View Full Version : What can I do to help this plant?
bananabeginner
06-24-2010, 04:51 PM
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33185&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33185&ppuser=4709)
Why are these leaves falling so low? How can I get this plant to grow up not out?
Suggestions would be appreciated.
BB
Abnshrek
06-24-2010, 04:58 PM
Additional pictures of the bent leaves from the p-stem out may help an expert :^)
Kostas
06-24-2010, 05:00 PM
These leafs seem to have been grown in shade as their petioles are too long for an Ensete ventricosum and so they droop down from their own weight. The new leafs it will grow should have much shorter petioles and will be more upright.
The long petioles of the current leafs make them easy to break from a little wind or maybe even heavy rain so i dont think its a cultural problem.
sandy0225
06-24-2010, 07:21 PM
give it some fertilizer and don't be shy with the water. It'll toughen up and fly right.
LilRaverBoi
06-24-2010, 11:46 PM
Yeah, the older leaves appear to have been grown in a greenhouse or lower light conditions. Therefore, they are not nearly as strong/solid as the newer growth. Let them fall and cut them off when they turn brown/die. The new growth will be much more adapted to the current conditions....no worries, whatsoever!
Scott
06-25-2010, 06:29 AM
Have the same plant out front..
Just cut the lower leaves off.
The leaves want to grow up. No real structural support. So when they droop and fall like that, then cut them off near the trunk.
That will also direct more growth to the upright leaves.
bananabeginner
06-25-2010, 01:18 PM
Great advice from everyone! Thanks. It was in my garage over the winter with little light. It actually looked like it was a goner. Then some growth started so I watered it very little as it was still cold in the garage too. That was those fallen leaves now. The new growth since planted outside is much redder too.
I was just wondering how far down to cut those dying leaves as I thought this plant needed more support.
Thanks again to all that responded!!
Scott
06-25-2010, 05:02 PM
Vertical cut next to the trunk:
http://www.scottnsandy.com/bananas/IMG_2127.jpg
That'll do it :)
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