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View Full Version : Can you help me save this guy


AmberNichole
10-03-2010, 07:17 AM
I got a apple banana pup that was doing ok, but now it doesn't seem to be liking life to much at the moment lol Well I got a suggestion that it might do better with some shade and wind protection, but i'm not sure if it will make it if i dig it up. Anyone else have any ideas. If not I guess i'm going to dig it up and move it, i'm just not sure if it will survive being dug up and moved. The guy I got it from did have it in a more wind protected place, but in full sun like i have it now.
Thanks

BEFORE
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=35411&size=1

NOW
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37027&size=1

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37139&size=1

mushtaq86
10-03-2010, 07:34 AM
There could be a number of reasons why the plant has deteriorated

1 Have you potted the plant in a different container or into the ground since its arrived

2 Whats is your watering routine been like since you have had the plant

3 Is there any slugs or snails in the p-stem

4 has any animal attacked the plant or urinated on it since you received it

5 Have you been moving the plant in different locations since you have had it

6 Does it get a lot of wind draft where you have it

The Hollyberry Lady
10-03-2010, 09:08 AM
Just from looking at it I'd say it needs a bigger pot, a good watering, and much less sun for awhile. Did you let it dry out a little too much at one point?


The guy you got it from is likely right, and sometimes when plants grow used to certain conditions, they deteriorate fast when they are placed in other environments. Try to mimic the environment it came from and this should keep it happy. If you want to change the conditions, you must harden it off first and allow it time to adapt to it's new spot slowly.


Keep it well watered and out of hot direct sun for awhile and see how it fairs. It certainly couldn't hurt either to pop that big baby into a much roomier pot. I'm sure it will love it.


Good luck, Amber...


: )

AmberNichole
10-03-2010, 11:33 AM
Well it's in the ground so pot size isn't an issue. It gets the same watering the rest of my bananas get. I usually water them once a day with my my sprinkler system for an hour or 2 in the evenings. It can get some wind if it's windy, but all my bananas do and i haven't had any problems. I haven't found any bug either. I'm stumped. I just don't know of digging it out of the ground to move it might be too traumatic on it. It's pushing up another new leaf, but that one seems to have the same white patches on the leaf as well, so i figure it's going to get all messed up too.

The Hollyberry Lady
10-03-2010, 11:59 AM
Great it's in the ground now! :goteam:


To me, it's looks like sun scald and I bet a shady & more sheltered spot would cure your problem...


Sometimes when plants are transplanted into the ground and they are in direct sun, they can have a tantrum and react similar to yours. Shading them until they adjust can help.


It could be windburn and maybe that variety is sensitive to it. Try sheltering it from wind and super hot sun and seeing what happens...


: )

AmberNichole
10-03-2010, 02:19 PM
so you think the risk of digging it up and moving it to a more shaded, wind protected spot is worth the risk of leaving it? Just want to make sure before I start digging lol!

Bob
10-03-2010, 03:36 PM
In the last picture it looks like the new top growth might be slightly choked off and this is fairly common. The new growth gets slightly damaged when emering and turns brown. Try pulling or carefully cutting that part where the p-stem looks like its kind of "pinched in" where the green meets the brown on the top of the p-stem. I had to do this several times earlier this year with one of mine and it finally worked.

The Hollyberry Lady
10-03-2010, 04:46 PM
Bob knows better than I, Amber...



at least about banana plants! http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/hollyberrylady08/2nd%20album/emo1.gif



Good luck reviving it and please keep us posted...



: )

drew leonard
10-03-2010, 06:49 PM
I would say cut off all the dead tissue on the banana and give it shade during the intense heat of the (11-2) day. Make sure the ground is moist; not wet, around it and I agree with T.H.L. about environment changes. It is probably a little stressed.Did you ammend your soil with 30% soil conditioner or compost.

AmberNichole
10-08-2010, 03:10 PM
yeah I bug a hug hold and put in some good soil. Here is is today after trimming back the dead stuff, i think it maybe be doing slightly better and those are both new leaves since the last picture, what do you think, does it have a chance?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37340&size=1

saltydad
10-08-2010, 04:03 PM
Of course it does. They're tough little guys. You may want to drape some shade cloth over it for a week or so until it's used to the sun. Bob had recently sent me a beautiful and nice sized pup, and I let the same thing happen to it. After cutting away the dead tissue, however, it looks fine and has put out another leaf.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37362&size=1

drew leonard
10-08-2010, 08:06 PM
Amber,

I would say your troubles are behind you now! I think it was just stressed out from the move. I would feed 1/4 strength miracle grow for a couple weeks; and then, once a week 1/2 strength (every watering) on from there.

Happy Gardening!
Drew

drew leonard
10-08-2010, 08:09 PM
Amber,

Meant to say; 1/2 strength every time you water on from there!

Drew

AmberNichole
10-23-2010, 04:13 PM
I think it's finally really coming around and it's trying to grow new leaves like crazy, still looks a little weird, but i can't be picky lol. Thanks for the help guys!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=37724&size=1

drew leonard
10-23-2010, 06:56 PM
Amber,

1. Are the leaves normally that yellowish green on the Apple Banana when healthy?
2. Do you have well water; they are sometimes high in iron and sulphur?
3. I think cuttting down the ferts another 50% would help. sometimes too much ferts causes the leaves to come out deformed.
4. I believe it looks a lot better though myself. Go ahead and cut the necrotic tissue off that leaf to the right!
5. Check the PH of your soil. 6-6.5 (slightly acidic) would be good.

Maybe when you get some offsets you could sell me one?

Happy Growing,

Drew