Hang9392
11-20-2014, 11:35 AM
Can anyone tell me why my banana plants have leaves emerging looking like something is already eating on it? I have over 50 plants that have been inside of a heated breezeway since beginning of October 2014 and am located in Northeast Florida.
The plants were is SAD shape, originally located around a backyard pond and were dug up, split up (some not all) and placed in containers with "Ultimate Soil Mix" and fertilized with Osmocote 14-14-14 before bringing them inside.
The temperature in the breezeway is a around 75-80degrees F during the day and around 70-72 degrees F at night. I also have supplemental lighting in the form of 16 overhead 100 watt daylight and cool white CFL bulbs alternating 4 of each on each side of a light bar equipped with "Y" adapters giving me a total of 8 CFLs on each side. This light bar is an a timer for 15 hours daily/ On @ 5:00am - Off @ 8:00 pm. There are also 4 aluminum rectangular pans (disposal) filled with water to aid in maintaining the humidity level. I haven't measured the level.
I have tried applying (only once) a dawn (equivalent) and water solution in a small spray bottle to all of the plants leaves (top and bottom) back in the end of October (about 3 wks ago) but not since.
I just bought a 1 gallon pump up sprayer from Lowes and will try this solution again paying attention to hit each and every leave on each plant and see what happens.
This isn't really a big problem, just something I've noticed and do NOT want it to spread! I will keep you all posted.
Meanwhile, this seems to be an excellent light/temperature / humidity climate because ALL of the plants are thriving, producing nice, bright green leaf growth! I water each plant thoroughly every 2- 3 days (4 max.) until each pot has water draining from the drain holes on the side of the pot. I do this with a lever operated wand on a hose set on moderate spray pattern, keeping in mind the outside temp/ well water temp which eventually becomes around 60 degrees and not wanting to shock the plants with water that is TOO cold. I even have about 6 gallons of water I keep filled with tap water that I maintain at room temp (78- 80 degrees) to use when outside temp is too cold. I add about 1/2 cap of 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer per gallon (can't remember brand, Yellow plastic bottle w/ blue cap). After all, my goal is to maintain a perfect climate for growth in an attempt to flower and fruit as many plants as possible.
We just had our first freezing temps and below (29 degrees F), outside of course and my temps inside the breezeway are maintaining mid 70's daytime, low 70's at night.......by way of an 18k BTU wall mounted A/C-Heat Unit in an adjacent room with the door left open to the breezeway.
Lt me know if anyone has experienced the new leaf growth being eaten and if this an insect, what you used to get rid of it....Thx. I will post some recent pics of the plants .
The plants were is SAD shape, originally located around a backyard pond and were dug up, split up (some not all) and placed in containers with "Ultimate Soil Mix" and fertilized with Osmocote 14-14-14 before bringing them inside.
The temperature in the breezeway is a around 75-80degrees F during the day and around 70-72 degrees F at night. I also have supplemental lighting in the form of 16 overhead 100 watt daylight and cool white CFL bulbs alternating 4 of each on each side of a light bar equipped with "Y" adapters giving me a total of 8 CFLs on each side. This light bar is an a timer for 15 hours daily/ On @ 5:00am - Off @ 8:00 pm. There are also 4 aluminum rectangular pans (disposal) filled with water to aid in maintaining the humidity level. I haven't measured the level.
I have tried applying (only once) a dawn (equivalent) and water solution in a small spray bottle to all of the plants leaves (top and bottom) back in the end of October (about 3 wks ago) but not since.
I just bought a 1 gallon pump up sprayer from Lowes and will try this solution again paying attention to hit each and every leave on each plant and see what happens.
This isn't really a big problem, just something I've noticed and do NOT want it to spread! I will keep you all posted.
Meanwhile, this seems to be an excellent light/temperature / humidity climate because ALL of the plants are thriving, producing nice, bright green leaf growth! I water each plant thoroughly every 2- 3 days (4 max.) until each pot has water draining from the drain holes on the side of the pot. I do this with a lever operated wand on a hose set on moderate spray pattern, keeping in mind the outside temp/ well water temp which eventually becomes around 60 degrees and not wanting to shock the plants with water that is TOO cold. I even have about 6 gallons of water I keep filled with tap water that I maintain at room temp (78- 80 degrees) to use when outside temp is too cold. I add about 1/2 cap of 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer per gallon (can't remember brand, Yellow plastic bottle w/ blue cap). After all, my goal is to maintain a perfect climate for growth in an attempt to flower and fruit as many plants as possible.
We just had our first freezing temps and below (29 degrees F), outside of course and my temps inside the breezeway are maintaining mid 70's daytime, low 70's at night.......by way of an 18k BTU wall mounted A/C-Heat Unit in an adjacent room with the door left open to the breezeway.
Lt me know if anyone has experienced the new leaf growth being eaten and if this an insect, what you used to get rid of it....Thx. I will post some recent pics of the plants .