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View Full Version : Got a Dwarf Banana tree..Now what? (Help Me)


Cleopatra
03-20-2014, 10:01 AM
I am not scared to admit that I need help! Major help! When I got this Dwarf Banana tree as a surprise random gift from my boyfriend it was the first that I even heard of such a thing! I thought it was the coolest thing. Now my problems is I don't know how to take care of it :-( This is also my first time ever using a forum? thread? Don't even understand how this works I just hope someone can help me. Basically I don't know anything but that this plant needs sun. Luckily I live in Trinidad where there is plenty of sun and heat, too bad my yard is ridiculously windy and ends up blowing her over. The last thing I want is to be labeled as a plant killer. I've have a bonsai and thats perfect but this plant has me baffled. A few questions: When do I water it/how much? Can it go in a slightly shady spot (or else it'll get blown over in the open)? and is it doing okay?

Here are some photos too (first time using Photobucket too), this is the a day or two after I got it:

http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3181_zpsf7d44a9a.jpg.html?sort=2&o=0
First Day I Got It Photo by bananatree3 | Photobucket (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3181_zpsf7d44a9a.jpg.html?sort=2&o=0)

And now...this is where it is (been maybe 2 weeks):

http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3201_zps75607949.jpg.html?sort=2&o=1
IMG_3201_zps75607949.jpg Photo by bananatree3 | Photobucket (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3201_zps75607949.jpg.html?sort=2&o=1)

http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3202_zpsc8daed57.jpg.html?sort=2&o=2
IMG_3202_zpsc8daed57.jpg Photo by bananatree3 | Photobucket (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3202_zpsc8daed57.jpg.html?sort=2&o=2)

http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3204_zps2b07e795.jpg.html?sort=2&o=3
IMG_3204_zps2b07e795.jpg Photo by bananatree3 | Photobucket (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3204_zps2b07e795.jpg.html?sort=2&o=3)

(apologize for the excess amount of photos, but figured it's better to have more than less)

http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3205_zps276f03de.jpg.html?sort=2&o=4
IMG_3205_zps276f03de.jpg Photo by bananatree3 | Photobucket (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3205_zps276f03de.jpg.html?sort=2&o=4)

*The new leaf coming up was tiny like a squiggly string, and it's grown a lot clearly since then, so I must be doing something right...Right?*

http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3206_zps76ffecd0.jpg.html?sort=2&o=5
IMG_3206_zps76ffecd0.jpg Photo by bananatree3 | Photobucket (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3206_zps76ffecd0.jpg.html?sort=2&o=5)

*The above holes in the leaf were there when I had gotten it, my Boyfriend got it from the most reputable and largest plant estate so I don't know if the holes are anything major to worry about, haven't seen any more come since I've had it*

http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3208_zps070b17ab.jpg.html?sort=2&o=6
IMG_3208_zps070b17ab.jpg Photo by bananatree3 | Photobucket (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3208_zps070b17ab.jpg.html?sort=2&o=6)

http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3209_zps8b0815c7.jpg.html?sort=2&o=7
IMG_3209_zps8b0815c7.jpg Photo by bananatree3 | Photobucket (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3209_zps8b0815c7.jpg.html?sort=2&o=7)

http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3210_zps31d16cd9.jpg.html?sort=2&o=8
IMG_3210_zps31d16cd9.jpg Photo by bananatree3 | Photobucket (http://s91.photobucket.com/user/bananatree3/media/IMG_3210_zps31d16cd9.jpg.html?sort=2&o=8)

Could someone please help! :-) Would be greatly appreciated in saving my plants life and my embarrassment.

-Cleopatra

Abnshrek
03-20-2014, 10:42 AM
Are you going to plant it in the ground? Your banana looks like a D. Cav.. I have never been able to kill one.. unless my pigs ate it.. :^)

Cleopatra
03-20-2014, 11:19 AM
Luckily I don't have pigs, but I have a mother who has killed a cactus and bamboo and me who doesn't know what I'm doing :-P It just looked so much prettier when I got it and now it has kind of droopy leaves and all that. But as of right now I'm not going to be planting in in the ground because I'm planning on moving to Tobago within a year. Plus I have male Samoyed who would enjoy eating it.

Hammocked Banana
03-20-2014, 12:15 PM
Could probably use a bigger pot then.

PR-Giants
03-20-2014, 07:00 PM
Luckily I don't have pigs, but I have a mother who has killed a cactus and bamboo and me who doesn't know what I'm doing :-P It just looked so much prettier when I got it and now it has kind of droopy leaves and all that. But as of right now I'm not going to be planting in in the ground because I'm planning on moving to Tobago within a year. Plus I have male Samoyed who would enjoy eating it.

A DC is an awful plant for the West Indies, but if T&T is very dry you should be fine. 5' is too short, 7' is much better for controlling Sigatoka. I have DC and kill them when they flower.

If you want a dwarf AAA then get a dwarf red it's a much stronger cultivar.

Let Samoyed enjoy himself.