View Full Version : Too much or too little water?
I live in Dallas where we are just having our 23rd day of 100+ degrees...
One of my biggest Icecreams (that spent the winter in the garage) I don't think looks that good, pict 1, neither does my Dwarf Orinoco, pict 2.
I am curious if you think I have have watered too little or too much given how they look.
They both have quite a bit of sun on them but not full day.
Any insight highly appreciated so I can make sure they survive this record summer heat.
I have the sprinklers go off every second day and they get like a pint or so water from that at least. In addition I try to water manually half a gallon each once or twice a week.
Thanks
sunfish
07-25-2011, 10:37 PM
I live in Dallas where we are just having our 23rd day of 100+ degrees...
One of my biggest Icecreams (that spent the winter in the garage) I don't think looks that good, pict 1, neither does my Dwarf Orinoco, pict 2.
I am curious if you think I have have watered too little or too much given how they look.
They both have quite a bit of sun on them but not full day.
Any insight highly appreciated so I can make sure they survive this record summer heat.
I have the sprinklers go off every second day and they get like a pint or so water from that at least. In addition I try to water manually half a gallon each once or twice a week.
Thanks
Not enough water. A pint of water won't even wet the soil and a half gallon isn't much better.I thik you need maybe two gallons every couple days at least.
Ok, thanks
Was a little worried since at times the soil looked a little moist so didn't want to over water but given the temperature is seems low risk.
sunfish
07-25-2011, 11:21 PM
Dig down and see if it's wet or not.
hortdoc
07-25-2011, 11:46 PM
If you have good drainage, it's almost impossible to water them too much in heat like that.....
sashaeffer
07-26-2011, 05:13 AM
Good post, I've been wondering about the same here in Omaha. While not 100deg, it's been abnormally hot for a few weeks and don't want to over water and cause root problems. Leaves are getting scorched bad though. I've been trying on doing 1 gallon every other day.
sandy0225
07-26-2011, 08:13 AM
I live in Indiana and my potted ice creams get like 5 gallons of water a day. You are just underwatering. Kick up the water and see if they don't get happier!
Gabe15
07-26-2011, 11:13 AM
If they are not mulched, definitely mulch them too. This will lower the soil surface temp which will make the roots happier as well as lowering the evaporation rate of water from the soil surface so you don't have to use as much water.
Thanks for all the info. What about using lavarock instead of mulch? I have good success in the past. Also should I avoid watering too close to the p-stem?
It seems that one of my smaller plants (Cardaba) is rotting away...
Gabe15
07-26-2011, 11:45 AM
Mulch is a more or less a general term for any non-living soil surface cover, rocks will work too. It's about having the barrier, not so much what the barrier is. Depending on the situation there are better choices than others. For bananas, rocks should be fine but you want the layer to be thick enough to be effective, if they are small rocks maybe a 2-3" thick layer should be fine.
pitangadiego
07-26-2011, 01:35 PM
Too little water.
Water is used by the plant, evaporates from the soil, evaporates from the leaves, moves out of the root zone laterally and horizontally, etc.
Factors affecting quantity of water needed are temperature, humidity (less humidity = more evaporation from plant and soil), sun exposure, soil type (drainage), shade and sun percentages, area of leaf surface, mulch (evaporation and soil temperature control), etc. When any of these changes, water input needs to change
Water intake by the plant is affected by the amount of root mass. Intake is reduced by insufficient input (rain and irrigation), disturbing the roots (such as removing pup which reduces root mass), insufficient roots because of crowded planting space (next to a wall, driveway, etc. with no place to expand), too small of a pot, loss of roots because of root rot caused by too much irrigation.
Water inputs are rain, and irrigation.
You have pretty much maximum sun and temp. Depending on what your weather is, plenty of humidity or not much.
Here in San Diego, with 4-6" of compost mulch, a mat of bananas, with 5-8 plants, at 80-90F, with relatively low humidity gets as much as 30 minutes of water from the hose, as full flow every 4-5 days. In the winter they get very little other than rain (10" per year).
Unless you have exceedingly wet soil that holds excessive moisture, in your summers you will have a very hard time over-watering.
jjjankovsky
07-26-2011, 06:18 PM
here in Mexico, when the dry season goes tooooooo long, the leaves dry up and the whole thing croaks...but doesn't bend!...you're quest for bananas either needs you to give sooo much more water, or buy them at wallmart...banana plants are rivers of water up and down in their leaves...if they don't leak when you cut off a leaf, you've cut them off!
chipboy44
07-26-2011, 11:17 PM
Hello there, after looking at yor pics it looks tl me that their is so little water. A pint of water every other day is absolutely nothing. With the leaf footprint or leaf area, in the hot weather it is surely not enough water. Seeig that both of the emerging leaves on both of the plants are acting the same leaning over it is extremely rare that both would be suffering from the same dimise at the same time unless it was the same issue. I live in Florida in zone9-b. Although we dont get such intense heat as you have we go months in the spring without a drop of rain and seldom above 90°. We do however have great woinds that blow constantly living only a mile and a half from the beach (Daytona). So without rain and constasnt drying winds we have to water constantly. One of your banana plants is an orinoco. That banana comes from South America and got its name from the fact that it is most commonly found growing directly on the river banks of the Orinoco river. Here I have a friend that has a stand of Orinocos that are the most beautiful sight. They are also growing in a bit of a clean water creek a few foot across and there in the water are thousands of pure white roots waving in the current. I also have Ice Creams and for a fact I can tell you thast my banana trees are absolutely fabulous, but as for mine I waqter copously. Bananas love water. I have an AeAe that gets at least 5+ gallons of water every other day. I actually keep my sprinklers running non stop for the past 2 months. Our rainy season that gives us daily rains (that the bananas love). It isnt a problem for me I have a well. There is also something else you need to take into consideration, and that is also root growth. I am sure by now this late inthe season that there has been plenty enough root growth. There are plenty leaves on your plants so That migfht not ba an issue but there is definitely not as many as would be there if not been dug up and having to start a new every spring. So with possibly less roots and especially deep roots for more water absorbtion then for sure you will nbeed to drastically incre4ase their water. But your leaves are sunburned and nothing else; and from your regimin I can tell you to WATER WATER WATER. I hope I have not gone on too much, and have explained how this problem can be fixed. Thanks for asking your question and have a great day.
Sakute'
rick
chipboy44
07-26-2011, 11:26 PM
The type of mulch onl matter when it does to your liking. Organic mulch is good if your interested also in improving your soils nutrients naturally and also improving the soil, and that is great and inexpensive. But the use of lava rocks if that is your liking will also work greatly. After all the results of using mulch is to keep the hot sun off of the soil, thus decreasing the amount of water loss. So you see either one if used in a thick enough layer will do it's job so use what you prefer, either asthetically or nutient wise.
Salute'
rick
sashaeffer
07-28-2011, 06:39 AM
Well after reading all the experienced posters in this thread I went home last night and decided to separate two larger pups from it's mother thinking it would be less competition for the water I was giving it. I did notice when separating the pups of the lack of moisture there was in the dirt in the ground. Here I thought I was doing a good job watering it, but obviously not. Not bone dry, but barely damp. I guess they do drink a lot of water when it's this hot out.
Separated two pups with ease and they each have their own home now planted in some compost cow manure I picked up, and also used it to pack around the void I took from the mother. We'll see how they all do in the coming weeks. I will also do a better job of watering in the summer.
Thanks to all in this thread for their experienced insight.
Scott/Omaha
Thanks for all advice. Good thing I started to water more since they now indicated we could get up to 1-08-110 next week here in Texas...!
What do I do with the cigar leaf that has folded in the middle before it grew out fully?
Do I cut it where it folded or will it be able to unfold itself even though it is bent in the middle?
Thanks
Vickie H.
07-28-2011, 09:16 PM
I grow bananas in water. This one has been in water for years. It says in water all winter in my basement. This year it is having a growing spurt.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5619.jpg
Want Them All
07-29-2011, 10:14 PM
I grow bananas in water. This one has been in water for years. It says in water all winter in my basement. This year it is having a growing spurt.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5619.jpg
For some reason, that's an incredible picture! I want to put a banana in my pond so bad. I see some Absynian today at Home Depot, should've bought one. I forgot about the pond as a growing medium. What type of "soil", if you use any, for that banana? Would Absynian survive in the pond? Should I just submerge it right away (provide the right soil, of course), or do I need to acclimate it to the water gradually?
Thanks!
Vickie H.
07-29-2011, 11:01 PM
I think this one is dwarf cavendish. It is planted in yard dirt, packaged soil will float out. I got it use to water slowly over 2 months. I started with it sitting in a saucer of water. Then put it in a bucket of water. And raised the water level slowly over the top of the pot for 2 months. It has been in water now for years.
thewebgal
07-30-2011, 09:42 AM
I have an ice cream banana in a big pot and its been a week of 100+ days here near DC -
On a hot week I give it maybe 2 gallons of water a DAY ... its growin' very happy
I live in Dallas where we are just having our 23rd day of 100+ degrees...
One of my biggest Icecreams (that spent the winter in the garage) I don't think looks that good, pict 1, neither does my Dwarf Orinoco, pict 2.
I am curious if you think I have have watered too little or too much given how they look.
They both have quite a bit of sun on them but not full day.
I have the sprinklers go off every second day and they get like a pint or so water from that at least.
In addition I try to water manually half a gallon each once or twice a week.
Thanks
Ice Cream Banana Plant just outside Wash, DC
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=44671&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=44671&ppuser=10558)
Vickie H.
07-30-2011, 10:20 AM
thewebgal your bananas look very good. I just love the theme of ponds and bananas here. Wish I could grow all my bananas in water so would not have to water all of them . LOL
:woohoonaner:
sashaeffer
07-30-2011, 10:25 AM
I might have to give this a try. I have 3 ponds here and a Banana would look great in one of them.
That is interesting. I had no idea a banana can survive in sitting water. I'm always paranoid of my plants getting root rot if it sits on water too long. Now that I've seen your picture, I don't know what to believe.
Vickie H.
08-02-2011, 02:00 PM
Believe it. I have 2 in water. I had pups on one and took one off it off and mailed it to my friend in Memphis and it is in her pond there. They have been in water for years. But do not try it unless you have extra bananas. And they have to slowly get used to being in water. I started with the pot sitting in a saucer of water. Then I put the pot in a bucket. And slowly over two months I brought the water over the top of the pot. Then I stuck it in my shallow pond. Of course I bring it inside in winter. I put it in my basement in water. I do have shop lighst down there too. The coldest it gets is 50*F in winter.
Vickie H.
08-02-2011, 02:03 PM
Here is the dwarf cavindish in water. I bought it in 2007 and it was it water where I bought it.
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g69/PHPong/100_5648.jpg
scottu
08-02-2011, 07:03 PM
This is all new to me. Thought they could not survive in too much water. How odd that they could thrive submersed. Your pics make me think they don't grow as big? Do they still flower/fruit etc., do they grow at a different rate. How do you fertilize, in the water, or? I swear every time I think I know something about bananas, You guys show me what a novice I am! Are you sure this is not just a good joke!
moomooman
08-02-2011, 07:03 PM
To nph: Try letting the hose run slowly on the bananas real slowly all day. This slow drizzle is good at letting water seep in and get deep into the soil. It's also effortless, just put it there and go!
RAINFOREZT
08-02-2011, 07:42 PM
I think this one is dwarf cavendish. It is planted in yard dirt, packaged soil will float out. I got it use to water slowly over 2 months. I started with it sitting in a saucer of water. Then put it in a bucket of water. And raised the water level slowly over the top of the pot for 2 months. It has been in water now for years.
So too much water won't be a problem for banana plants?
scottu
08-02-2011, 08:17 PM
Sorry for all of us stealing this thread from you and I hope you are sufficiently answered as I can relate to your quandary, seems we can't ever be too sure about anything that has to do with the banana, even watering!
But I will tell you, this subject "banana growing in water" needs to be gone over!
We need to start a new thread on it!
Vickie H.
08-02-2011, 08:52 PM
I am watering my bananas everday all summer but the rest of them are in pots outside my pond. My musa basjoo's are in the ground and in this heat I am watering them every morning. Sorry I stole your thread. I was just trying to show if they can live in water how can you water too much in summer heat. But in my basement in winter they can rot if I water too much. Except the ones I grow in water. And it is not a joke for real the two are growing in my ponds.
I got an advice from a friend that sounds good (although he doesn't grow bananas as far as I know).
It was to set up and a let a mister similar to ones outside bars etc just mist the two big Icecreams. Wouldn't draw much water but it would help humidity.
What do you think, a good idea?
Today I realized my market umbrella actually could shade one of my bananas pretty well, kick myself for not realizing that earlier!
Any advice on misters?
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