Ensete maurelii 'ventricosum' Suckering or just seeding?

[Hugo Fillery]

I bought a small Ensete maurelii 'Ventricosum' in a Garden Centre last year and overwintered it during the winter.

I have potted it on since; fed and nurtured it well and have had it over a year!

It is now around just over six feet tall!

I was wondering, will it push up suckers around the stem or does it only set seed?

If it only sets seed, then how long does it take to fruit or flower?

Please can anyone advise me on this topic?

Thanks

[GREVILLE]

This only reproduces from seed and by the time yours does after seven years, Hugo, you'll have a giant on your hands

Click on to 'Search' at the top of the page and enter +Ensete maurelli and enjoy a trawl of discovery.

[Hugo Fillery]

Gosh, I didn't know that! Thanks Greville... I look forward to growing it that long, but would that be affected by the pot size it is in. I.e. if it remains in a 120 litre pot for seven years, would that help it flower or would that strain the growth?

Also when it flowers and seeds; will it survive after that i.e. will it have reached its life expectancy or will it live on for many years?

[Dave Brown]

Hugo, It will be up to 7m (23ft) tall before it flowers, and would have to be overwintered even once it has started to flower, as very unlikely to complete in one season here I have never heard of anyone getting Maurelii to flower in the UK. Not sure if it produces seed if you get that far, and as it is a cultivar it would be very unlikely to produce Maurelii seedlings.

Only reliable way to produce new plants is to cut down and damage the meristem (growing point) then it pups, or to have it TC'd

[Hugo Fillery]

Hi Dave,

Thank you, I was just curious as it's my first year of growing this species and I have read so many different descriptions on this plant.

But that helps a lot.

What do you mean by TC'D?

[miketropic]

TC'd would be tissue cultured done in a lab by pros.. I've tried it at home just dosen't work

[Hugo Fillery]

Interesting,

But sounds pretty complicated.

[Yorkshire Kris]

Interesting,

But sounds pretty complicated.

It should be too complicated to prop, just a bit of a gamble.

Chop all top growth off.

Bang the centre of the stump with a hammer

And pray!



(For a much better guide see the "How to" thread with photos posted I think by Musa Monkey)