size" pot.
• IF the plant is a larger perennial, I'll transplant to a 5 gallon pot for a year and then into the ground or the "final size" pot -- which might be a 25 gallon or 32" tree box.

Re: Potting up?
 

I got my banana at Logee's nursery in Connecticut, but they are primarily mail order and all Tropicals.

It makes sense to me to just plant the banana in its final home! And a lot easier too! Thanks for the wisdom!

Re: Potting up?
 

I have seen commercial palm/tropical plant nurseries in Florida go from small bag to small swim pool size bags in one progression which seems to be the norm in tropical climates.


My grow season(zone 5-6) is short so I have to progress container size.
For me it takes a season for a plants roots to fill a container.


Also I have found that plants that I pot in spring and midsummer overwinter better indoors because of established and slightly tight root structure.
My last month to repot and separate pups is mid August and that is only if needed.

Here is a visual of my progression of container size.

For me my plants will not flower(or think about it) till the 18 gal and up sizes, and if they do the flower and small fruit will fall off in January.



.
Progression in size of containers
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr