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fishoifc
09-01-2010, 12:51 PM
was looking for opinions on what to do with my plants for the storm.It is almost certain we will have heavy winds,all the news channels are here there are evacuations and we are under warning. should I cut all the leaves off of my plants to prevent stems from snapping or what? some of my plants are big single stems I think I can dig these and lay them on there side, but this wont be possible with the large matts.Thanks for the help

pitangadiego
09-01-2010, 01:17 PM
Difficult to say what to do. Do you do the damage, up-front, by removing the leaves, or hope for the best? Will you have done more damage than might have been done by the wind? I would think that the leaves would mostly shred and probably not put that much stress on the trunk, but that would really depend on trunk diameter. Skinny, tall trunks will probably be toast anyway, with leaves, or without. Anything with fruit hanging will probably not survive a good wind. if you can fold the trunks without breaking the flower stem, inside, completely, and lay the bunch on the ground with it still attached, it will continue to ripen and might ride out the storm OK. I doubt that there is an easy way to support them that will take that much wind - can envision some things, but all are a lot of work.

In the end, I'd probably just let nature take its course, and probably not like the results. If you decide to cut the leaves, I'd wait till the last moment, in case things are not as bad as predicted.

Patty in Wisc
09-01-2010, 02:55 PM
Tie them to stakes?
Good luck & stay safe.

Blake09
09-01-2010, 05:01 PM
Ive seen people in FL tie them to stakes/ big poles and then chop all the leaves off. The pole has twine wrapped around the banana several times, in many different places and then the rope is teathered to the ground like you would a tent.

OR
You could chop them down to about half the p stem size (so the banana stem is more sturdy) and then chop off the leaves, and then still use a pole and wrap rope around the banana several times and then teather the rope to the ground.


If you have small bananas like SDC or turley tiney outside, I would just say to cut off the leaves.


I think I can dig these and lay them on there side

I would be afraid to up-root it, as they might get swepted up and taken away no matter aney size. Ime sure if a person were to lay on their side (without aney arms or legs, because you took away tht bananas ancor) when a hurricane is going by they might get swepted up too.


.

palmtree
09-01-2010, 05:56 PM
Thats a pretty rough sitch. I think cutting off the leaves would keep it from blowing down but you wont get too many more leaves during the season since its almost over. In the tropics I wouldnt even hesitate. I think its probably best to get a few stakes and tie it up. If some of them fall, some of them fall and you cut them down. If winds are forecasted to go sustained above about 70mph then maybe you should cut the leaves down.
Good luck!!!

blownz281
09-01-2010, 10:23 PM
Be safe man- you should get out of there just to be safe. You can always buy more plants!

fishoifc
09-02-2010, 06:42 AM
Thanks guys for your info,I think some will ride it out and a few might get some stakes.Maybe this thing will stay away from us and go out to sea.
Ok catch you guys later might loose power for a week or two hopefully not,Thanks.

bananimal
09-02-2010, 07:18 AM
What I did for hcane Fay was cut off about half the leaves - start with the oldest. The rest I cut a knotch half way thru ftom the topside. So they hang down but are still attchd. Tied them up. Couldn't do this for the Saba and the Pitogo - way too tall. All the pstems held up but the 2 big ones got knocked down or snapped in half. Still got fruit later with half the very shredded leaves keeping the naners going.

What are you doing about the boat? Mine was at home and I filled the hull with water. Hitched to the truck to keep it from rolling around.

Dan

revensen
09-02-2010, 05:37 PM
Be safe and I hope the night passes quickly.

island cassie
09-02-2010, 06:15 PM
I assume you are talking about Earl who came through here earlier this week. Bananas can cope with wind fine - they just shred their leaves. If you have some you want to prop especially those with heavy bunches of fruit - go ahead.

fishoifc
09-03-2010, 12:21 PM
Got lucky, not to bad had gust to about 80, all of my plants are shredded some bent over but I have not seen anything broke yet. We only lost power for a short time here but other parts of the island may be out for awhile. Its still windy and raining but expecting some sun by the end of the day. Thanks for the help.

revensen
09-03-2010, 01:19 PM
Great news! Plants should recover in no time!

john_ny
09-03-2010, 03:08 PM
Great to hear, and good luck. I think, by the time that it gets this far up, it'll be far enough out to sea that we will be pretty much spared.

revensen
09-03-2010, 05:56 PM
That's great news john_ny! Keep us posted.

pitangadiego
09-04-2010, 04:29 PM
Great news.

Now, in hindsight, are you happy you didn't strip and chop everything? Do you think it would have been a good idea if you had gotten hit harder. Should a person in you place, next time, plan for the extreme/worst-case scenario, or take their chances?

Still doesn't seem to be an easy call, and not one I'd like to have to make.

Do NOT remove anything that is green, no matter how shredded. All that green, no matter how ugly, will speed recovery by providing photosynthetic energy to the plant.

island cassie
09-05-2010, 12:04 AM
What pitangadiego says!!

fishoifc
09-05-2010, 05:29 PM
Great news.

Now, in hindsight, are you happy you didn't strip and chop everything? Do you think it would have been a good idea if you had gotten hit harder. Should a person in you place, next time, plan for the extreme/worst-case scenario, or take their chances?

Still doesn't seem to be an easy call, and not one I'd like to have to make.

Do NOT remove anything that is green, no matter how shredded. All that green, no matter how ugly, will speed recovery by providing photosynthetic energy to the plant.

They do look bad, but I am glad I dont have a bunch of bare stems. I did dig up and lay down a 8 foot Black thai this plant gets blown over in regular winds around here, its the only one that looks okay.
If we had been hit harder I am not sure what would of happened, my large plants that where in the open were folded over at the top of the stems, i did tie them together and to a fence this seemed to help.

I would say your right on, let em ride,they are stronger than we think.

I am amazed at the ensete this thing must be made of steel,it is still in the same place,90* strait up most of my plants are a little sideways now.
Thanks for the help.