View Full Version : Flag Leaf on Container Ice Cream!! Nutrition for Fruiting?
andy17
09-10-2013, 12:28 PM
Hey everyone,
I am so excited! I went out this morning to water some plants and saw a flag leaf unfurling on my Ice Cream banana! It's on its second year in a 30 gal smart pot. It definitely looks cramped, but still pretty healthy. There might have at best two more months of warmish weather before the first frosts, so I don't think the fruit will be able to ripen completely outdoors. Is it possible to bring the plant in and have it finish ripening on the plant indoors? Several of the leaves also look unhealthy. I've fertilized several times with Miracle Grow and High Yield Grower's Special, which seems to have helped, but not cured the problem. I suspect a nutrient deficiency (I'm thinking potassium), but I'm not sure. I posted a few pictures of the leaves in question. Any help or suggestions would be really appreciated. Thanks!
caliboy1994
09-10-2013, 12:36 PM
Very nice! And yes, that does look like potassium deficiency. Some Sul-Po-Mag should fix that up.
sunfish
09-10-2013, 01:18 PM
Not potassium deficiency
andy17
09-10-2013, 01:24 PM
Not potassium deficiency
That's very interesting. Do you have any idea what might be the cause?
I was out of town for about a week last month and had it on a soaker hose for 30 min everyday. It was really hot and dry so I aired on the side of too much water than not enough--apparently, it was a LOT of water haha When I came back, I noticed these leaves were definitely worse looking than before. Not sure if that has anything to do with it or not, but I thought it might be worth mentioning. Thanks!
caliboy1994
09-10-2013, 01:39 PM
The curling of the end of the leaf that I see in one picture looks like potassium deficiency to me. But Tony is more experienced than me, so he probably has a better idea of what's going on. :ha:
You also might want to get yourself a larger container. That plant is probably rootbound to oblivion.
andy17
09-10-2013, 02:04 PM
The curling of the end of the leaf that I see in one picture looks like potassium deficiency to me. But Tony is more experienced than me, so he probably has a better idea of what's going on. :ha:
You also might want to get yourself a larger container. That plant is probably rootbound to oblivion.
Thanks caliboy1994! From the nutrition guide from the HAFIA group, it certainly seems to match the symptoms of potassium deficiency. The primary fertilizer I've been using is actually rather low in potassium. I believe it's like 12-6-6, so that could at least play some role in the leaf health. No doubt, being that root bound is probably really wearing on the plant. I had originally planned on planting it in the ground this summer, but decided against it, when it seemed that the plant wasn't going to flower this year. I might definitely look at transplanting it to a 45 or 60 gallon container. It doesn't look like overwatering by chance does it? Thanks!
sandy0225
09-10-2013, 02:50 PM
That looks like a "preflag" leaf to me. It's not the flag yet. You could repot it if you want to, but then won't it be awfully hard to bring in? The number of bananas that one is going to have is already set by the care it's already received, so you won't be able to change that. I'd probably not repot it. I would definitely continue with regular fertilization. I don't think it really has any kind of deficiency or problem. Those leaves probably were just damaged when it was really hot and dry out. trim off the ugly parts and the plant will look better. Whatever it was, it's over it now because the new leaves look good, so it was a past occurrence. Congratulations!
caliboy1994
09-10-2013, 04:06 PM
I would wait to repot it until after the main stem is finished flowering. You might stress the plant.
Olafhenny
09-10-2013, 09:48 PM
My take is, that the poor thing is starving. My wife often refers to fertilizer as "vitamins", and she has
a point. If you put me in such a little pot and fed me nothing but vitamin pills. I would grow yellow and
wilting leaves too. :ha:
If it was mine I would prepare a bigger pot and stick it in. If you are concerned about transplanting
shock this close to flowering, you may keep it in the pot, but cut large vertical strips out of it with some
tin shears, but most importantly maintain the same compass orientation. If you use this method, then
the remainder of the pot will remain entangled in the roots for good, but that will cause no harm as the
roots will grow through its gaps and all around it.
GreenFin
09-10-2013, 10:29 PM
Congrats!
I've read in the archives here about people bringing in potted plants with hanging fruit and getting the bananas to ripen indoors. I would definitely give it a shot!
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