FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

No seriously. You got to help me dude!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Sorry for not being on in a while.

Okay so here's the deal. At my local CountryMax (your one stop pet/equine/plant nursery/lawn gnome/anything else you can imagine seller) a few months ago, they put out some "Aquatic" plants, including some small young banana trees. I wanted one really badly but I didn't like the price. I figured they would eventually go on clearance. They did, but I still no likey the pricey. Months later, after they all seemed gone, lo and behold, I found they had them on a small display... For $1 each!!!!!! I was so stinkin' excited! I did research before and learned to not get the Japanese Banana Plants and some were there - but there were also true banana plants!!!!! They were all beat up and bedraggled, but I walked out of the store today with my very own Musa 'Siam Ruby'!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This specimen was in better shape than the others, but wasn't red like the others. I also read they will get red later. Still, is there any way you can help me ID it for sure. I'll put up pictures really, really, soon. Not only will this be awesome, I hope to someday get bananas!!!! I just need some good advice as well. The cashier who was also the nursery director recommended to give it this soil like she did: some fertilizer, potting soil, vermiculite (I'll use perlite) and Holly-Tone. Is there something better I should use? My plant needs repotted NOW!!!!!!! It is so rootbound, the roots are all tangled up outside of the pot. It's horrible. I would also love some general advice.


Thank you so Much!!!!!!!

Kbud

P.S. Are you on bananas.org?



A few Hours Later:

I finally got to pictures! I just repotted it into Scott's potting soil and put in extra perlite. Hope this works:) I will hope to get more photos of it on day 1 in its new SUPER HUGE pot:) Then I can keep a before/after record!

Sorry I haven't been on in a while.
If that truly is a Siam Ruby, then it would be the "margarita" cultivar that is a green sport.
I can't tell for sure unless it flowers sadly
Yes, I am on bananas.org, but I don't post, I just read.
This is a VERY cold sensitive banana.
The basic rules are give it well draining soil, but lots of water.
Also fertilize it a TON!
(I use 4X the manufacturer's recommended strength.)
Put it in the biggest pot you can, or better yet, the ground.
(Next year)
Move it INDOORS over winter,, or somehow keep it above 35 degrees farenheight.
(Siam Ruby has reportedly died at 40 degrees, so keep it warmer.)
(I dig mine up and stick them in the garage.)
This is an ornamental by the way.
As far as I know only 1 person has gotten one to flower, and it had seeded bananas.
(Oh well...)
That's about it!

P.S. My Rajapuri just threw up a 1/2 leaf yesterday! It's gonna flower! But, I need to figure out how to protect the bunch over winter.

Thanks bananaman! Sorry, I haven't been on for awhile either. I will post updated pictures soon, but it is growing very well! I am sad to hear they are ornamental - I heard they were tasty. Besides, aren't banana seeds really tiny -they just look like little black dots, so wouldn't it not matter if it had seeds or not? Thanks for the info, but because it is near wintertime, wouldn't I have to stop fertilizing it, or should I just keep treating it the same. It seems pretty happy where it is.....


Thanks,
Kbud

Yea.
You should probably stop fertilizing it.
By the way, banana seeds are very large and hard!
You can eat around them, but that is a pain.
Look up Musa dasycarpa fruits, and you'll see what I mea,.
Imagine all those tiny black things about the size of peas (or bigger) and as hard as buckshot.
I've heard about this on bananas.org's ornamental forum.
Hope this helps!

Oh gosh. I am a newb in the world of bananas; I thought all bananas had those really tiny black seeds like you see in bananas at the grocery store. That just shows u what I know!

The plant is growing well; I'll try and put updated pics on soon!