Fcastro

I germinated one from seed, I was wondering if anyone has grown this plant or knows anything about it ?

Gabe15

It is still very rare in cultivation and I don't know of anyone yet to grow one to maturity, not thats it should be difficult, but its just not widely grown.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

the flying dutchman

How did you managed to do that? I can't germinate one and I think I am
not the only.

http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Ensete_Perrieri



Ron

bigdog

Felix, you're the only one I know of stateside to get a seed to germinate. How'd you manage that?? Please tell us how long it took and what methods you used!

Gabe15

The owner of XOTX Tropico Nursery in West Hollywood has had some germinate, he told me they took over a year. I believe he is still growing them out but will have them available when they get bigger.

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Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

Fcastro

Well,first I soaked the seeds in warm water overnight, then I put them in a pot with some cotton burr compost,perlite and organic compost, about a 1/2 inch deep,stuck it out in the shade-house,in a hot but shady area.About a month later one pops up. The first one, I think I transplanted while it was too small, the second is growing now. I'd say it took about a month for the first one, 2 for the second.The first one never really took off,this one is doing better. I really didn't do anything special too them at all.I had 5 seeds ,must have been pretty good seeds, 2 of 5 in Bananas is strong. I also had a Ka Pluay (Sp?) come up but it never really took off either,died when I tried to give it a little sun.I got them from a store on Ebay, mothernaturesgardenstore, (all one word run together,like my paragraphs...lol!) is the name of it.

bigdog

Well, I've had 100 going since February, and no luck yet. 41 of them were "floaters" though, and probably no good. I cracked a few of them open to find dead embryos, so much of the seeds are no good. You must be doing something right, Felix! I haven't got one 'Kluay Pa' to sprout either, although Kyle did and it took him over a year. I do have patience, so what's another few months?

Mark Hall

I have had a few attempts at growing the Ensete and never got one to germinate yet. I am sure I see some small plants at Koba- Kobas a few years back when I was looking round and asked if they were normal E ventricosums as they looked the same.

Even though Kobas has now closed I did manage to get a small Hiniba from David.

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Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

Fcastro

Frank,

Just neglect them ! That was most of my technique. I have discovered something for sprouting heliconias, it might work for Bananas too,if you have some extra seeds you might want to try it. I get Heliconia seeds in the mail,in a little plastic envelope ,wrapped in a moist paper towel. Sometimes some of them have already sprouted. When I'd take them out and plant them ,not too many would grow. So the last few times after they arrive, I check for sprouted ones. The ones that haven't sprouted go back in the plastic bag with a little more water for the paper towel. I keep them in the dark,in an envelope and check about once a week. I've found that I get a lot more to sprout that way than by planting the seeds. Maybe it'll work for bananas too,although you might want to check more frequently than I do for the Heliconias since Bananas turn into plants a lot quicker after sprouting. Heliconias make a root system first ,then send up a sprout about a week to 10 days later. I hope this helps..

Eric-Orlando,FL

I have had a couple seed germinate out of maybe 100 I have tried. These greew a few leaves, got a couple of inches tall and promptly croaked. I have tried since then but never had any others germinate.

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Eric
Orlando,FL z9b/10a