how to encourage pupping
 

Is there a way to encourage a banana plant to pup, or is it strictly a genetic limitation in certain varieties?

John

Re: how to encourage pupping
 

Grow them in a tight container (e.g., 15 gallon) or a modest planter bed (e.g., 3 x 3) with cinder block walls going down 24 inches. Also, regularly feed them with equal values of NPK (e.g., 5-5-5, 10-10-10, etc.).

Re: how to encourage pupping
 

Nitrogen seems to encourage pupping, I have seen that.

Re: how to encourage pupping
 

Fertilizer application and stress to a corm (accidental damage by garden tools, overcrowding) will encourage pupping. In the past I have also used Azomite, but nowadays I have way too many pups, so I should start a thread on "how to discourage pupping" ;)

Re: how to encourage pupping
 

Along the lines what Richard had said many of my plants are in irrigated containers and most are tight.
I get pups out the ying yang.


For fertilizers I use whatever is on sale.
Triple 12 ,16,19 have worked for me.

I also have a few local plant society members swear by a large dose of 46-0-0 in March for their inground Basjoos and Mekong Giants.
The results are kinda like giving a Redbull to a crackhead:)

.This photo is from March and results are consistent.
Plant is 14 feet tall 5.5years old and container is a tight 14 gal.
.

Overwintered AeAe with pups
by
Hostafarian,
on Flickr

Re: how to encourage pupping
 

I have no experience with this because I always want to discourage pupping. But, if I wanted to encourage pupping, based on theory, I would try to kill the terminal bud of the plant. I would use an electric hand drill with a wide bit to drill through the pseudostem at an angle to destroy the meristem. Of course, I would first practice on plants that I can afford to lose.

Re: how to encourage pupping
 

That is interesting. Any idea how much are they applying?

Re: how to encourage pupping
 

Yeah tight conditions encourage pupping. But some pup more in pots or in the ground.