View Full Version : Storm damage from bad boy Colin
Caline
06-06-2016, 08:05 PM
Heh banana-lovers!
Last nights and todays weather event involving heavy rain and gusty winds from mean ol' TS Colin has battered my poor Lady Finger Banana breaking off leaves and causing the pseudostem to topple over. Poor child!
The "event" is not over but should blow through by midnight, and I am hoping the banana is now hunkered down enough she won't be much worse in the morning.
Can I mitigate the damage and help the plant move on... or is it fatal?
:waving:
Lydie
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59901&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59901)
Kegas76
06-06-2016, 08:42 PM
I'm not sure what is going on in the middle (not a good angle to see what is going on in there) but it just looks like some shredded leaves to me. It should be fine.
If one toward the center is bent over I'd just make sure the path is clear for the next leaf to come out. If there is a rolled leave that is damaged just check it the next couple days to make sure it opens correctly or the next on will stuck inside it. (this happened to me when I was on vacation the other week)
Colin did a good job shredding my Thousand Finger which also now had a noticeable northern slant. I haven't had a chance to put my Orinoco in the ground yet so I was able to tuck it up against the house and it avoided any abuse.
Caline
06-06-2016, 09:26 PM
Yeah, the angle isn't the best. The stem holding the top two or three leaves is bent in half.
Thanks for the suggestions. In the morning, I will see how to adjust their placement so the center is open for the next new leaf to sprout up.
:waving:
Caline
06-07-2016, 09:35 AM
Here's this morning's photo from a better angle. 97% humidity and feeling raindrops falling when it's no longer raining made for a misty photo.
After taking the shot, I untwisted and laid each of the three broken stems/leaves so that the center of the pseudostem where new leaves come up is free.
Other leaves/stems broke away from the pseudostem further down. I think I'll let them alone until they turn brown.
:waving: Lydie
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59903 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59903)
bananaT
06-07-2016, 05:38 PM
Just cut them off. It wont hurt anything, and it will stop any problems that could
Come up.
About 20 of my bananas looked like that this morning.
Caline
06-07-2016, 08:33 PM
OK. I will. Thanks for the suggestion.!
Yeah, I second that. Just cut under where it's bending and you'll be fine.
Caline
06-08-2016, 08:56 AM
Thank you for the tip about where to cut!
I was just about to google it before proceeding with the "operation", when I saw your reply.
:nanadrink: Lydie
Caline
06-08-2016, 10:20 AM
Here is what the Dwarf Lady Finger looked like once the storm damage pruning was finished.
Of 14 leaves, 11 had to be sacrificed due to folding under the weight of gusty winds.
:waving: Lydie
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59906 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59906)
Caline
06-08-2016, 10:25 AM
Here's a shot of a new leaf emerging just one day after the storm. Though it was most probably in the making before TS Colin tickled by, still it's a good sign. A Victory leaf after her weather baptism of fire!
:goteam: Lydie
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=59908&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=59908)
Kegas76
06-08-2016, 12:24 PM
Woohoo :birthdaynana:
Its the circle of life!
:drum::0517::banana_pi:nanerelectricguitar:2784:
Its always good to see things get back to normal. Colin may have shredded the leaves but I looked out the window this morning and saw the tip of my first pup peeping out from the mulch.
Caline
06-08-2016, 04:07 PM
Woohoo :birthdaynana:
Its the circle of life!
:drum::0517::banana_pi:nanerelectricguitar:2784:
Its always good to see things get back to normal. Colin may have shredded the leaves but I looked out the window this morning and saw the tip of my first pup peeping out from the mulch.
Yes, absolutely. In the picture I posted of how the banana plant looks after pruning, her two pups are poking up their heads, a bit torn but going strong.
:waving: Lydie
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