View Full Version : Mekong eaten through
demonstimpy
05-21-2013, 07:54 PM
So if anyone has any experience with what appears to be a vole eating though a banana I would be interested!
Mekong Giant planted about a month back.
Leaves started drooping 3 weeks in.
I then find I can just pick up the plant minus roots. Appears eaten through.
Any chance it can be rooted or is it a lost cause.
Not sure if there is anything left in the ground. Not too happy right now.
Thanks in advance.
bananimal
05-22-2013, 12:12 AM
Post pics. And where are you?
demonstimpy
05-22-2013, 06:55 AM
I am in Raleigh NC.
http://img28.imageshack.us/img28/4967/img20130522073716.jpg
bananimal
05-22-2013, 09:59 AM
Peel off the trunk and wash off the corm. Look for bug damage and post pics of corm. I grew bananas in Charlotte for 12 years and never saw such rapid decline. Makes me think this plant was sick in it's pot.
Did it sit outside or in the garage all winter?
demonstimpy
05-22-2013, 10:47 AM
I only purchased it this spring.
There was a hole right next to the plant which is why I assumed a vole or something had attacked it.
demonstimpy
05-22-2013, 11:04 AM
http://imageshack.us/a/img203/2852/img20130522114532.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img560/1230/img20130522113919.jpg
bananimal
05-22-2013, 02:13 PM
Looks like rot. The hole was where the mama was and when it rotted away it spread to the pup. I have had success at reviving a corm that rots by taking a tea or tablespoon and scooping all the soft rotten material out till I hit solid white corm. Like the dentist does in your mouth. lol
If the majority of the corm is ok pot it up with mycorrhizae dusted roots and corm in a sterile mix. Keep watering lightly and keep it warm with full sun.
demonstimpy
05-22-2013, 02:20 PM
No sure there's much corm there.
I'll give it a shot though.
sunfish
05-22-2013, 02:25 PM
I think it's a goner
demonstimpy
05-22-2013, 02:40 PM
Thinking that myself. Now I have to hope I can get another at the local farmers market. Only seen one seller of them on ebay but they are only in 4inch pots.
Magilla Gorilla
05-22-2013, 04:32 PM
I battled gophers daily when I lived in Santa Barbara. It looks like rot and not a vermin. You have nothing to lose to try what Dan is suggesting. I have seen some amazing come backs from bananas. Good luck!
demonstimpy
05-22-2013, 04:43 PM
Did you ever win?
I'm having all kinds of issues. Have hanging baskets not hanging cos the birds keep trying to nest in there even with bamboo sticks to stop them.
Plus deer totally destroyed every rose bud and flower in my yard.
No wonder I drink so much gin.
sunfish
05-22-2013, 04:49 PM
You will have better plant sooner if you just buy one. Stick that one in a pot and forget about it.
scottu
05-22-2013, 08:24 PM
The voles up north can live off of the roots and cause lots of damage to the corm, tho it's usually in the fall when they are trying to bulk up and not much else to eat!
demonstimpy
05-22-2013, 09:06 PM
Yeah not anyone's best friend are they.
Where would you guys normally buy a Mekong?
Somewhere local to you or online?
bananimal
05-23-2013, 09:34 AM
Did you ever win?
I'm having all kinds of issues. Have hanging baskets not hanging cos the birds keep trying to nest in there even with bamboo sticks to stop them.
Plus deer totally destroyed every rose bud and flower in my yard.
No wonder I drink so much gin.
Ice cold Tanqueray martini xtra dry with olive --- nothing beats it!!!
Except another one!!!!!!!!!
For a corm of MG I'd try The Banana Tree in Easton, PA.
Or it's a little TC plant from Going Bananas and wait a few years.
Try posting under Bananas/plants wanted here on the orgggg.
demonstimpy
05-23-2013, 10:32 AM
Ice cold Tanqueray martini xtra dry with olive --- nothing beats it!!!
Except another one!!!!!!!!!
For a corm of MG I'd try The Banana Tree in Easton, PA.
Or it's a little TC plant from Going Bananas and wait a few years.
Try posting under Bananas/plants wanted here on the orgggg.
Big fan of Hendricks gin and Citadelle gin. My 2 faves right there.
demonstimpy
06-01-2013, 09:03 PM
Vole. Has to be. Got hold of another Mekong. Within a week the same thing. Dead and eaten through. Found a tunnel running right through there. Now I have a vole war sigh.
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