Propagation: Unusual technique (rooting in bananas)

Mine bit the dust too. I will try again with a not so ripe banana. Just want to see if it will work eventually.

weeds, what is Clerodendrum Ugandense? What do you think you will try next?

celia,
It has a beautiful bloom that looks like a buterfly.

http://plantsdatabase.com/go/1874/

I think I will try Firespike, Cassia and Abutilon. THese are easy to root so maybe they will thrive!

Wow, that is really beautiful. Is it an annual or perennial?

Perennial, dies in the winter but comes back each spring in zone 8. I will try cuttings this fall (hard for me to root them) and if I am successful will let you know if you would like one.

Sure! please keep me in mind! Thanx!

I went to my first propagation class last night! What fun!
They gave us a wonderfully illustrated book on grafting a propagation. And showed us which plants are native and what happens when we introduce non native plants into the environment. Very scarey stuff. They can take over and kill all local vegitation!

I'll share as I learn more :-)

donna

Baa,

Would the banana technique work with any woody plant??? Any that would NOT work?

Thanks!

Shirley

Dunno Shirley, I've never tried it before, it was something I saw on the telly.

For me it seems to work best on perennials with stiff stems

I bought bananas at the store today. I'm going to try it and let you guys know.

Great Shirley! I haven't had time to try it again but I will as soon as this heat relents a little.

Update:

The geraniums inserted into the banana are still alive and look fairly healthy. I'll plant it in some dirt in the next day or so.

I also tried two different varieties of tropical hibiscus. Neither one made it. I will try it once more with the tropical hibiscus. Perhaps the banana was beginning to develop brown spots.

Next "nana trials" will be on Heuchera and Caryopteris....stay tuned!

That is good news, something made it! Time for me to try again about October.

Weeds,

Good luck with your 2nd propagation trials using bananas. Now that fall is officially here and the temperatures are a bit cooler, perhaps that will make a difference.

-Shirley

Baa I think you are right to emphasize woody stems. I forgot all about this and I see there are not many successes but I will still give it a go when hubbie comes back with my new bunch.

You are right Louisa. Not only woody stems, but ones that are thick enough to stand on their own without flopping over.

From what I can glean from reading this thread, the only plants for which this method works are those of which cuttings survive a long period without roots and which root extremely easily (succulents, geraniums) -- too easily to sacrifice a perfectly good banana when dirt does just as well.

Too bad. I've been watching the thread with hopeful interest.

Did it work w/ Dianthus??

Arriving late at this forum, I was hoping ...... of course, Diathus does well "anyway", doesn't it?

I tried a synthetic kitchen sponge - hacked into smaller cubes that were not quite cut all the way through - soak sponge, insert seeds (like lettuce), set in styrofoam tray, wrap in plastic until germination ...... which never happened!!!!!!!!! Other seeds from the pack did fine in soil! LOL

Next spring, I will prewash the sponge - I suspect germination was impeded by chemicals in sponge.

Yes it does do well with Dianthus or anything with a sturdy stem.

PlanterRik

Part of the problem might have been that it was the wrong time of year. Personally I don't always have potting media available so things like this and potatoes are just another fun method. Nothing serious was intended to come of this.

Wannadanc,

Apparently florists oasis can be used like the sponge you've mentioned. Never tried it though