Yesterday a longtime grower in Hawaii- Landscape Architects- plant collector visited us and his tip is:
In the axil of a banana tree you want a lot of pups from, put a birthcontrol pill and water it alot so it disolves. He said pups will spring up all over.
Problem....Long past those times!!! Think an HRT pill would work just as well?
Anyone willing to try (or send me a pill so I can try it?)
Carol
Amazing tip
For real!!, sorry I'm long past birth control pills too.
Their is a hormone that is released in many plants that will cause it to produce pups. Usually this hormone is released when the plant is streased in order for it to survive it will pup our or bloom out. I have talked to a few experts and no one has really tried this besides me with mixed repots. Take a very sharp small spear and dip it in sulfur or other rot preventive chemical and stab the banana in the tuber trying to reach the center growth point. This is done with bromeliads were they spear the center to cause it to pup out and it is seen in Ensete species which have been blown down Ensetes which never pup normally would then produce hundereds of suckers and probably lose the main plant in the process of the ensete. I plan to try this on a huge ensete this fall. This sounds very interesting if it works I have never heard of this trick or have tried it. I am wondering if the hormones in the pill are similar to what is produced when the plant is streased? I doubt the information is even out their?
Well...we have over 200 banana trees...so am more than willing to experiment....just don't have the pills!!!
BTW - most of the nanas are eating types....
Well, I don't have any pills to contribute... sometimes ob/gyn's have trials... can you imagine asking them for a couple BCP's.... LOL I could just see it .. Um ... a.. I'm trying get my banana plants to pup..and um.. I read this tip on the internet... I need a couple birth control pills, please?
I can garantee that I have never been involved with BCP's after 6 youngens. But I did plant two banana plants this spring in my compost only. And one has four pups and the other has five. John
If the HRT contained both estrogen and progesterone, like PremPro, then HRT might work.
But plant don't use those hormones, they don't have those receptors! True that yams, soy, have phytoestrogens- cheaper and more effective to use something from soy or yams than your prescription pills.
(day job is med school prof)
Do we know for sure? Who would have thought that Viagra works for cut flowers? http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/extract/319/7205/274/a
i'm now taking bids...will trade birth control pills for ________________. make your best offer. i never thought i could make such a profit from these little pills. LOL :o))
Where exactly is the axil? Is that the hollow part in the center of the leaves?
Now be careful Ashley, trading away those little pills could cost you big time for the next 20+ years. LOL
Ardesia.....I was thinking along those same lines! Someone "donates" a BCpill...and then......what happens to THEM???????? LOL!!
The axil is where the stem meets the plant...that little pocket in there where the water collects and the mosquitos breed. HEY...maybe the BCP will work on them, too!!!
HAHAHA
Yes, BCP will work on the skitters!