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Sidney Parker has contributed to 11 posts out of 2610 total posts
(0.42%) in 1,435 days (0.01 posts per day).
20 Most recent posts:
Banana Growing tips- How to grow banana. »
Another Newcomer Feb 5, 2005 03:45 PM
(Total replies: 14)
Hi Anne-Marie, yes you are right, one super naive Englishman here I just thought I could slip my plant into a tube and post it off to a new life in America !! Im sure little Musa Velutina was actually bursting to go himself, plus it was a way for me to get hold of M. Mannii from a kind gentleman in California. Anyway hes looking into it and so am I but our little "swap" may be doomed. So sad. Gosh I envy those folks in the States who can swap "pups" to their hearts content!. Looks like you and I will have to keep doing things the hard way and starting from seed. From seed I have the following ; Ensete 1 Musa Velutina 2 Musa Ornata 1 Musa Zebrina 1 Musa Sikimmensis 3 Bought locally Musa Basjoo 3 Musa "Ice cream" 1 Musa Cavendishii 1 Ensete Glaucum 1 Fourteen plants in all not bad for a collection- I'm just waiting for them to burst into growth.!! Keep at it with the seeds its great fun when they germinate . Try velutina (small seeds) but difficult. If you are really keen on the species look up Musa "Ae Ae" wow, variegated green and white foliage - the best of all. I would sell my house to get one of those !! (only kidding). Keep growing and keep me posted. I know other people out there enjoy reading these posts.... Hello all Banana growers out there .. Bye for now Sidney Parker.
Banana Growing tips- How to grow banana. »
Another Newcomer Feb 4, 2005 02:57 PM
(Total replies: 14)
Glad you enjoy the plants that you raised from seed. I hope that you will try "sikkimensis" (well worth it) . Can I please make a few comments / observations. You say your seeds were like marbles and called "Musa Ensete"- this is almost certainly "Ensete ventricosum" this is not strictly speaking a Banana but an "Ensete" closely related to the species "Musa" which are the true Bananas - sorry to be confusing, but the main thing to bear in mind is that the Ensetes do not produce suckers- "pups" sorry. What they do produce is the most spectacular HUGE leaves and will grow as large as you want providing that you give it a massive container !!! We have a three year old plant and it looks like I shall have to find a bigger house this Summer. Best wishes from England Anne-Marie.
Tropical plants Wanted ! »
Banana exchange Feb 3, 2005 01:51 PM
(Total replies: 5)
Hi gecko, Im your man !!! I have a seedling 12months old of Musa Velutina. Growing strongly. In perfect condition. It is about 12 " tall . I would very much like to add M. Mannii to my collection. Can we trade ? I think I could even borrow my sons Digital Camera and send you an image of it if you wish. I am prepared to send it to you in a tube 2" diameter x 15" long. I am sure if packed moist it can survive and have a new life in America !! My E mail is sidotparker@btopenworld.com I hope to hear from you. Thank you in advance. PS your little pup of Mannii would be going to a good home in the West Midlands of England. Perhaps a little cold but a congienial atmosphere. Hope to hear from you. Sidney Parker Banana plant enthusiast and regular poster.
Banana Growing tips- How to grow banana. »
Another Newcomer Feb 2, 2005 04:59 PM
(Total replies: 14)
Hello fellow Banana enthusiast. I know what you mean by your desire to grow a plant with "wine " coloured leaves. I have ornata, zebrina ,velutina, all from seed . I am now looking at a plant of "Zebrina" which is nearly 12 months old BUT no sign of the lovely colouring to the leaves. I am told that it is at least 2 years before the plant reverts to reddish leaves so beware. BUT I can help, go for " Musa sikkimensis" they are a very quick growing banana plant and the leaves are wine stained immediately. I have three from seed in 2003 and they are about 6ft tall. I live in England so I have to wrap them and keep them dry over the Winter. Best wishes and good luck. Sidney Parker.
Banana Growing tips- How to grow banana. »
Musa Sikkimensis from Seed -- Please Help!! Feb 2, 2005 04:26 PM
(Total replies: 3)
Hello. Hope I can help a little here. I am in England and enjoy growing Banana plants mostly from seed. I bought some seeds of "Sikkimensis" in 2003. I had 10 seeds and 3 germinated. From experience you have to bear in mind the following points: 1) If you get 3 from 10 then you have done well! 2) The seed HAS to be fresh. 3) They need BOTTOM HEAT 75 to 80 degrees to come up. 4) Keep the compost MOIST not wet. Cover the seeds with about 1/4" of compost. 5) Germinate in the dark. 6) Check them often - if you miss a seedling it can be irreparably etiolated. 7) Dont give up ,they can take up to six months to appear. My plants are now 6feet tall and MAGNIFICENT. Well worth all the effort.. Good luck and remember they are WELL worth it.. Sidney Parker An enthusiast.
Banana Growing tips- How to grow banana. »
Newcomer Jan 18, 2005 05:11 PM
(Total replies: 8)
Hello again Jen. Just been looking at my plants and thought I might pass on a word of caution.If as you say you are growing your plant indoors then take care to guard against tiny insects that live on the underside of the leaves, mosty Red Spider Mite or similar. They produce tiny webs etc and can be seen with a magnifying glass !(not a pretty sight!!) the inevitable dry (although you say that you mist regularly) atmosphere encourages them. I have just sprayed and thoroughly wetted both the top and underside of the leaves and stem of my seedlings (Musa Zebrina and M. Velutina.) I spray with a proprietary brand such as a "bug gun" etc. I have never seen Banana plants growing in their natural habitat, I guess it is a beautiful sight. I got into growing them by buying a pack of "Banana" seeds . These turned out to be "Ensete Ventricosum.".If you see these seeds in your local catalogue then give them a try, very decorative, if a little difficult to germinate. Hows your plant? dont you just love the way each leaf is bigger than the last one!!!!!. Nice to hear from you, Sidney Parker.
Banana Growing tips- How to grow banana. »
Newcomer Jan 13, 2005 02:38 PM
(Total replies: 8)
Hello again Jen. Thank you for taking the trouble to reply to my advice (only given as an amateur!). Relax, your plant will not die after fruiting, this is a misconception. What happens is that as the plant feels happy and is growing away quickly it produces "suckers" (we call them "pups" dont know why apart from the obvious.) from the base. These grow alonside the main pseudostem and can become quite large often rivaling the main plant in size. You then have a choice, you can remove one or more to increase your stock by potting them up individually or, leave them in position BECAUSE when the large main stem has produced an inflorescence and fruited it then DIES and needs to be removed (cut off at ground level). The remaining suckers then take over and grow to maturity and fruit et al !!. All this CAN happen in a pot (particularly with a dwarf variety such as you possess) but I hope you have a large house / conservatory or you will be faced with the choice of cutting down the plant or moving to a bigger place. Forgive my rambling ,once I start on about Bananas I could talk forever. Good luck , Cant wait to see your picture. Regards Sidney Parker.
Tropical plants Wanted ! »
Banana exchange Jan 11, 2005 02:12 PM
(Total replies: 5)
Hello Jimpo. Thank you for responding. Nice to hear from you. How I envy you living in a "Banana Friendly" warm tropical climate. I would very much like to see your picture of your plant. My email is sidotparker@btopenworld.com. I seek Ae Ae, this is much sought after and has very distinctive colourful two tone green and white varigation. I will send my tiny seedling of "Musa velutina" (in a tube) in post as exchange. Nobody in UK can help me get AE AE. Hope to hear from you or see your picture. Best wishes from West Midlands of England (Wednesbury) (dim and dismal and cold and dark) UGH !!!!!.
Banana Growing tips- How to grow banana. »
Newcomer Jan 11, 2005 02:01 PM
(Total replies: 8)
Hello Jen. I live in England and am keen on growing Banana plants but am by no means an expert. Your plant, following your description I would say is almost certainly a "Musa acuminata DWARF CAVENDISH". These are quite commonly sold as decorative fast growing plants. They are propagated by microculture. They are quite capable of producing excellent fruit. They reach a height of 6 -7 feet (1.8-2 metres.) You must keep it growing fast as it is. Plenty of feeding. A high potah fertiliser is needed. (Phostrogen or Miracle grow or proprietory tomato fertiliser.) Most important is a BIG container the biggest you can get, as the plant grows make sure that it has at least 4 inches or more from the edge of the pseudostem to the edge of your pot. So keep potting on. Good light warmth a moist atmosphere all contribute to producing a good plant with a chance of fruiting. A good book is "bananas you can grow" by James Waddick & Glenn Stokes,Published by Stokes Tropicals. www.stokestropicals.com . If you think it is growing fast now give it good care and you will be AMAZED....! Good luck Sidney Parker.
Tropical plants Wanted ! »
Banana exchange Dec 30, 2004 09:43 AM
(Total replies: 5)
I live in West midlands , England. I have a small seedling of Musa Velutina. I am willing to post this to United States in exchange for Musa "Ae Ae" Does anybody have a sucker (pup) that they can send to me in exchange. Will give address email etc if required. Ae Ae is just not obtainable in UK . It is such a beautiful varigated variety. OR does anyone know of a way that I can purchase Ae Ae. No American grower will ship to UK because of possibility of rot or decay. Hope someone can help me .Thanks Sidney Parker.
Banana Growing tips- How to grow banana. »
Banana Growing Tip Of The Week! Dec 28, 2004 04:11 PM
(Total replies: 62)
A tip from an enthusiastic Banana grower in cold dark West Midlands of England. If potting up a small Banana (tissue culture or germinated seed) please take care NOT to plant in too rich a compost. I have lost plants in the past by giving them high fertile compost. They can take it as strong as you can give when the plants are about 2-3 feet tall but not until. I am looking for like minded enthusiasts to exchange ideas etc. Would give ANYTHING to obtain "Ae Ae" (not available in UK)........ |
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