Tropicallvr

Can't see any difference between 15 gallon Cheesmanii and 5 gallon Nagesium. The seeds were also identical. Bothe the plants look so different than other bananas at all stages, so the two species are either really closely related or the same seed is being sold with two different names.
The first batch of cheesmanii seeds was from RPS, and the second was from Ortanque(spelled wrong). The nagesium seeds were from sunshine Floir noir variety(if I remember correctly), and they were just black like cheesmanii. Even the other types they sell there are almost the same as floir noir, but they were older, and mine got bugs, and never sprouted.
I think Erland was right on one of his other threads about seedman having the real nagesium. The seed packs had larger smooth seeds, but there was also one bumpy flat seed in each packet, which if I'm not mistaken( the flatness) is a characteristic of the true form.

Tropicallvr

I've heard the oppostite about damping off with palms, but using 2/3 perlite, 1/3 coco is supposed to work the best. The coco seems to hold water alot longer which is great for some stuff, but maybe not so great for keeping bananas from rotting in the winter, but I added alot of perlite.
It seems to be the best for keeping potted bananas from dring out in the summer, and it rehydrates better after drying out than spagnum.
I also noticed a little moldy growing on the surface, but the seedlings are popping up through it, then I repot into the window for some light.

tropicalkid

Did you get the ingens to sprout???!!!???. Wow that's great!!!
Now the other part will be wondering how to make it hang in there until it produces pups or can be TC'd.

Carlos

tropicalkid

[QUOTE If it smells like the breath of your algebra-teacher, you can be sure they are no good!

Erlend[/quote]

You made me laugh real good today Erlend

Gard

All these (yes, all these) have germinated for me yet:

Ensete ventricosum

Pretty many, huh?

The first three species I got and sowed, was sowed in only moist vermiculite, but those three first ones have not went quite good, it smells like Erlend said, like the breath of your algebra teacher...

Now I mix about 2/4 soil, 1/4 sand and 1/4 vermiculite, and I've added a little perlite. Seems to be a nice mix for me, at least the Ensete ventricosum liked it!

Gard

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barna

The banana seeds I sprouted are:
Ensete glaucum
Musa balbisiana (Sunshine)
Musa cheesmani
Musa 'PNG Highland'
Musa itinerans 'Indian form'
Musa laterita
Musa nagensium (pure??)
Musa nagensium X "Florale Noir"
Musa rubinea
Musa 'New Bhutan'
Musa velutina
Musa yunnanensis

The ones I am trying to sprout (I have my fingers crossed)

Musa flaviflora
Musa formosana
Musa ingens
Musa itinerans var. gigantea
Musa sikkimensis x paradisiaca
Musa sp. "Burmese Blue"
Musa sp. Nov.

and the ones I losed and had not sprouted:

Musa bacarra
Musa mannii
Musa siamensis "Thai Gold"
Musa thomsonii
Musa' New violet'

mrbungalow

Anyone had any more luck with fluctuating temps?

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Gard

Now I've germinated Musa sikkimensis and Musa x paradisiaca (which I believe, from the look of the seeds, to be Musa balbisiana) with fluctuating temperatures. The Ensete ventricosum just had room temperature.

Gard

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STEELVIPER

Mrbungalow, when you germinate your banana seeds, Do you use any kind of light? gro-lux bulbs etc....?? Was looking at the picture you posted on your germinating setup.

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jmilligan1976

I have had success with the Ensete's also and have really only been very lucky with the ornamental Musa's.
Most of the plants in my gallery were started from seeds.
For some reason I have many grow from seed and actually flower and "fruit" within the first year.

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Because growing a plant suited to your climate is just too simple.........

Tropicallvr

whoops

Tropicallvr

I checked out your gallery and you have some really nice plants that you grew from seed. I especially like the "Paradisica". Do you remember what your seed source was for the paradisica. I grew a paradisica from seed from banana tree dot com and it is light green and really waxy without any red.
Thanks,
Kyle

mrbungalow

For germination, no light is needed. Just as Tropicalvr said, changes in temperature. When I see roots I transplant the seeds into individual drinking-cups with well-draining soil. I do use a grow-light after this because we have virtually no daylight after November 1 til mid February, but if you live in California, you could probably get away with a southern window or greenhouse, maybe even outside depending on location and species. (I am 60 degrees N, Steelviper is probably around 32 degrees N?)

For people in more northern areas, or people unable ot keep bananas near daylight, I would highly reccomend a high-power Na light fixture. They cost a bit, but they are worth it. The plants seem to grow properly and fast, and you never have to worry about overwintering smaller plants again. Those little water-droplets on the leaves at the end of the day tells me metabolism is taking place.

Erlend

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chong

when i got back from a fema assignment in mississippi last august, i was going thru some seeds i had and discovered some musa glauca seeds that i ordered before i left for florida in sept. 2004. i said what the heck, i'll see if they'll sprout. so, i scarified them, soaked them in warm water with cape seed germination primer pad for 24 hours, then sown them in a germination tray with heating mat underneath at 85degF. i really didn't expect anything, but to my glee, in 2.5 weeks 2 out of 8 seeds sprouted. still waiting for the other 4. 2 of them were afloat the whole time that i was soaking them, so there's probably no hope for them.

bananaman

Hi all,
Really pleased to report that I have now got 3 seedlings out of 6 sown of Musa "Monkey Fingers".
A new one for me. Most of my plants are from seed and I do not have much trouble germinating them, just sow in peat based compost put pot in plastic bag sealed to keep in moisture and then on top of my central heating boiler. Then when I have a bath I know that my seeds are being warmed nicely.

My experience is that they do like the warm then warmer still type of treatment.

Still enjoy seeing them pop through the compost....knowing that I am starting them into life.

The main thing people MUST remember is that if you sow ten seeds and get 3 germinate you have done well....I always try to get one good variety plant from a packet of seeds.

Mustang

I've just ordered some more so will try again. I've also got the Cape Super Smoke kit to try out as well as Gibberellic acid and Potassium nitrate. Will use them separately on seeds from the same batch to see if there is any difference.

wim

Chong,

What is "cape seed germination primer pad" ?

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With kind regards
Wim

STEELVIPER

Here you go wim.

http://www.seedman.com/cape.htm

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mrbungalow

From what I have heard, Gibberilic Acid can also do harm if you use it in wrong amounts. Plants can grow thin and weakly in strange directions and forms. When GA was first observed in rice-plants, the asians referred to it as "Foolish rice".
I don't know how it affects bananas though. And I am all for experimenting.

As far as I am concerned with growing musa from seed, a large amount of seed and fluctuating temps seem to be fine to produce many plants.

Erlend

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Mustang

That's how I see it Erlend ... the GA I've got is a tiny amount, just enough to play with it to see what happens. Thanks for the warning on getting the mix right though.