View Full Version : Serious help needed
I actually just joined today when I stumbled on this site looking for answers. I purchased three banana plants online and received them Tuesday (3 days ago). The dwarf cavendish did not look great upon arrival, the other two looked fine. I was hoping it would perk up after a few days but it looks worse. I potted all three the same, watered the same, and kept them inside with no direct sunlight. The 2 are fine but I have no idea what to do to help the dwarf cavendish. Just today I had to water the two that are doing fine but the soil on the cavendish is still plenty moist (not wet). I did contact the place I bought them but I'm not sure if I will hear back over the weekend and I don't know if it will last that long. Any help or tips would be greatly appreciated. IMG_3451.JPG
sputinc7
06-03-2016, 08:47 PM
Give them some sun for starters... A couple hours at first, up it every couple days. Bananas love sunshine.
Your pic did not work.
I was following instructions that were included in the shipment which said, keep out of direct sun for a week. It has been getting filtered sunlight .http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59892&size=1
sputinc7
06-03-2016, 10:43 PM
Put em under a shade tree where they get an hour or two of morning sun, they need the light. They look like they will be ok, but I am no expert.
Tytaylor77
06-03-2016, 11:30 PM
I don't think light is an issue and I would wait to move the cavendish out until it's activally growing. Don't water anymore and give it a few days is what I would do. Hopefully it will push a new leaf soon.
Thanks for the feedback. Two plants are doing great! Giving them filtered light, but keeping them indoors for now because of off and on storms and significant temperature change from inside to outdoors. The dwarf cavendish looks so very sad, the three leaves it has will definately not recover. I'm not giving up on it, hoping it will eventually send up (out) a nice new leaf! Again, thank you for your help with my first banana plants.
Are they all DCs? I hope not. Don't give up on the DC. The main P-stem may croak but these are pupping machines; mine died but left behind 6 pups. It would help if you updated your profile to show your location. Why? Because setting a potted musa out in Anchorage, AK would be a different matter than placing one under a tree here in FL.
sputinc7
06-04-2016, 04:29 PM
It looks like the Minneapolis Mn. area. I still like the outside idea, for two reasons... 1. bananas like warmth and sunshine and humidity which are most likely more abundant outside, and 2. I am thinking root rot here, and it will dry more quickly in a semi sunny location outside with breezes. Plants just seem to always do better outside, it's where they belong.
I couldn't get the map to work for me and could never see others on it either. I just did! Cool.
The other two are a gran nain and a super dwarf. I'am in MN, and with the on and off showers I had them outside for a short time in the early morning sun. After a short time one of the good looking plants started to droop so I put them in sheltered light, the leaves have since perked back up. As for the ill looking dwarf cavendish, I took it out of the pot and inspected the roots. It has one long, aprox 10", root and many short ones. They are white - off white/cream colored and firm to the touch. I would assume these are not rotten. The soil is moist, not wet or soggy, and well draining. I know they are a thirsty plant, but without any healthy foliage taking up the water, I don't want to give it any more right now. Am I correct?
Since you already unpotted it, why not change out the soil for some that's entirely dry then give it a cup of water? If your soil drains well and your pots have sufficient holes, your musas would probably enjoy taking a natural shower; as long as it's warm enough outside, I'd leave the pots in filtered light or shade and try not to obsess over them. Watched pots...;)
BTW, I water as needed but rain seems to make all of my plants grow better. Look at some of the corms PR-Giants has sent to members and see if you can find any leaves; leaves are not necessary at the start.
Tytaylor77
06-04-2016, 08:45 PM
Since you already unpotted it, why not change out the soil for some that's entirely dry then give it a cup of water? If your soil drains well and your pots have sufficient holes, your musas would probably enjoy taking a natural shower; as long as it's warm enough outside, I'd leave the pots in filtered light or shade and try not to obsess over them. Watched pots...;)
BTW, I water as needed but rain seems to make all of my plants grow better. Look at some of the corms PR-Giants has sent to members and see if you can find any leaves; leaves are not necessary at the start.
On a corm leaves doesn't matter but it's almost guaranteed if all the leaves and pstem dies on that small TC plant it will most likely die. In my experience anyway. Personally I would put it back in the 4" pot and leave it until you see growth. It will come. These TC plants are sensitive and have a corm the size of a dime or smaller. If you do repot it I would be very careful not to loose the rootball or break roots. I would not water it anymore until a new leaf pops out and try not to disturb it until the new leaf also. Sit it down and forget about it for 2-3 days and it will grow.
I think I know what happened. The packing slip said 2 fertilizer sticks included with each plant shipped. I didn't see any on the two plants that look fine. When I opened the plastic wrap around the soil/roots of the 3rd plant, there were 2 aprox 2" wet rubbery things about as big around as a pencil. These must have been the fertilizer sticks. So I assume they leached way too much fertilizer to the plant and it burned the leaves. I took it out of the pot and removed the fertilizer loaded soil. Then I rinsed the roots under running water, potted in all new (fertilizer free) mix and watered with plain water. I trimmed off the two side leaves, they were beyond help, and trimmed the outer edges of the top main leaf. I wish I'd have figured this out sooner and that what I did helped. Time will tell.
harveyc
06-08-2016, 11:46 PM
I just moved this thread to the appropriate Main Banana subforum from the Site Help and Feeddback subforum (which is intended to help using the forum at bananas.org, etc., not for plant questions).
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