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View Full Version : Is it a lost cause? Truly Tiny


seaecho
12-26-2015, 03:17 PM
I posted a few weeks ago. My Truly Tiny looks much worse since being repotted. The corm is no longer firm. I can squish it easily. The Little Prince has still got a firm corm, so I know it still has a chance, from what I've learned on this board. Should I give up on Truly Tiny and throw it out?

2782

Kat2
12-26-2015, 05:06 PM
If you don't need the space, I'd keep but I wouldn't water unless it shows signs of perking up. In other words, ignore it.

a.hulva@coxinet.net
12-26-2015, 06:26 PM
I totally agree with Kat. Don't water at all for three weeks, then very sparingly It probably is suffering from over watering. A common mistake that we have all learned the hard way. Trust the voices of experience!:rollerbananadone:

Botanical_Bryce
12-26-2015, 08:12 PM
I am not used to growing in pots but I felt like temps over 70 and a lamp on a timer for 8 hours a day would help. I always had trouble myself with those over the years.

seaecho
12-26-2015, 10:05 PM
Thank you for your replies! Will do, I won't water it and see what transpires.

cincinnana
12-27-2015, 08:14 AM
Randi,

I have been overwintering these little cute super dwarfs for a while now.
Generally these plants are a tough bunch and if you can get past your first year your good.
There is a very good chance you will lose your plants.
When you repotted did you use the same wet soil or a not so wet mix?

As some of the folks said in many of the previous post "hold the water "
These plants(most banana plants in the winter)tend to slow or stop growing once you bring them inside your home.
So really do hold off the water.
Let them really dry out to the point that the soil starts to pull away from the sides of the container and shrink in the pot.

Since they stop growing they will not need water /fertilizer....... they just need warmth and as much light as possible.

I grabbed one of your pics out of your gallery as an example(hope you do not mind)

From looking at the photo I see discoloration of the perlite, this is an indication that the soil has experienced excess water and or fertilizer for an extended period of time. Your perlite should be on the white side.

Also at the bottom of the containers there is salt/fertilizer deposits indicating standing water and over fertilization, although this could be from a previous planting you had in there.

There are also drips of water on the sill indicating water dripping out of the bottom of the container as you staged your plants for the photo.


http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59241&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59241)
.
This is an example of soil pulled away from the side of the container.
Many of the plants that are in the house will do this......it is an indication that the plant is using all the water when I see this I will water sparingly.

A plant this size will use every bit of water in the container thus reducing the chance of overwatering.
In spring I could choose to repot in a larger container with fresh soilless mix.
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3944/15416979788_2576290967_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/pum3Ym)
Soil pulled away from the side of the container (https://flic.kr/p/pum3Ym)
by
Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hostafarian/),
on Flickr

About that soilless mix.
Your soilless mix should be on the light and airy side for good root growth and drainage.
https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5739/23444198715_8f59684399_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/BHFDuF)
Aeae pups (https://flic.kr/p/BHFDuF) by
Hostafarian (https://www.flickr.com/photos/hostafarian/),
on Flickr

seaecho
12-29-2015, 10:49 PM
There is no way the plant experienced excess water or fertilization for an extended period of time, as I had just re-potted that plant the day before I posted the pic. It was in a 4" pot before. The new one is 6."

Okay, the deposits on the bottom of the pot could be that my water level in my pebble trays got too high at some point! Good eye! (I keep the level below the top of the rocks, but sometimes it's pretty close). The drips of water you see are from when I misted the plants, which I do every morning.

I don't understand the last part of your post. The pulling in--indication the plant is using all the water? But I thought you said I had over watered--now I'm confused. I have not watered sparingly when I watered either. I'd wait until they were almost completely dry, and then watered very well. When you say they don't need water when not growing, do you mean no water at all, for the entire winter? Now I don't know if I under or over watered!

What soiless mix do you recommend? Cactus, or the orchid mix with a small amount of bark in it? And of course, half perlite, as I've been doing.