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niblicksrus 08-30-2009 12:00 PM
Bonsai Banana
 
1 Attachment(s)
Just for the fun of it, I potted up a bunch of SDC and I'm growing them as bonsai's. The plant pictured here has been a bonsai for a year. Pseudostem is 8" and it has three pups. The container is 10"x8"x2".

These would create a pleasant tropical setting at work on the desk top or look nice as a focal point on a table. I don't know if they will ever bear bonsai fruit, but that would be an added plus!

Rick

JuniPerez 08-30-2009 12:07 PM
Re: Bonsai Banana
 
Hmmm... I would have never thought bananas could be bonsai'd since it's technically not a tree, but an herb. I'm going to have to try this. Thanks. = )

jmoore 08-30-2009 12:11 PM
Re: Bonsai Banana
 
I'm intrigued how do you go about bonsaiing something?

niblicksrus 08-30-2009 12:17 PM
Re: Bonsai Banana
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by jmoore (Post 94000)
I'm intrigued how do you go about bonsaiing something?
James,

The trick to bonsai is in root pruning. I have not pruned these yet, but roughly once a year about a third of the roots are pruned, new soil is added, and it is repotted.

Rick

Gabe15 08-30-2009 01:52 PM
Re: Bonsai Banana
 
Banana roots prune themselves, they only remain active for about 4 months in the ground (probably longer in a container, but the concept is still there) before being replaced with new growth, so to control the size of the root system it is best to do exactly what you have done and just limit how much soil it can grow in.

I tried this with a 'Little Prince'. The plant in this photo is almost 3 years old in an 8in pot and has about an 8in pseudostem.

niblicksrus 08-30-2009 02:02 PM
Re: Bonsai Banana
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gabe15 (Post 94026)
Banana roots prune themselves, they only remain active for about 4 months in the ground (probably longer in a container, but the concept is still there) before being replaced with new growth, so to control the size of the root system it is best to do exactly what you have done and just limit how much soil it can grow in.

I tried this with a 'Little Prince'. The plant in this photo is almost 3 years old in an 8in pot and has about an 8in pseudostem.
Gabe,

That's a great-looking plant! Has your 'Little Prince' ever fruited/do you expect it will fruit?

Rick

LilRaverBoi 08-30-2009 04:49 PM
Re: Bonsai Banana
 
Very cool! I hope you are able to keep it going. I suspect it might get a little larger than you want, though. Once it gets older the leaves will be much larger and you'll have to chop the stem off to keep it short. At that point it might start to look disproportional. Very cool idea, though...just keep us informed on how it's doing!

Bananaman88 08-31-2009 01:22 PM
Re: Bonsai Banana
 
'Little Prince' is a much better choice for "bonsai-ing" in my opinion. It naturally grows smaller than SDC, which I've seen get to 4' tall even in a pot.

niblicksrus 08-31-2009 09:28 PM
Re: Bonsai Banana
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bananaman88 (Post 94237)
'Little Prince' is a much better choice for "bonsai-ing" in my opinion. It naturally grows smaller than SDC, which I've seen get to 4' tall even in a pot.
Brent: I actually use Novak, I think Truly Tiny is a sport of Novak?

Rick

Bananaman88 09-01-2009 06:40 AM
Re: Bonsai Banana
 
'Novak' is the actual cultivar name of Super Dwarf Cavendish. I think Super Dwarf Cavendish is just a marketing name coined by the nursery industry. I'm not sure if 'Truly Tiny' is a sport of 'Novak' or not-could be.


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