Tropicallvr

Has anyone had any luck germinating musa seeds in a truly tropical climate? They seem like they need the temp fluctuation, but is it possible in the summer, or even in the winter? And what species have worked for you?
Thanks

Tropicallvr

Update, have sprouted 8 Ensete superbums(14 days), and one Ensete glaucum(15 days), and one Musa initerans(in about 10 days!) near Puerto Vallarta Mexico. Now waiting on a few others to pop their heads up.

Dean W.

Kyle, did you do anything special with the seeds? I have some that I'm working on now.

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Tropicallvr

I basically just did the regular 3 day soak, and have the seeds in a one gallon community pot outside that gets morning light until noon. I did do one thing that is kinda freaky and I'm a little bit embarassed admitting it, a friend told me that in some new age book she read it talked all about plants life force, ect. She knew I was into germinating seeds and told me about a part in the book where it said that if you hold the seeds in your mouth while thinking about why you want the plants to grow then they will grow better. I did it with Musa initerans and forgot all about it until they sprouted after 10 days. I'm not sure if that's why, but I really wanted them to sprout, so I thought what the heck, and they set the record for me, so I may try it again sometime. (It's weird I know)

Update, now 4 Musa initerans(of 10), and about 15 Ensete superbum, one Ensete glaucum, and 3 Musa violescens. M.initerans is now my record holder for the fastest sprouter of any banana in 10 days.

Dean W.

Lol!!! Hey, it worked! Congrats on your seeds germinating! I noticed today that my Snow Bananas are germinating. I have them in a community pot. They were outside in full sun untill some flowers (Marigolds) fell ontop of them providing shade. Seemed to have worked.

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Chironex

There might be something to that idea of putting them in your mouth. Think about the enzymes and acids in your mouth, and the mouths of monkeys. Hmmmm, I will definitely give it a try. How long were they in your mouth? One never knows what might trigger some of the tough-to-germinate-bananas.

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Scot

Dean W.

Scot, just make sure you wash them off well first! LOL!!!

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damaclese

uck but if it works id try it lol as Scot stated allot of seed only germinate after going throw the digestive track of a particular animal IE a symbiotic relationship so maybe the saliva has a beneficial affect but as previously discussed many Musa and Ensete seeds lack embryonic structures so no mater what you do they simply can not germinate
its grate to hear that some one is having such good success with thire seed congrats!

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Helping to foster understanding for the learning disabled

Tog Tan

Well I was looking at this old thread by Kyle and there was no answer to his original question. Look at the pix below and you will see the small 'naner sprouts on the right side of the pot.



Now here's the story; it's an unintentional thing which I did actually. I had a bunch of ripen M-a-s-malaccensis fruits in the car porch and a tree shrew came around and ate some of the fruits and littered the floor with seeds. I had wanted to throw the sds away but then I thought why not chuck them into a pot and see what happens. I just threw them onto the soil and did not sow them as I would with soil on top. Then I forgot about it. Some 3 wks later I noticed a couple of green shoots in the same pot and then only I realised that the sds have sprouted.

The pot is in the open in the garden and during that time it was raining quite regularly and if it didn't, I watered the whole area as usual. The day time temp is around 90F+ and night about 80F. So no magic here.

The thing I noticed is that the sprouts come up more robust than those I have germinated in the clear deli boxes. Probably the sun light helped them alot.

Go figure....

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Raules

At you very favorable climate Tog, that do not throw, all grows

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Tropical agriculturist

lorax

See, and I've had the same experience as Tog with Heliconia and Canna seeds here in Ecuador. They seem to do better for me if they pass through a tapir or a guanta, then just get thrown on top of some soil out in the elements.

Tog Tan

Oi Sweetie, tapir, I know, we have the black and white one here and it taste like beef. So whatsa guanta? Huh?

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

lorax

Guanta are large, tasty rodents with what I'd describe as layered flesh. A bit smaller than a capybara, but significantly larger than a big rat. They're related to Agouti.

Tapir are excellent eating as well - but having met young ones, I am now hesitant to eat them, they're such nice, friendly critters.

Chironex

I lead such a sheltered life. The only wild animals I have heard of around here are mountain lions and javalina (peccaries). And I hope that I don't run into either one! Yikes!

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Scot

island cassie

My son came out from England recently and brought me 1 ensete seed (of unknown type) that he had bought at vast expense from a specialist shop. (I hope he is too busy to read this). So after reading this thread I might move it out into the sun a little more. The seed had been treated in some way so not a candidate for the saliva treatment, but I would really like it to grow against all odds.

Bob

Tog and lorax, Haven't had dinner yet and now I'm thinking of Tapir, Guanta, Agouti( all backstrap and tenderloin) , fried plaintain, hot pepper slightly thickened beef stock over noodles might just.................pizza will have to do...........ugh.

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lorax

Nah, to do Guanta properly it needs to be basted in garlic butter and slow-roasted on a spit or rotisserie over a bed of charcoal. The meat is incredibly rich, and tastes best when the fat layers have sort of been melted through the muscle layers.

Tog Tan

Bob, about 11yrs ago, I arranged for the last big gourmet dinner of game meat for a bunch of business friends who were really into it. We had civet cat, python, monitor lizard, mouse deer, barking deer, soft shell turtle, bear's paws and other exotic stuff. Since all the meat were illegally acquired we had to arrange for a restaurant which was willing to cook and serve it. We paid quite a bomb and had a super sumptuous meal in a VIP room. After that we didn't meet for a long time. And when we did, we found out that all those who were at that dinner had a horrible run of bad luck, the baddest, one can imagine. It was only later I learnt about the superstition of eating game will bring about bad luck! So, no one ever got interested again. Hahaha

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Tog Tan has sadly suddenly passed away 6/16/09. We will miss you Tog Tan.

Chironex

What wine would you pair with it Beth?

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Scot

Chironex

Was this meal before your lizard deals went bad?

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Scot