Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea?

joekun · 08-29-2012, 02:47 PM

Hello everyone, this is my first post here and I would appreciate some sage advice so I don't make a mistake with my Ice Cream banana tree.

I bought and planted it just shy of 2 years ago, but unfortunately in May of 2011 some critter absolutely shredded it over night and I was forced to cut it off about 8" or so from the ground. I had no idea at the time that it would grow back, but it had a pup so I left it hoping to salvage a tree from the situation.

Now I have several pups growing that I separated from the original tree, but I left one on there and it has grown to be the same size as the original tree is due to its unfortunate accident (between 5' and 6' tall). I'm thinking I made a mistake letting this pup stay attached and am now thinking I should separate them to give mom the energy needed to produce my first fruits (hopefully next year). Is it dangerous to remove such a large pup? Am I better off leaving them together? I would really like to start seeing some flowers and getting some fruit!

caliboy1994 · 08-29-2012, 03:18 PM

Wow, I'm not far from you. I'm in Granada Hills! Welcome to the forum!

I guess it would depend on how well rooted the pup is. It would probably be difficult to separate, and you might damage the mother plant. There's nothing wrong with just leaving it on the plant. They should both have energy to make fruit if both have leaves and are contributing to the energy of the mat. Also make sure to fertilize it during the growing season. Good luck!

joekun · 08-29-2012, 03:31 PM

Good to see some neighbors here

Yes, both of them look good and have leaves. I'm not opposed to leaving them together, so maybe that is the best thing to do. I'm just anxious to get some fruit

I have been giving each tree about 1 cup of a flower fertilizer I saw recommended while I'm waiting to order some banana fuel.

caliboy1994 · 08-29-2012, 03:57 PM

Be careful with the banana fuel -- if you overfertilize them with it like I did they will develop a micronutrient deficiency, especially if your soil is heavy clay like mine. I've toned down my use of banana fuel and switched over to organics, and the nutrient deficiency is going away.

Abnshrek · 08-29-2012, 04:02 PM

I'd cut the pup and plant the pup where you want it.. 3 weeks from now it will be all good. :^)

joekun · 08-29-2012, 04:05 PM

What fert are you using? I've been giving mine espoma plant-tone that I saw recommended somewhere for bananas. Can't recall what the numbers are off the top of my head. Luckily I have sandy well draining soil. Our yard must've been in an ancient riverbed or something.

sunfish · 08-29-2012, 04:07 PM

Leave it

Abnshrek · 08-29-2012, 04:08 PM

I use banana fuel, & FishE

caliboy1994 · 08-29-2012, 04:30 PM

I use banana fuel every two weeks and Milorganite every month. I might need to add a potassium supplement to that....

sunfish · 08-29-2012, 04:41 PM

I don't use any fertilizer

Moving full grown bananas

LilRaverBoi · 08-29-2012, 05:06 PM

I'm with Tony....just leave it be. Separating it off isn't a terrible idea, but you will disrupt roots and remove some of the mother corm to do so. However, if you leave it, it will continue to grow as usual. The pup may even exceed the mother plant and bloom first. Having 1-2 pups on a plant is a good thing and does not 'drain' the main plant of growth.

sunfish · 08-29-2012, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LilRaverBoi

I'm with Tony....just leave it be. Separating it off isn't a terrible idea, but you will disrupt roots and remove some of the mother corm to do so. However, if you leave it, it will continue to grow as usual. The pup may even exceed the mother plant and bloom first. Having 1-2 pups on a plant is a good thing and does not 'drain' the main plant of growth.

10-4

joekun · 08-29-2012, 05:35 PM

Thanks for all the replies everyone, I've decided to leave it as per most of your recommendations.

venturabananas · 08-30-2012, 01:52 AM

Yep, leave it. It'll be happier over winter that way. My neighbor has a single mat of "Ice Cream" that she never removes pups from. It currently has 7 bunches hanging.

G.W. · 08-30-2012, 02:14 AM

compost it

find a fertilizer store
maybe Brooker chemical 9175 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 818 764 8700
maybe Whittier Fertilizer 9441 Kruse Rd. Pico Rivera, CA 90660 562 699-3461

0-0-52 SOP Sulphate of Potash potassium sulphate

GET SERIOUS

joekun · 08-30-2012, 04:21 PM

Looking at the trees again last night I noticed that the mother plant is sticking up several inches out of the ground and is a bit wobbly. I'm concerned a strong wind might knock it down, so I may have to split it and move it anyway to get it in a nice firm spot. I suppose I could mound up dirt around it, but that probably wouldn't make it much stronger, right?

LilRaverBoi · 08-30-2012, 08:22 PM

Bananas sometimes do that when they are in water-logged conditions. Not sure if that is the reason in your case, but just a thought.

Abnshrek · 08-30-2012, 09:06 PM

I'd add dirt let it settle for 2 weeks and ad as needed then mulch.. :^)

PR-Giants · 08-31-2012, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joekun

Looking at the trees again last night I noticed that the mother plant is sticking up several inches out of the ground and is a bit wobbly. I'm concerned a strong wind might knock it down, so I may have to split it and move it anyway to get it in a nice firm spot. I suppose I could mound up dirt around it, but that probably wouldn't make it much stronger, right?

This is an option that I sometimes use with a plant similar to yours.

It is inexpensive, easy and effective.

The form 15" high with a 40" Dia.

The ingredients are soil, water and long dried grass.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

joekun · 08-31-2012, 12:34 PM

Hmm, very interesting. So you mix soil and dried grass with water and then form it around the mat?

08-29-2012, 02:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
joekun Location: Burbank, CA Zone: 10b Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 21,702 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 28 Times in 8 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Hello everyone, this is my first post here and I would appreciate some sage advice so I don't make a mistake with my Ice Cream banana tree. I bought and planted it just shy of 2 years ago, but unfortunately in May of 2011 some critter absolutely shredded it over night and I was forced to cut it off about 8" or so from the ground. I had no idea at the time that it would grow back, but it had a pup so I left it hoping to salvage a tree from the situation. Now I have several pups growing that I separated from the original tree, but I left one on there and it has grown to be the same size as the original tree is due to its unfortunate accident (between 5' and 6' tall). I'm thinking I made a mistake letting this pup stay attached and am now thinking I should separate them to give mom the energy needed to produce my first fruits (hopefully next year). Is it dangerous to remove such a large pup? Am I better off leaving them together? I would really like to start seeing some flowers and getting some fruit!

08-29-2012, 03:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 322,943 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,197 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Wow, I'm not far from you. I'm in Granada Hills! Welcome to the forum! I guess it would depend on how well rooted the pup is. It would probably be difficult to separate, and you might damage the mother plant. There's nothing wrong with just leaving it on the plant. They should both have energy to make fruit if both have leaves and are contributing to the energy of the mat. Also make sure to fertilize it during the growing season. Good luck! __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

08-29-2012, 03:31 PM	#3 (permalink)
joekun Location: Burbank, CA Zone: 10b Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 21,702 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 28 Times in 8 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Good to see some neighbors here Yes, both of them look good and have leaves. I'm not opposed to leaving them together, so maybe that is the best thing to do. I'm just anxious to get some fruit I have been giving each tree about 1 cup of a flower fertilizer I saw recommended while I'm waiting to order some banana fuel.

08-29-2012, 03:57 PM	#4 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 322,943 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,197 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Be careful with the banana fuel -- if you overfertilize them with it like I did they will develop a micronutrient deficiency, especially if your soil is heavy clay like mine. I've toned down my use of banana fuel and switched over to organics, and the nutrient deficiency is going away. __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

08-29-2012, 04:02 PM	#5 (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 : 349,044 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,444 Times in 5,239 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? I'd cut the pup and plant the pup where you want it.. 3 weeks from now it will be all good. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

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08-29-2012, 04:05 PM	#6 (permalink)
joekun Location: Burbank, CA Zone: 10b Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 21,702 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 28 Times in 8 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? What fert are you using? I've been giving mine espoma plant-tone that I saw recommended somewhere for bananas. Can't recall what the numbers are off the top of my head. Luckily I have sandy well draining soil. Our yard must've been in an ancient riverbed or something.

08-29-2012, 04:07 PM	#7 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,639,054 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,594 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Leave it

08-29-2012, 04:08 PM	#8 (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 : 349,044 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,444 Times in 5,239 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? I use banana fuel, & FishE __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

08-29-2012, 04:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
caliboy1994 <div style="font-style: italic;"><div style="font-style: italic;"></div></div> caliboy1994's Photo Gallery Location: SFV, California Find me on the map! Zone: USDA zone 10a; Sunset zone 18/19 Name: Andreas Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 2,301 BananaBucks : 322,943 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1,474 Times Was Thanked 2,197 Times in 1,148 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 236 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? I use banana fuel every two weeks and Milorganite every month. I might need to add a potassium supplement to that.... __________________ "The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of human beings." ~ Masanobu Fukuoka Find me on linktree here as Solarpunk Farmer: https://linktr.ee/solarpunkfarmer

08-29-2012, 04:41 PM	#10 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,639,054 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,594 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? I don't use any fertilizer Moving full grown bananas

08-29-2012, 05:06 PM	#11 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 160,325 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? I'm with Tony....just leave it be. Separating it off isn't a terrible idea, but you will disrupt roots and remove some of the mother corm to do so. However, if you leave it, it will continue to grow as usual. The pup may even exceed the mother plant and bloom first. Having 1-2 pups on a plant is a good thing and does not 'drain' the main plant of growth. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

08-29-2012, 05:35 PM	#13 (permalink)
joekun Location: Burbank, CA Zone: 10b Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 21,702 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 28 Times in 8 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Thanks for all the replies everyone, I've decided to leave it as per most of your recommendations.

08-30-2012, 01:52 AM	#14 (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: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Yep, leave it. It'll be happier over winter that way. My neighbor has a single mat of "Ice Cream" that she never removes pups from. It currently has 7 bunches hanging. __________________

08-30-2012, 02:14 AM	#15 (permalink)
G.W. Aspiring BUY LOCAL farmer Location: between flag leaves 34772 Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Jul 2011 Posts: 289 BananaBucks : 22,647 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 43 Times Was Thanked 261 Times in 144 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 5 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? compost it find a fertilizer store maybe Brooker chemical 9175 Eton Avenue, Chatsworth, CA 818 764 8700 maybe Whittier Fertilizer 9441 Kruse Rd. Pico Rivera, CA 90660 562 699-3461 0-0-52 SOP Sulphate of Potash potassium sulphate GET SERIOUS __________________ winter winners, jackfruit, carambola, hua moa, d namwah, hak ip lychee with pink leaves 2 days before a cold snap eeeek! Winter losers, kohala longan, misi luki, 80% jackfruit seedling loss first bloomers, HUA MOA, DC, D NAMWAH, FHIA 17, KANADARIAN, RAJA PURI, M D NAMWAH best bunch FHIA 17 , undisclosed WORST BUNCH hua moa, 2 fingers Last edited by G.W. : 08-30-2012 at 02:17 AM.

08-30-2012, 04:21 PM	#16 (permalink)
joekun Location: Burbank, CA Zone: 10b Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 21,702 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 28 Times in 8 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Looking at the trees again last night I noticed that the mother plant is sticking up several inches out of the ground and is a bit wobbly. I'm concerned a strong wind might knock it down, so I may have to split it and move it anyway to get it in a nice firm spot. I suppose I could mound up dirt around it, but that probably wouldn't make it much stronger, right?

08-30-2012, 08:22 PM	#17 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 160,325 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Bananas sometimes do that when they are in water-logged conditions. Not sure if that is the reason in your case, but just a thought. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

08-30-2012, 09:06 PM	#18 (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 : 349,044 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,444 Times in 5,239 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? I'd add dirt let it settle for 2 weeks and ad as needed then mulch.. :^) __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

08-31-2012, 12:34 PM	#20 (permalink)
joekun Location: Burbank, CA Zone: 10b Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 21,702 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 28 Times in 8 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Want to remove pup as big as the original tree. Good idea? Hmm, very interesting. So you mix soil and dried grass with water and then form it around the mat?

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