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View Full Version : Dwarf Cavendish issues, new to banana growing


remelad
12-30-2013, 03:46 PM
Back in October I purchased two Dwarf Cavendish trees from a local greenhouse. They were in tiny pots so I transplanted them into big plastic pots. I also cut off a growth from one of them and potted that also. With being in a 6-7 hardiness zone, I brought them inside before the temps dropped below 40*. On nice days, I set them outside to get good light.

The bigger ones are browning on the edges which I think may be caused by over watering? Should I be backing down on the watering? Should I be trimming the dead leaves? They have grown about 6" in height since I transplanted them.

The little one that was a cutting is growing best. It also sits in a south facing window sill everyday. It was only about 2" when I planted it back in October.

Should I put a UV bulb in the room with them? The room stays about 65-70* on these winter days.

I put pictures in my gallery for reference. Banana Gallery - Dwarf Cavendish (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=2353)

Thank you in advance!

Kat2
12-30-2013, 09:01 PM
Okay, let's get this straight--you transplanted a pup (the one doing very well) not a cutting. And congratulations! I have 5 on my Dwarf Cavendish in the ground that I haven't dared sever. I will...I must...ACK!

Since my DC is the only banana I have in the ground right now and my other 4 pups are in pots outside, I don't know what is happening to the edges of your leaves. My big DC looks miserable but she's been hit with cold weather; the pups in pots beneath her aren't growing fast but their leaves are green. And her P stem is firm so I'm going with the flow for now...

Those old spent brown leaves you can remove; they will die on their own so you can leave them. (Don't toss them but leave them in the pot--they'll feed your plants.) I've removed mine gently because, outside where you can't control watering, they can let water collect on the P stem and then rot can happen.

BTW, I'm less than a year into bananas so take anything I say/said with a grain of salt.

But I bumped your thread and some of the people who know potted plants will chime in. Be patient.

Good luck!

Duckfood
12-30-2013, 10:55 PM
This is pretty common for bananas living inside... My best answer is the lack of humidity, heat and sunlight... A lot of my bananas are looking like the ones in your photo gallery... Just keep in mind that they are starting to go dormant, not dying...

If you want to try to supplement your plant with grow lights, there are several threads in here with a lot of information that will help...

You can also raise your thermostat by about 10 degrees, but I would hate to see your heating bill if you do...

I keep a spray bottle to try to keep the leaves from losing too much moisture...

This is my third winter keeping bananas inside over the winter, and I have about 30 in here now... Once March or April rolls around, and I am able to get them back into nature, they will bounce back... At least they always have before...

Hope I helped a little...

remelad
12-31-2013, 01:03 AM
Okay, let's get this straight--you transplanted a pup (the one doing very well) not a cutting. And congratulations! I have 5 on my Dwarf Cavendish in the ground that I haven't dared sever. I will...I must...ACK!

Since my DC is the only banana I have in the ground right now and my other 4 pups are in pots outside, I don't know what is happening to the edges of your leaves. My big DC looks miserable but she's been hit with cold weather; the pups in pots beneath her aren't growing fast but their leaves are green. And her P stem is firm so I'm going with the flow for now...

Those old spent brown leaves you can remove; they will die on their own so you can leave them. (Don't toss them but leave them in the pot--they'll feed your plants.) I've removed mine gently because, outside where you can't control watering, they can let water collect on the P stem and then rot can happen.

BTW, I'm less than a year into bananas so take anything I say/said with a grain of salt.

But I bumped your thread and some of the people who know potted plants will chime in. Be patient.

Good luck!

I am not sure what a PUP means as I am new to this. The one doing well was an off growth of one of the larger plants. I sliced it off when I transplanted it. It had 3 little roots of its own so I'm surprised it is growing like it is. It has 5 leaves and the 6th is spiraling up now.

sunfish
12-31-2013, 01:07 AM
Morphology of banana plant | Promusa - Mobilizing banana science for sustainable livelihoods (http://www.promusa.org/tiki-index.php?page=Morphology+of+banana+plant)

remelad
12-31-2013, 01:12 AM
This is pretty common for bananas living inside... My best answer is the lack of humidity, heat and sunlight... A lot of my bananas are looking like the ones in your photo gallery... Just keep in mind that they are starting to go dormant, not dying...

If you want to try to supplement your plant with grow lights, there are several threads in here with a lot of information that will help...

You can also raise your thermostat by about 10 degrees, but I would hate to see your heating bill if you do...

I keep a spray bottle to try to keep the leaves from losing too much moisture...

This is my third winter keeping bananas inside over the winter, and I have about 30 in here now... Once March or April rolls around, and I am able to get them back into nature, they will bounce back... At least they always have before...

Hope I helped a little...

Thanks for the input. It just bothers me that when a leaf finally looks nice it starts browning. Now they all seem to be doing it, on the two larger ones anyway. The little transplant the I sliced off is doing great. I am thinking about doing a UV light to supplement the bananas and the other plants that are stuck inside this winter. The leaves were loaded with water drops but have slowed down. What is a P stem or stalk?

Duckfood
12-31-2013, 11:01 AM
Just so you don't feel all alone, I snapped a few pictures for you...

Gros Michel Leaf...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55518&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55518&ppuser=15796)

Siam Ruby Leaf...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55519&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55519&ppuser=15796)

Ensete Leaf...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55521&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55521&ppuser=15796)

Basjoo Leaf...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55522&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55522&ppuser=15796)

Little Prince...
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=55520&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=55520&ppuser=15796)
This plant is a loss, except for the four pups that she pushed up...

Duckfood
12-31-2013, 11:06 AM
P stem is short for Pseudo Stem... It is the equivalent of the banana plant's tree trunk...

I pup is a name for a baby banana plant... You can see a few of the pups that the little prince plant shot up before she died...

Nathan1023
02-16-2014, 03:09 PM
I've gotten brown leaf edges from under watering. Your photos look like your bananas need a lot more water, but I've only been growing a banana for less than a year.