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sirdoofus · 09-03-2023, 12:16 PM

I am giving sand a try for freshly divided pups and have a few questions specific to using sand as a potting medium. I have been reading through various sources of information and am just looking for input from others who have had success with it.

I am using silica pool filter sand as recommended by Ty Taylor - I haven't been able to find the horticultural sand or clean course sand as recommended by PR Giants around here, but the pool filter sand seems like a reasonable substitute as its fairly course without much in the way of fines. I did mix in a small amount of powdered organic fertilizer.

Specifically I am potting up small pups that have recently been separated from the plant and don't have a huge number of roots. They do have some leaves which I am leaving on but cutting back as needed.

My questions:

How often do folks water their propagules in sand? From what I have read it sounds like its pretty hard to over water them, but of course I suppose its possible. Also a little concerned about under watering as I am super gun shy when it comes to irrigating potted bananas as the weather gets cooler.

Fertlizing. It is getting late in the season, we still have some time, which will be extended indoors with supplemental light, but I don't want to put too much pressure on them this late. As mentioned there is a small amount of organic fert in the mix, but wondering if I should be fertilizing additionally as the plant establishes.

In this thread Time to separate the variegated pups PR Giants mentions "With the proper amount of fertilizer these newly separated pups grow fast."

but I am not really sure what that might mean and if/or when to consider applying it. Generally I wouldn't fertilize new divisions early in the process, but maybe that isn't always a problem?

At what point might one consider re-potting in a more 'traditional' mix, or would you just leave it in the sand until putting it in the ground?

Best technique for getting the plant out of the sand without tearing roots, or would you just pot up/plant it as is like one might do with any other potted plant?

Any experience, good or bad, would be very much appreciated.

09-03-2023, 12:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
sirdoofus Location: Central Vancouver Island, BC Canada Find me on the map! Zone: AgCan 7b, USDA 6b Name: Mike Join Date: Jul 2014 Posts: 1,085 BananaBucks : 25,346 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,215 Times Was Thanked 1,254 Times in 628 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 98 Times	Potting pups in sand I am giving sand a try for freshly divided pups and have a few questions specific to using sand as a potting medium. I have been reading through various sources of information and am just looking for input from others who have had success with it. I am using silica pool filter sand as recommended by Ty Taylor - I haven't been able to find the horticultural sand or clean course sand as recommended by PR Giants around here, but the pool filter sand seems like a reasonable substitute as its fairly course without much in the way of fines. I did mix in a small amount of powdered organic fertilizer. Specifically I am potting up small pups that have recently been separated from the plant and don't have a huge number of roots. They do have some leaves which I am leaving on but cutting back as needed. My questions: How often do folks water their propagules in sand? From what I have read it sounds like its pretty hard to over water them, but of course I suppose its possible. Also a little concerned about under watering as I am super gun shy when it comes to irrigating potted bananas as the weather gets cooler. Fertlizing. It is getting late in the season, we still have some time, which will be extended indoors with supplemental light, but I don't want to put too much pressure on them this late. As mentioned there is a small amount of organic fert in the mix, but wondering if I should be fertilizing additionally as the plant establishes. In this thread Time to separate the variegated pups PR Giants mentions "With the proper amount of fertilizer these newly separated pups grow fast." but I am not really sure what that might mean and if/or when to consider applying it. Generally I wouldn't fertilize new divisions early in the process, but maybe that isn't always a problem? At what point might one consider re-potting in a more 'traditional' mix, or would you just leave it in the sand until putting it in the ground? Best technique for getting the plant out of the sand without tearing roots, or would you just pot up/plant it as is like one might do with any other potted plant? Any experience, good or bad, would be very much appreciated. __________________ Who keeps calling me nuts?? Last edited by sirdoofus : 09-03-2023 at 06:13 PM.