Log in

View Full Version : Young/new Cavendish problem.


Chester Copperpot
09-23-2012, 02:02 PM
I bought these two Cavendish banana trees and planted them back in June. They started off growing very well after a little adjustment period. Then, the southern one started growing and leaving the northern one behind (it's twice as tall and has six little suckers growing around it now).

Now, three months later, the leaves emerging from the smaller tree were about half the size and with a much thinner, round leaves. I tried not to worry because each emerging leaf seemed to be a little larger than the last one. But, now the leaves that are beginning to emerge are unfurling before they're out of the psuedostem. Here are some pictures:

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50652

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50651

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=50650

I've been reading and using the search function, but since I am new to this, I don't know how to describe what's happening so I don't know how to search.

blownz281
09-23-2012, 02:14 PM
What part of NC? They both look healthy too me. I do see what you mean with the leaves being smaller. What type of soil did you plant them in,did you feed them both the same? Does one get more light longer then the other? It has pups :) maybe water them more?

Chester Copperpot
09-23-2012, 02:25 PM
I planted them both the same size (about 4") and put a gallon of compost into the regular, sandy soil. I live in Carteret County, sort of in the lower third of the state. I feed them with compost about once a month and put some of the general garden fertilizer on it in August because I ran out of my homemade compost.

I water them both the same, when I see that the surface of the soil is drying, I put a couple of gallons of air conditioner water (I put a 5-gal bucket below the A/C drain) on each at the same time. They get as close to the same amount of sunlight as possible, perhaps the larger one gets a little less because of shade near sunset.

Maybe it's nothing, but if it is a problem, I'd rather nip it in the bud.

2woodensticks
09-23-2012, 04:04 PM
some go slower even in same conditions..look fine from here...

Chester Copperpot
09-23-2012, 10:07 PM
Yes, that's true. I guess I was looking for some reassurance that the new, smaller leaves weren't anything to worry about. In the one picture, you can see how the newer leaves are smaller than the older ones. Then in another, it looks like it's unfurling too early.

Sincere thanks for the responses.

venturabananas
09-24-2012, 12:17 AM
It's not fatal, from the looks of it, but the progressively smaller leaves indicates some sort of stress. Figure out what changed between when it was making bigger leaves and then smaller leaves.

LilRaverBoi
09-24-2012, 02:19 PM
They look okay. I agree with ventura....probably some sort of stress. Doesn't look like anything that is serious and requires intervention.