To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting

sputinc7 · 04-25-2016, 09:05 PM

My Brazilian bananas were great. Now I have a Pstem out there with 4 big green leaves presumably soaking up sunlight and making food. Is it feeding the mat? The pups? Should I leave it up until it dies on it's own or just cut it? I have read somewhere
it helps the pups if you leave it grow until it dies on it's own, but it doesn't seem many people leave them go, so I ask, "Cut? don't cut? & Why?"
I tried searching here, but didn't find my answer. I am sure it is there, somewhere, but maybe it needs rehashing for all us newbies...

crazy banana · 04-25-2016, 10:13 PM

I usually cut it down to the ground or at least half way down. It seems that the pups grow faster immediately. I also have more than just one or two follower pups growing, so they certainly like to have more space and light available to grow.

pitangadiego · 04-25-2016, 11:04 PM

As long as it has green leaves, it is putting energy into the mat. Leave it alone.

gnappi · 04-26-2016, 12:01 PM

I'm no nanna expert but mine are in a less than wonderful spot that does not get full sun all day, and I observe pups come sooner when the PS has been cut off.

cincinnana · 04-26-2016, 07:51 PM

Just tossing this in....

Keep you plant as long as you want to.

Mine are in large containers.....I cut the spent stem in 2014 to make the container manageable and harvest the pups.

This plant flowered and fruited in 2014... and still putting out pups due to my climate.....
I did cull the plant a few days ago to to compost pile, the plant was not done.
Plant is an Orinoco.......Awsome starter plant and hard to kill.
I suspect the plant will still push pups this summer.

.

Old fruited corm in center of container with seven pups
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

sputinc7 · 05-01-2016, 03:43 PM

It seems the "experts" are divided on this issue. Seems to me the way God intended was for it to die back on it's own. When it is dead, then I can cut it up in pieces and put them around the base for fertilizer. I am no "expert" but that is my thinking on the matter.

cincinnana · 05-01-2016, 06:23 PM

Your right ...each person has their own process.....

This is a normal mat in South Florida

If you want your mat to look all nice and tidy with no brown stuff at all .....cut it, trim it, manicure it.

If you want your mat to look and perform like it does in nature then do not cut it.

I have seen and practiced both and practice both( in containers).............in the front yard cut it ( looks untidy), in the back yard who cares.......right...
This mat is not cut.......all natural..

The lone pup in the center is now in Ohio. And doing well.

.

Untitled
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

sputinc7 · 05-01-2016, 07:09 PM

Mine are in the backyard, but I trim them up some so they look presentable, and to slow fungus... I want to help them be more productive, so I feel I may need to remove pups as the mat grows.
What I wanted was a more scientific type answer, but maybe there is none. The way people these days do a study on everything, I hoped someone had scientifically studied this and had an answer as to which is better for production. Thanks to all who contributed.

venturabananas · 05-01-2016, 10:56 PM

I've read that leaving 4-5' of p-stem benefits following pups compared to chopping the old p-stem to the ground. However, if you leave the entire plant with leaves after fruiting, then you'll get "self shading" of other p-stems in the mat, which will somewhat decrease photosynthesis (and thus growth and fruit production) on the shaded p-stems. So I chop mine down to 4-5' after fruiting.

gnappi · 05-02-2016, 01:47 PM

I have all the confidence in nature being able to mind it's own needs, BUT... clearly improvements are good to know. From human intervention in plant pollination, feeding, localized microclimate influence, and a host of other things we do that "optimize" natures course are good.

Just IMO of course.

venturabananas · 05-02-2016, 05:11 PM

Edible (seedless) bananas only exist and propagate in nature through the actions of humans. They have no seeds to disperse, so no get around the world -- we have to move and care for them. A "feral" stand of bananas will not be as productive as one well tended by humans, who water, fertilize, prune pups, etc.

04-25-2016, 09:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 130,586 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting My Brazilian bananas were great. Now I have a Pstem out there with 4 big green leaves presumably soaking up sunlight and making food. Is it feeding the mat? The pups? Should I leave it up until it dies on it's own or just cut it? I have read somewhere it helps the pups if you leave it grow until it dies on it's own, but it doesn't seem many people leave them go, so I ask, "Cut? don't cut? & Why?" I tried searching here, but didn't find my answer. I am sure it is there, somewhere, but maybe it needs rehashing for all us newbies... __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

04-25-2016, 10:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
crazy banana Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 1,641 BananaBucks : 2,358 Feedback: 73 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,026 Times Was Thanked 2,964 Times in 1,116 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,000 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting I usually cut it down to the ground or at least half way down. It seems that the pups grow faster immediately. I also have more than just one or two follower pups growing, so they certainly like to have more space and light available to grow.

04-25-2016, 11:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,489 BananaBucks : 197,714 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,734 Times in 930 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting As long as it has green leaves, it is putting energy into the mat. Leave it alone. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

04-26-2016, 12:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
gnappi Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 86 BananaBucks : 27,030 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 130 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting I'm no nanna expert but mine are in a less than wonderful spot that does not get full sun all day, and I observe pups come sooner when the PS has been cut off.

04-26-2016, 07:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,885 BananaBucks : 15 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,920 Times Was Thanked 11,800 Times in 4,918 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,959 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting Just tossing this in.... Keep you plant as long as you want to. Mine are in large containers.....I cut the spent stem in 2014 to make the container manageable and harvest the pups. This plant flowered and fruited in 2014... and still putting out pups due to my climate..... I did cull the plant a few days ago to to compost pile, the plant was not done. Plant is an Orinoco.......Awsome starter plant and hard to kill. I suspect the plant will still push pups this summer. . Old fruited corm in center of container with seven pups by Hostafarian, on Flickr __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

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05-01-2016, 03:43 PM	#6 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 130,586 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting It seems the "experts" are divided on this issue. Seems to me the way God intended was for it to die back on it's own. When it is dead, then I can cut it up in pieces and put them around the base for fertilizer. I am no "expert" but that is my thinking on the matter. __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

05-01-2016, 06:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,885 BananaBucks : 15 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,920 Times Was Thanked 11,800 Times in 4,918 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,959 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting Your right ...each person has their own process..... This is a normal mat in South Florida If you want your mat to look all nice and tidy with no brown stuff at all .....cut it, trim it, manicure it. If you want your mat to look and perform like it does in nature then do not cut it. I have seen and practiced both and practice both( in containers).............in the front yard cut it ( looks untidy), in the back yard who cares.......right... This mat is not cut.......all natural.. The lone pup in the center is now in Ohio. And doing well. . Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 05-01-2016 at 06:26 PM.

05-01-2016, 07:09 PM	#8 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 130,586 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting Mine are in the backyard, but I trim them up some so they look presentable, and to slow fungus... I want to help them be more productive, so I feel I may need to remove pups as the mat grows. What I wanted was a more scientific type answer, but maybe there is none. The way people these days do a study on everything, I hoped someone had scientifically studied this and had an answer as to which is better for production. Thanks to all who contributed. __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

05-01-2016, 10:56 PM	#9 (permalink)
venturabananas venturabananas's Photo Gallery Location: Ventura, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Mark Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,845 BananaBucks : 286,635 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,752 Times Was Thanked 3,969 Times in 1,713 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 39 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting I've read that leaving 4-5' of p-stem benefits following pups compared to chopping the old p-stem to the ground. However, if you leave the entire plant with leaves after fruiting, then you'll get "self shading" of other p-stems in the mat, which will somewhat decrease photosynthesis (and thus growth and fruit production) on the shaded p-stems. So I chop mine down to 4-5' after fruiting. __________________

05-02-2016, 01:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
gnappi Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 86 BananaBucks : 27,030 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 130 Times in 66 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting I have all the confidence in nature being able to mind it's own needs, BUT... clearly improvements are good to know. From human intervention in plant pollination, feeding, localized microclimate influence, and a host of other things we do that "optimize" natures course are good. Just IMO of course.

05-02-2016, 05:11 PM	#11 (permalink)
venturabananas venturabananas's Photo Gallery Location: Ventura, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 10 Name: Mark Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,845 BananaBucks : 286,635 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,752 Times Was Thanked 3,969 Times in 1,713 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 39 Times	Re: To Cut or Not to Cut the PS after fruiting Edible (seedless) bananas only exist and propagate in nature through the actions of humans. They have no seeds to disperse, so no get around the world -- we have to move and care for them. A "feral" stand of bananas will not be as productive as one well tended by humans, who water, fertilize, prune pups, etc. __________________

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