View Full Version : Flag leaf question
paula
10-28-2007, 01:53 PM
Can any one tell me what a flag leaf is and what happens
if u cut it off to put your tree away for winter?
momoese
10-28-2007, 03:15 PM
The flag is the last leaf to emerge before the flower bud comes out. It's very small in comparison to the regular leaves. Look at the lower left drawing for an example.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=326&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=326&limit=views)
pitangadiego
10-28-2007, 05:36 PM
If you already have a flag leaf, the flower will appear in a few days. If you dig it up at that time, you might as well put it in the trash becuase it will not flower again, and the fruit will be lost.
cherokee_greg
05-21-2010, 11:06 AM
How old does a plant need to be for a flag leaf ?
sunfish
05-21-2010, 11:52 AM
How old does a plant need to be for a flag leaf ?
That depends on climate. Maybe ten months minimum.
Patty in Wisc
05-21-2010, 12:30 PM
I heard that the plant has to grow a minimum of leaves... like 33 -35 leaves before it flowers, which is about what mine grew. Well, maybe a couple more than that.
What's a flag? :):)
LilRaverBoi
05-21-2010, 01:30 PM
I don't think there is a set number of leaves or time before a plant blooms. It varies widely depending on the variety of banana and the conditions it grows in. Things like water, drainage, hours of sunlight and intensity (clouds, angle of sun in sky, etc), fertilizer quality/quantity, soil nutrients, soil quality, etc will all affect a plant's health and alter how long it takes to bloom. As far as time goes, for someone with a plant growing in the ground and a warm climate, it may bloom in 10 months, but if you take an identical plant and grow it somewhere else or say, in a pot, it may take several years for it to bloom.
Basically, they bloom when they bloom...there isn't an accurate way to predict such an occurrence.
john_ny
05-21-2010, 02:21 PM
I had heard, from a couple of different sources, basically the same thing as Patti mentioned. It would seem to me, that if a plant is growing under ideal conditions, it might be able to produce the required number of leaves in ten months whereas, if a plant is confined to a small pot, and is moved inside and outside every year, and only gets a few months of good sun, etc. each year, it may take a few years to produce that same number of leaves.
saltydad
05-21-2010, 02:38 PM
wow cool The reason I ask is because my siam ruby looks like it has one of those leaves coming out ! I will waite and take pictures to make sure. Thanks
I'm unaware of anyone ever posting pictures of a SR bloom. If yours indeed does flower, take as many pics as possible. It will be historic.
Gabe15
05-21-2010, 10:30 PM
http://www.bananas.org/f2/true-7119.html#post64211
LilRaverBoi
05-21-2010, 10:47 PM
LOL...and as always, Gabe has the most accurate and best responses to all your banana dilemmas!
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