Mark Hall

After losing yet another Itinerans Indian form to a rotted stem I am wondering what is the best mix for banana seedlings ?

I have grown others with no problems but the three I had all took ages to grow just a couple of inches Then they just rot off.

I use a multi purpose mix with added pearlite and vermiculite a sort of 50/25/25%.

Should it have more drainage or does that sound about right.

I am determined to grow one of these after seeing franks pictures.

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Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

Richard

What are you using for fungicide?

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Mark Hall

Nothing Richard. The other musa that I have germinated don't seem to be bothered by rotting off.

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Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

Tropicallvr

I have heard that peat moss based mixes are more prone to die off, as opposed to mixes with coco peat.
I like coco peat, perlite, and some nice organic soil with mostly earthworm castings mixed together.

bigdog

Mark, I'd skip the vermiculite. While it does enhance drainage, it also holds a lot of water. Perlite is a better option for seedlings. I used Promix and perlite for mine. I think the key with these is lots of heat and full sun. I had three sprout for me, but only two made it. The first one died a month or so after germinating, after not even opening up its first leaf. It just seemed to be a weak seedling. The other two took off immediately after germinating. I do water them sparingly when very young, only keeping the medium evenly moist. The only Musa sikkimensis I ever got to germinate (so far) damped off on me. I had it in a different greenhouse that had shadecloth and was cooler than the other one. Don't know if that made the difference, or if the pot I used wasn't sterile or what.

You may just be getting some weak seedlings, and nothing can be done about that. They are just going to die anyway. Good luck with them! You'll get one going sooner or later. They are worth the wait!

Mark Hall

Thanks Frank. I bought 100 seeds from sunshine seeds and split half with Tony Palmer. so there are still plenty ( hopefully ) to germinate.

For me they have been the slowest musa to grow. They stay tiny for ages while other types romp away.

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Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

sandy0225

I like promix hp (high perlite) with biofungicide. I'm not having any trouble with even seedlings of tomatoes damping off. I don't think the hp has any vermiculite at all, and I'd definitely leave the vermiculite out of a winter/cold weather potting mix. For summer potting, it'd be fine though because it does hold water. I use the same mix in a pgx (plug mix) form to germinate seeds then move them to the regular (more coarse)hp mix.
You could drench your pots with a biofungicide like serenade if you don't use mix with a biofungicide mixed in. You could use it when watering in your plants for the first time, and you could even mix it up and dunk the roots in it before planting to get them well colonized.
Also make sure all your pots, etc are well sterilized. Soak them in 2T/gallon of Physan 20, or use a 1 part bleach to 10 parts water solution for 10 minutes if they're used pots. Might not be a bad idea to soak your cutting/digging tools too.
Good luck!
Sandy

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Sandy Burrell



Northern Tropics Greenhouse
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Muncie, IN 47302
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Mark Hall

Thanks Sandy.

All the products you have mentioned are not available in the UK. We do have a product called Chesshunt compound that is used as a fungicide.

I will leave out the vermiculite in future.

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Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

mrbungalow

Mark: Are you sure it's the soil/substrate and not another abiotic or biotic factor killing your species bananas? In my experience most musas grow in just about any soil and aren't too picky.

Almost every time the problem you described happens to me, it's lack of humidity and sunlight.

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Mark Hall

Erland I did think I was over doing it with the Humidity as I had clear plastic cups over the pots for extra humidity.

Sunlight or lack of it could be a strong possibility. Most of the seedlings lean towards the light of the small window and there for have to be turned almost daily.

I realy didn't want to go to the added expense of Lighting for the seedlings as they are raised in out utility room where the washing machine and dryer are kept.My wife moans at me enough as it is without me making her more angry by turning it into a nursery.

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Time Flies like an Arrow.....Fruit flies like a Banana.

mrbungalow

LOL Glad to see I am not the only one! :-D

Since it's almost spring/summer, I would forget about growlights for a while.
As we speak - the seedlings I have in the window are exploding into growth. Even though it's mostly overcast here, the plants know very well where the sun is placed. It's litterarly a matter of night and day if you place the plants in a window facing south or not. And it's better with south-east than south-west, plants want to get up early and start the day!

Bright sunlight seems to solve most banana-problems. Just remember to water & fertilize and you're fine.

So in my experience, a little bright sunlight solves the problems of the world. I also tell that to my wife when I get her angry because of my passion for my plants! lol

Erlend

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