Mike_J

I have to admit my cousins ways worked great! I know some of you have seen me for the past 2 years have around 10 - 15 pups every spring for sale that I get from my cousin. He has told me that you can get a fresh pup to a decent size and get the pup to pup the same year. I didnt belive him until today when I went out side to my Ae Ae and saw my first pup with its second leave poking through the soil.

Well now my goal is to see if I can get my plant to push up as many pups as my cousins Ae AE do.

Dean W.

What is your Cousins way? Or is that secret? Where are you located at Mike? Just wondering.

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Mike_J

I am in Chicago Dean. Its sitting outside in an about 15 gallon pot.

The few things he told me to do is keep it in an area that gets only morning sun and indirect the rest of the day.

He also told me to keep it in a smaller pot. 15 - 20 gallon max. It will look like its cramped in the pot but thats what you want he said. He said keep the soil line about 1 to 2 inches below the pots rim.

He said only use 50/50 sphagnum / peat. He uses the miracle grow bags of pre mixed right of the bag nothing else. He was very specific dont use pure peat.

I wet the whole plant leaves and stem. I was told to fill the whole pot with water and let it drain 5 or 6 times and do this once in the morning and once again at night EVERYDAY.

Thats it I know it doesnt seem like anything special but I did it word for word and it worked. My AeAe was a pup just this Feb and now it has its own pup.

Dean W.

Hey Mike,

Your the one that had donated some of your Ae Ae's right?

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Taylor

No, that was Jordan (I think). TogofCoralGables.com

Mike sold a few of his to members here (Not me) :'( and traded one for one of Mr. Chumley's 100 year old Dioon Edule.

Mike_J

Taylor the one I have with the pup is getting donated to the garfield park conservatory here in Chicago I am gonna also give them a few more pups as I get them to help them start a small Ae Ae mat

harveyc

Thanks, Mike, for the comments on the soil mix. What sort of fertilizer program do you use? Have you ever tested the pH of your mix?

Thanks,

Harvey

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Mike_J

I have only fertilized it once with very diluted miracle grow all this summer. And no I havent checked the pH It wasnt something my cousin asked me to do I was tryin to just do what he said no more lol.

mm4birds

Went to home depot today and found miracle grow sphagnum peat moss.Is this what you are talking about? (no mention of 50/50 mix) They also have miracle grow moisture control which claims to prevent over or under watering problems. Anybody with experience with this mix? Also what is the difference between the spagnum peat moss and the compressed bales marked sphagnum peat except it takes longer to absorb water.

Dean W.

I don't like using the moisture control potting soil on my bananas. IMO it has a tendency to leave the soil to moist.

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Mike_J

Yes myron thats the mix I was talking about.

mm4birds

Is baled sphagnum peat moss the same as the loose bag of miracle grow sphagnum peat moss (minus the fertilizer additive) once it has been soaked with water? If not can somebody explain the difference since the both say the same thing.