Originally Posted by Tropicallvr

1. Get a soil that is bacteria free(cook in oven to sterilize) Or buy seed starting mix. Coco peat & perlite mixed togher is a good medium for sprouting. Get zip lock baggies to place the seeds in, the bigger the bag the better, I have cooked seeds in too small of a bag. Half gallon or gallon size I think is best.
2. Get a heat mat with an appliance timer(bought seperatly), and set up in a cooler room(60F) in your house. Put some sort of tray(seedling flat) on heat mat, so baggies aren't directly on the mat.
3.Soak seeds for about 24-48(or more) hours changing the water daily. Some seeds have alot of banana pulp and might need to be scrubbed a few times as they soak. After they are done soaking, give them a scrub and rinse with either diluted hydrogen peroxide, or a 10% bleach solution. Some bleach clings to seeds and makes them feel slimey, and if this is the case give them a extra dish soap wash to get the bleach off.
4. Hydrate your soil medium, just to the point of moist, but not dripping moist. I ussaly run a drip into the baggy as I stir it as the water drips in. Not too wet not too dry. Then sprinkle the seeds on the surface, and sprinkle a little soil on them, just so they are barley covered.
5. Set you timer for being on from anywhere from 5 hours on to 12 hours on. It's up to you I've had results with short and long, but now I do around 7-8 hours on.
6. Check regularly by hand or with an outdoor thermometer the soil to make sure it isn't getting too hot, and raise your tray off the heat mat if it is. I have lost alot of seeds from frying them. If your soil is drying out then it's probably too hot.
6. No need for a light to germinate them, they will do it in pitch black, but you'll need to check them almost every day, because if you miss a seedling that has sprouted and they stretch too much for light then they use all their reserves, and don't have enough energy to produce the first leaf, then they bend over and die. Be careful not to expose them to full sunshine too quickly either if they have been in a dark place.
Some species are fine to dig up out of the baggies and seperate from the soil before it has it's first leaf, and some are really touchy and you must leave them in the baggy till they have a leaf.
when they are ready just put new potted seedling in a warm well lit place(morning sun), or artificial light, and let it go to town, fetilizing lightly after 3 or so leaf leafs have been put out.
LMK if I missed anything that your wondering about. I HOPE YOU GET SOME SPROUTS!

Originally Posted by marksbananas

Excellent guide i have a load of seeds arriving today and i was wondering what mix of coco peat and perlite you use, thanks mark

Originally Posted by Chironex

Welcome Egle, I believe that you will find good results using Erlands method. I have some banana seeds in wet peat moss now. It may be too soon to say if it works or not, but I am hopeful for success.
It is a good idea. Good Luck!

Originally Posted by island cassie

I fell in love with the ensete superbum I saw growing here recently, and now I know the reason why there were no pups - I want to grow my own from seed. Bearing in mind that I cannot get anything special and can only sterilize the compost and supply warmth (lots of it), are there any tips anybody can give me before I start? I haven't ordered seeds yet.

Cassie

Originally Posted by island cassie

Sorry for the delay in replying, Tog. The ensetes I found growing near here were on someone else's property, but I had been watching them for pups ready to introduce myself, and beg or buy one. But in the meantime I found out that they don't pup and that I had been wasting my time! lol! I also like their clean non-pupping lines but initially I thought they had been trimmed. So when they have fruited, the plant is cut down and the area is replanted with seedlings - am I right? I had been thinking of them for landscape planting to enhance the front of the house, but if I have to replace them regularly I might think again - although I do like them! So many gorgeous plants - so little space!

Gold3nku5h - I haven't tried any from seed yet - just thinking about it.