Height and Fruiting

buckeye5755 · 06-23-2009, 06:35 PM

Hello everyone,
I am growing 2 Dwarf Cavendish and a Gran Nain plant. I am leaving them outdoors now, and bringing them into the garage under a 600 Watt Metal Halide/HPS system over the winter.

My primary goal is to get them to fruit. However after much reading I see that the Gran Nain for example can get 6-8 feet tall. I knew of this fact, but didn't get until recently that that height is the P-Stem and not how high the leaves reach. My garage is 10 ft tall, and i know you should keep at least 2-3 feet between the leaves and the light source.

So, I have a few questions. First, if I am growing it primarily for fruit, can I cut the leaves off that extend that high, and if so would that prohibit the plant from fruiting? Second, could I have the light source hanging at an angle, a few feet from the plants? Also, is it more important for the light to be hitting the leaves, or reaching all the way to the soil?

Lastly, so that I do not assume incorrectly, if I am simulating outdoor conditions in regards to light, humidity, and temperature, should I also water and fertilize as such?

Thanks for all of your help. This site has been a lifesaver so far! With the time and money I am spending on this, gotta make sure I do it right, or the wife will really let me have it!

Patty in Wisc · 06-24-2009, 01:56 AM

I grew a Ice Cream indoors over winter & YES, if you are simulating outdoor, don't be afraid to fertilize! Indoors, I fert'd every week while it had good growth.
Soil does not need lite - leaves do. Don't cut the leaves -let them grow to the top & fall over. They will absorb the sunlite & it will give nutrition to your plant.
May I ask why you are growing this inside when it is summer? Why not put it inground & then dig it up in fall?
Ooops, I see you only bring it inside for winter.
In winter, I had a hlaogen 500 watt shining strait up at leaves (not down & they stil absorbed the lite & grew well).

fergus banana · 06-24-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buckeye5755

Hello everyone,
I am growing 2 Dwarf Cavendish and a Gran Nain plant. I am leaving them outdoors now, and bringing them into the garage under a 600 Watt Metal Halide/HPS system over the winter.

My primary goal is to get them to fruit. However after much reading I see that the Gran Nain for example can get 6-8 feet tall. I knew of this fact, but didn't get until recently that that height is the P-Stem and not how high the leaves reach. My garage is 10 ft tall, and i know you should keep at least 2-3 feet between the leaves and the light source.

So, I have a few questions. First, if I am growing it primarily for fruit, can I cut the leaves off that extend that high, and if so would that prohibit the plant from fruiting? Second, could I have the light source hanging at an angle, a few feet from the plants? Also, is it more important for the light to be hitting the leaves, or reaching all the way to the soil?

Lastly, so that I do not assume incorrectly, if I am simulating outdoor conditions in regards to light, humidity, and temperature, should I also water and fertilize as such?

Thanks for all of your help. This site has been a lifesaver so far! With the time and money I am spending on this, gotta make sure I do it right, or the wife will really let me have it!

i am growing my bananas indoors under 600W HPS as well. they have been growing under these lights for about 2 or 3 weeks. i run them 18 hrs and from what i have seen, they drink a lot and require a lot of fertilizer. i am still worried about overwatering and fertilizer burn, so i am slowly increasing the watering/fertilizing.

as far as the light source, you probably would have to angle them to keep from burning the leaves when the plants get too tall. i will be growing mine permanently indoors but since i just started i dont really know what to expect from the plants in the long run. i am hoping to get them to fruit by running them at 18hrs for several months, then switching to 12hrs to get them to fruit. for now they are growing well.

lorax · 06-24-2009, 10:20 AM

If you want them to fruit, you shouldn't be touching the green (healthy) leaves - good fruit production is dependant upon the number of healthy leaves the plant has. Hawai'i says 10 leaves per plant for optimum bunch production.

Oh, and your GNs could get taller, up to 15' in my experience. Then again, I don't have winter like you do.

06-23-2009, 06:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
buckeye5755 buckeye5755's Photo Gallery Location: Columbus, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: David Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 106 BananaBucks : 33,976 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 40 Times Was Thanked 71 Times in 39 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 17 Times	Height and Fruiting Hello everyone, I am growing 2 Dwarf Cavendish and a Gran Nain plant. I am leaving them outdoors now, and bringing them into the garage under a 600 Watt Metal Halide/HPS system over the winter. My primary goal is to get them to fruit. However after much reading I see that the Gran Nain for example can get 6-8 feet tall. I knew of this fact, but didn't get until recently that that height is the P-Stem and not how high the leaves reach. My garage is 10 ft tall, and i know you should keep at least 2-3 feet between the leaves and the light source. So, I have a few questions. First, if I am growing it primarily for fruit, can I cut the leaves off that extend that high, and if so would that prohibit the plant from fruiting? Second, could I have the light source hanging at an angle, a few feet from the plants? Also, is it more important for the light to be hitting the leaves, or reaching all the way to the soil? Lastly, so that I do not assume incorrectly, if I am simulating outdoor conditions in regards to light, humidity, and temperature, should I also water and fertilize as such? Thanks for all of your help. This site has been a lifesaver so far! With the time and money I am spending on this, gotta make sure I do it right, or the wife will really let me have it! Last edited by buckeye5755 : 06-23-2009 at 09:15 PM.

06-24-2009, 01:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc tropical nut Patty in Wisc's Photo Gallery Zone: 5 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,115 BananaBucks : 349,054 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,946 Times Was Thanked 2,510 Times in 1,203 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 69 Times	Re: Height and Fruiting I grew a Ice Cream indoors over winter & YES, if you are simulating outdoor, don't be afraid to fertilize! Indoors, I fert'd every week while it had good growth. Soil does not need lite - leaves do. Don't cut the leaves -let them grow to the top & fall over. They will absorb the sunlite & it will give nutrition to your plant. May I ask why you are growing this inside when it is summer? Why not put it inground & then dig it up in fall? Ooops, I see you only bring it inside for winter. In winter, I had a hlaogen 500 watt shining strait up at leaves (not down & they stil absorbed the lite & grew well). __________________ Got a lite? Patty ____ Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

06-24-2009, 10:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
lorax Banned lorax's Photo Gallery Location: Ecuador, South America Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 13 / Köppen-Geiger BSh Name: Lorax Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,532 BananaBucks : 311,127 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 742 Times Was Thanked 3,040 Times in 1,188 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 464 Times	Re: Height and Fruiting If you want them to fruit, you shouldn't be touching the green (healthy) leaves - good fruit production is dependant upon the number of healthy leaves the plant has. Hawai'i says 10 leaves per plant for optimum bunch production. Oh, and your GNs could get taller, up to 15' in my experience. Then again, I don't have winter like you do.

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