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nattuggla
11-09-2013, 11:54 AM
I am new at growing bananas- and being in Illinois also poses a challenge. Since I have to grow indoors, I bought a dwarf Cavendish. As the pup got about a foot tall, I took it out, but now it has stopped growing. I heard that the leaves would wilt, but they are now all dying and the leaf on top hasn't unrolled. Is this plant done? It was my first time separating a pup, so I easily could have done it wrong, but anything I can do to save it would be helpful.

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55132&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55132&ppuser=17638)

kubali
11-09-2013, 12:40 PM
Sometimes they will go into shock,but that one looks like it will make it to me.kinda hard to see,but it looks like it could use a little water,soil looks real dry. good luck.

Olafhenny
11-09-2013, 06:09 PM
Hi Nat (if that is not your first name, correct me),

what you see is not the essence of your plant. If that “dies”, it is a bit of a setback, but not
really a big deal. The essential part of any banana lies in the corm, underground. If that
is healthy, i.e., is firm like a potato, then you have a healthy plant.

Now do not go digging to find out. The plant has already enough to worry about (new
location?, transplanting shock?, too much light after shipment in the dark?), I do not know,
but the fact that your PS is deteriorating is a sign of distress, similar to your having a cold.
It just needs some rest and soon you will see new pups sprouting up.

I cannot tell from the picture, but it looks like there may be already a new pup emerging
from the base of the old PS.

So relax and have trust in the survival skills of bananas, They are really hard to kill, unless
you expose them to frost for some time. The survival chances of yours are at least 95%

Good luck and patience,
Olaf

Abnshrek
11-09-2013, 06:16 PM
I don't know how wet that soil is but if its wet I'd heat the pot up so it will do better.. Heating pad.. Don't know what your feeding it but less water is better this time of year.. :^)

nattuggla
11-13-2013, 10:38 AM
Thanks all for your thoughts and help. All of the leaves have died, so I pulled those off. The next leaf to come out is still green, but it is not unrolling. I have ordered a heat mat that will come in Friday, and will try to warm it up. Having green is a good sign, but I'm a little nervous because everything else has died. I will post more pics this weekend after it has had a chance to warm up the soil.