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View Full Version : What causes these brown patches on my Basjoo?


deruo
11-07-2009, 02:50 PM
Is it sigatoka of some sort or something else? I'd cut the affected leaves off but they all seem to have it to some degree or other. I have two plants and even the second plant seems to be getting it now. Both are indoors for the winter. Theres no salty stuff on the top of the soil, which seems to drain very well as it's heavily amended with vermiulite.

I'm not overwatering that I know of... I'm letting the soil get very dry and measuring with a metering thingy to make sure it's all dry before watering sparingly.

Haven't seen any spider mites (touch wood), and I've been keeping an eye out for 'em.

I've tried using a fungicide in the event that it's a fungus of some sort, but it doesn't seem to have made a difference. The fungicide is not copper-based but is one of these "natural" ones because the government has decided to limit what we can buy now - wow it smells! (the fungicide AND the government :waving: )

Any suggestions would be appreciated. These guys will be indoors until at least April and I'd hate to lose 'em.

My first attempt at attaching links to images... wish me luck!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=26299&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=26299)

Sorry this second one is a bit blurry. Its a new leaf with some discoloration that seems to be getting darker.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=26297 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=26297&ppuser=4007)

Richard
11-07-2009, 03:33 PM
Don't trust the soil wetness meter. Check the soil from the holes at the bottom of the pot. If the soil at the bottom is wet, it is not time to water. If the soil at the holes in the bottom is less than moist, it is time to water.

sandy0225
11-09-2009, 08:21 AM
There's nothing wrong with your plant disease wise. it looks shocked from transplant and also looks like it could be a little too dry. I don't use a meter, use your finger. Stick it down into the soil about 3 ". It if feels wet down there, don't water yet. If it feels dry down there, water it. Did you just bring them in recently as many of us have done? and dig them up from being out in the ground? That will shock them very badly and they'll need some time to adjust. You may lose a few leaves in the process, this is normal.

jfern
11-10-2009, 01:06 PM
Hola Deruo

Continuan Las Manchas En Las Hojas Nuevas O Sólo Fue Esa Hoja. Escribe Como Estaba El Suelo Al Momento De La Foto.- Seco O Humedo

deruo
11-12-2009, 12:59 AM
Hola Jerry,
My Spanish is very poor, but most of the leaves have some discoloration. The soil was dry (on top).

I've given it a good water and put it under a grow light for extra light. It has perked up somewhat.

deruo
11-29-2009, 01:10 AM
Just as a followup, I think part of the problem is that the plant was not getting enough light/water for the temperature of the room it's in. All of my windows have uv reflecting film on them to reduce fading of furnishings etc and heat gain during summer - so I don't know if thats an issue or not. My bamboo seems to be doing okay.

I stuck the sick looking basjoo it under the grow light in the bathtub with the other basjoo I'm overwintering and the plant is doing much better. Was getting about 2400 lumens at 6400k for 12 hours a day but have recently boosted that. In fact, a new leaf came up so forcefully that it split the p-stem and the existing leaves died off.

The new leaf doesn't have any brown patches on it, though the other basjoo that has grown about a foot in the last month is still getting discolorations on the new leaves it puts out. Not the dried crunchy kind of discoloration though. No spider mites so far (knock wood). Is looking mighty impressive so far with about one new leaf a week.