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Behold
12-29-2012, 07:19 AM
Wondering if I'm just flogging a dead horse. I have a banana plant that I have had for 2 years and I'm unable to do ANYTHING with it.

It refuses to grow in anyway. Leaves sprout regularly and then grow to long before they collapse under there own weight.
It never seems to grow a trunk of any sort so the old stems die back to the roots.

The leaves are long quite thin as far as som bananas and a thick leathery feel.

I grow this indoors at the moment and it seems to grow quite fast. Leaf every 4-5 days is not uncommon. I need to know what it is and whether its worth trying to grow or if I should look for another banana plant.

Thanks

Banana Gallery - image31 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51765&ppuser=15114)

H2O
12-29-2012, 07:38 AM
Welcome !

Seems doing well indoor.
maybe try to change the outdoor soil.

Behold
12-29-2012, 07:46 AM
Welcome !

maybe try to change the soil .

Thanks. Maybe I should rephrase that. It grows! it grows fast but never seems to support more than 3-4 leaves with out them breaking under there weight. They grow really long and horizontal. It means the plant always looks a bit sparse.

I did try binding it. It grew REALLY tall and many leaves but did not support it's self. It was just me making the leaves grow longer to reach the lite.

The soil is a compost soil.

H2O
12-29-2012, 08:10 AM
do you know the "right" name of the plant?

musa basjoo, sikkmensis, ensete, etc.

Behold
12-29-2012, 08:30 AM
do you know the "right" name of the plant?

musa basjoo, sikkmensis, ensete, etc.

No idea at all that's part of the issue no knowing how its meant to be!

Jose263
12-29-2012, 10:25 AM
Wondering if I'm just flogging a dead horse. I have a banana plant that I have had for 2 years and I'm unable to do ANYTHING with it.

It refuses to grow in anyway. Leaves sprout regularly and then grow to long before they collapse under there own weight.
It never seems to grow a trunk of any sort so the old stems die back to the roots.

The leaves are long quite thin as far as som bananas and a thick leathery feel.

I grow this indoors at the moment and it seems to grow quite fast. Leaf every 4-5 days is not uncommon. I need to know what it is and whether its worth trying to grow or if I should look for another banana plant.

Thanks

Banana Gallery - image31 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=51765&ppuser=15114)

where are you? Has it been in same pot for 2 years? or what do roots look like when you move between in/outdoors? what are you feeding it-how often?
Where did you get it?:2722:

Behold
12-29-2012, 10:42 AM
where are you? Has it been in same pot for 2 years? or what do roots look like when you move between in/outdoors? what are you feeding it-how often?
Where did you get it?:2722:

I'm southern uk. The plant was owned from young. But the person that I got it from does not know what it.

I repotted a year ago in to the larger pot. It does not fair well outside in any wind so it stays in. As to the roots? What do you want to know about them???

I water it when the soil is near dry. I use my fish tank water for my plants as its high in nitrates. I see no rot on the roots.

Jose263
12-29-2012, 11:11 AM
ok - so it lives in the pot - when you say grow outdoors -do you mean move the pot outdoors -
I pot nanas only to overwinter pups in case I lose the inground plants. so not much help here.
Maybe members who grow potted nanas can help Or search the post - lots of info already out there.
Happy growing

Abnshrek
12-29-2012, 11:21 AM
I need to know what it is and whether its worth trying to grow or if I should look for another banana plant.

Whether or not it has etible banana's? :^)

Behold
12-29-2012, 11:57 AM
Whether or not it has etible banana's? :^)

Can't get it to grow full enough to work that out. I'm assuming not at the moment that it even flowers to produce fruit.

Abnshrek
12-29-2012, 12:01 PM
Can't get it to grow full enough to work that out. I'm assuming not at the moment that it even flowers to produce fruit.

Well your in the learning curve.. Can't quit till you learn something or why get another plant. :^)

H2O
12-29-2012, 12:23 PM
It never seems to grow a trunk of any sort so the old stems die back to the roots.

The leaves are long quite thin as far as som bananas and a thick leathery feel.


less trunk, long thin leaves maybe ensete, example:
(Poster: saltydad)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=33661&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=33661&si=ensete glauca&what=allfields)

another one
(Poster: Jeff)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=45135&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=45135&si=ensete&what=allfields)

Romul
12-29-2012, 12:59 PM
It might not have enough light. What is the source of light for your banana, and what intensity of this source?

Hammocked Banana
12-29-2012, 04:52 PM
Also think it is a lack of light problem. Explains the weak growth. I think it is growing so fast bc of all the nutrients, but the growth is so weak it can't support all the growth. Also explains why it can't hold up in any wind. Move it to the most light u can find in your house

Behold
12-29-2012, 05:52 PM
The plant looks most like the first picture.

As to light. It's in the south facing window of the house. Can't give it anymore light. Maybe feed it a bit less to slow it down?

Behold
12-29-2012, 06:03 PM
Reading up on the ensete ventricosum this seems to show both picture and details that match this plant.

Looks like it will droop the lower leaves and you need to use these to help sturdy the plant. I might have cut these a little too low in the past.

I might water it a bit less and see how that helps it fair. It is a fast grower so ill post some pics when it's a bit bigger. You might be able to help point me where I am going wrong.

Any other tips?

Chance1945
12-29-2012, 06:36 PM
Behold, hello from Bayou La Batre, Alabama. Sounds like you have an accelerated growth rate. Since you're giving it all the light that you're able to give it, try backing off on fertilizer. Switch to a balanced fertilizer and follow the directions for feeding indoors.

I'd like to hear from you in a couple months to see if this helps.

Welcome and Happy New Year.

Terry

Romul
12-30-2012, 06:48 AM
The plant looks most like the first picture.

As to light. It's in the south facing window of the house. Can't give it anymore light. Maybe feed it a bit less to slow it down?

It is not clear where you live, at what latitude. Maybe not enough light and the southernmost window. And if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, it is best to put on a north window :) kidding.

Behold
12-30-2012, 07:13 AM
It is not clear where you live, at what latitude. Maybe not enough light and the southernmost window. And if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, it is best to put on a north window :) kidding.

I live in the UK so actually no window gets sun :)

Hammocked Banana
12-30-2012, 12:18 PM
Your banana looks like some of my young basjoos. If it is an ensete it will like even less water than a musa. I think it doesn't have enough light, my nanners are in south windows and still need supplemental lighting, especially my basjoos which get super weak growth due to their floppy nature. I would suggest less water/food. Maybe water less and dilute your fish tank water in half before applying.

LilRaverBoi
12-30-2012, 02:48 PM
I agree with others....probably needs more light and less fertilizer. I'd repot into a different pot (but don't go too large during winter)....maybe just the same pot with new soil. Water with water only (no fert) and consider getting some supplemental lighting.

Romul
12-31-2012, 08:43 AM
If I understood correctly, your banana is growing all the time in the room? As far as I know, the UK is not the most sunny country. My Ensete behaved as bad in the winter, as well as your banana. Slowing the growth and size of the next sheet was smaller than the last. Petioles not stand and bend under the weight of the leaves. But in February and March, when the sun was shining, the banana rose and began to strong growth.

Romul
12-31-2012, 09:31 AM
Now my bananas, and this: super mini dwarf kavendish, bought in a supermarket, Super Dwarf Cavendish (www.takeaschaytrends.tsom), seedling Nam Wah, and a banana, which I found in the Thai forest, grow under 250 watt Metal Halide.

Behold
12-31-2012, 01:27 PM
Ill cut down the watering.

kom
01-01-2013, 04:48 AM
Ill cut down the watering.

make sure that u give your plant enough water and sun beam.....gud luck ..:):08:

by the way feel free to visit my page on Facebook and my youtube channel about my global mission in Banana Industry.....keep in touch

http://www.facebook.com/komgringplesbanana?ref=hl

Comgreenlovesclimate - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/user/Comgreenlovesclimate?feature=mhee)