Banana Pup Propogation

I waited to split them off the mother plant until the pups were 2' tall with 4 leaves. Unfortunately, neither of them had any roots. I put them in spring water for now. Can they be saved? How can I help them grow roots?

Welcome to permies,, I don't know the answer, but bumping this back to the top to see if someone else does.  I love that you call your banana cuttings pups!

Amy, it depends. If you took a chunk of the rhizome at the base, then the pup will most likely grow roots. But it will be very slow in getting established and start growing. Real slow.

I wait until the swords are about 4 to 5 foot tall. I use a sawsall to separate it from the parent plant and in the process cut the roots back too. I remove any leaf that has emerged. Then plant it in soil to which I’ve dug in compost, keep it moist, and prop it up if needed. A few good sized rocks around the base is usually good enough to prop it up.

I have started bananas using small pups and water shoots, but they are very slow to establish compared to 4 to 5 foot swords, and the little guys seem to need more nutrition. Soil moisture is critical for a good start, so keep the soil moist.