Advice needed please

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

I finally got off my tush and decided to join the banana growers. I've gone out and got a Sumatrana Zebrina - red leaf banana.

Now what???

I grow brugmansias, never before have I tried nanas.

Oh, and forgot to mention, I also got a Bird of Paradise. The same question as above, Now What??!

Rootdoctor, where are you? You have great bananas growing...

Linda in Victoria BC

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Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

I'm right here kiddo,boy I gotta go shopping with you!!!
First you will need to get a bigger pot for it.

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

OK, I have a bigger pot, next...

Moose Jaw, SK(Zone 3b)

I'm watching this one carefully too! ;)

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

LOL! Good,I feel like I am telling someone how to defuse a bomb in a movie.
What type of potting soil are you going to use?

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Is that a double pot the BOP is in? are you going to use that?

Hey I'm catching on!LOL!

This message was edited Jul 28, 2004 7:53 PM

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

Naw, I bought 2 pots for other plants I'm potting up, I have a 10 gallon pot, I think it's 10 G, see pic. for it.

I plan to use 1/4-1/3 dirt, then equal parts peat, perlite, and vermiculite, until I'm told otherwise. Same for the BOP.

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Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

LOL, Maybe you didn't mean quite THAT big a pot. I have all sizes, so not to worry. I can always use the bigger pot for the BOP.

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

That sounds good for BOP,but I would lighten up on the perilite and Vermi for the Nana,it will soak up all the moisture.
I just use Potting soil and Peat for potted Nanas.

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

I would remove these leaves,this is me,I trim back hard when repotting.
(cut the blue wire,no red wire,LOL)

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Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

OK Root thanks, at least I have an idea now of what to do. Does the Nana like to be moist? Like water every day in the heat of summer? Are they heavy feeders like the brugs? 20-20-20 OK? I'm assuming they like sun, being a tropical plant (duh).

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

You with me so far?

Get your soil mix ready,and fill the pot 3/4 the way up.

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

I'm with ya, don't cut the blue wire...

filling the pot 3/4 way up, 1/2 potting soil and 1/2 peat.

Prattville, AL(Zone 8a)

hey guy's, this is more fun than watching the A-team at work

:-) Carol

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

ROFL, at least you're not getting dirt on your hands

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Be sure you get it mixed good,no big pockets of Peat,are you pruned back already?

Edgewater, MD(Zone 7a)

Im watching too, if you had seen me repotting mine you would have laughed your fanny off.

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

LOL!! Drav, I take it for granted I do it so much,harder to type it out then do it for me,LOL!

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

It's mixed well, no clumps of peat, what do you mean, pruned back already? I have to remove some of the bottom leaves?

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Go up and look at my post above with your picture in it.
Don't be scared,LOL!

Keaau, HI(Zone 11)

Hurry Hurry....I have to eat dinner but don't want to miss anything!!!!

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

I missed the post where you said to remove the leaves, must've been Frueidan. Can I leave a couple of leaves? pretty pulease?

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Work up from the bottom,I would only leave the top two,you have a new one coming out,leave that and the one below it.

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

OK, but I have to leave one more than you said, I just couldn't cut it off!

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Moose Jaw, SK(Zone 3b)

Very brave of you Linda!!! ;)

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Thats fine,you did good,now lets look at the roots,lift it outof the pot,is it potbound? are they curling around the pot? if so you will want to gently pull them loose.

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

LOL, Lilypon, I know, I'm trusting the Rootdoctor, he hasn't led me along the garden path yet...

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Also clean the moss off that they are using as mulch,get rid of it.

Byhalia, MS(Zone 8a)

lol - this is fun. By the way, dont worry bout those cut leaves. Nana's are magic - they put a new one on right away. lol.

Good luck with your nana - plan on a mild addiction now.

;-)

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

OK, how did we ever without digtal cameras, here's the roots.

Welcome to repotting a banana 101, the photo guide...

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Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Yep,loosen em up,and knock some of that dead soil off.

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

gently pulling loose...

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Now take your hand and scoop a hole about the size of the rootball out and lay it in,scoop back the soil and put in more pure top soil to your desired level.

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Dont' worry to much,you have removed top growth,so if you crack a few roots it will be ok.

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

here's the gently pulled roots, now have gone out to plant.

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Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Stand her straight up,get your soil up to the trunk,and soak her in good,a good soaking,then don't over water the next week or so,I would give her some sun but not to much of the noon sun.

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

The finished product. Do I water, or feed tonight?

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Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

Yes a good watering,I would not feed right off,I would water till the bottom tray gets water,then empty it so it is not sitting in water,sure looks good,you can come do mine!

Victoria, BC(Zone 8b)

Thanks so much Root, I couldn't have done it with out you, If and when we ever get in the same place, I'll by ya a beer.

Linda

Harrisville, MI(Zone 5b)

It was a piece of cake;0)
Glad it worked out,I'll take you up on the brew some time!LOL
Root.

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