View Full Version : Help for newbie, how to kill bugs, and save plants
Melissa D
09-03-2016, 06:09 PM
Short story: this is my 2nd ever post. Since I found site around Aug 1st. New to bananas, not growing. This is absolute disaster. On July 13 - I received 7 plants, now 3 left.. 2 have super tiny black bugs at the top of stem/stalk with dandruff like flakes at the base of plant where stem exits dirt. I have struggled with potting mix, I now replanted today with cactus/citrus/palm mix and coarse sand 50/50 mix ratio. Trying to help them dry out. I have struggled keeping them dried out. The other 2 pics I added today, are of 2 different plants, where one has crunchy dead brown spots, and the other plant has what looks like tan/beige places on the leaves. The plants are basjoo dwarf, California gold dwarf, and 1 Seminole dwarf. From Green Earth Publishing Co. (http://www.bananaplants.net). I am struggling and at the end of my rope fighting to keep them alive, can someone please tell me what are the bugs and flakes as base, how to get rid of them... And what is that beige/tan growth/parts on the leaves?? I posted pictures today 9-3-16, , and put in my gallery. I am learning this site, so I hope I did it correctly. Also- I would love to get some healthy plants from someone here that can help me learn to grow them. I want my own nanners!!! Thank you kindly
sputinc7
09-03-2016, 07:26 PM
Green earth publishing usually sends very healthy plants. Every one I ever got from him were not what it said they were, but they were all very strong and healthy.
Can you get more close ups of these bugs? Have you tried some sevin on them? If you want to go organic, soap spray?
Where are you located? I would not keep them indoors as they need all the light they can get for strength... I would put them where they get 4-5 hours of morning sunlight, since they probably never had a chance to harden off.
This is the only picture from today in your gallery:
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=60521&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=60521&ppuser=23860)
And your comment with it:
First 2 pictures are bugs on top of stems and then flakey egg or mold looking things. Thr. Pictures of 2 different leaves on 2 different plants. All are dying
Please update your profile to show where you live. It allows members to better assist you. (Look at mine to the left for what I mean.)
I have rarely used chemicals: a little Sevin and Malathion when simple soap partnered with excellent soil didn't work. I've added Neem (organic) to my bag of tricks at this point. I don't know what bugs are infesting your plants but often don't know what damages mine and, because I'm very lazy, only spray when I see evidence as you do now. I'm sure others will chime in with better advice and help.
Melissa D
09-03-2016, 08:04 PM
Can you see this picture? The plants were healthy, but due to extreme damage in shipping, I lost 3 of them in the first few days
Melissa D
09-03-2016, 08:08 PM
And can you see these 2 pics? The temps here are 90-100 each day.. I read that they cannot be over 85 degrees per seller instructions , no direct light, only under shade. They will have to live inside over winter, and extremely hot days
Melissa D
09-03-2016, 08:10 PM
Here is the final pic of the 4 I tried to post in my gallery earlier
Melissa D
09-03-2016, 08:11 PM
Trying to post pic again, site is giving me fits!
blue java ice cream
09-03-2016, 08:28 PM
It looks like a type of beetle to me from your pictures. If so, just spray them with some malathion. That stuff kills almost everything and is available at wal-mart, home depot, lowes, and most other places with a garden section.
Pics don't show them well... It could be aphids or some type of beetle. Why don't you try Garden Safe insecticidal soap. Easy to use, cheap and safer.
sputinc7
09-03-2016, 08:36 PM
Under the pic are three lines of code. The top one is the one you copy / paste into your message. http://www.bananas.org/f2/how-post-photos-bananas-org-46266.html
Pretty sure those are some kind of sucking insect like aphids. A little liquid sevin in water sprayed on them will knock them out quick.
As for the sunlight thing, every plant I ever got from him or anyone else I put straight in the ground in the sun, and every one lived.. I shade them in the afternoon the first week or so with a well placed chair or something, but bananas love sun. If they don't have leaves, it can't hurt them at all. Any new growth will come out already adjusted to the light. When they are sick like that, they need energy to fight back to health. Early morning sun would be best.
Melissa D
09-05-2016, 12:29 AM
Instead of poisonous chemicals to spray, is there a non toxic remedy for the beetle looking things? Thanks
Juicy Bananas
09-05-2016, 01:02 AM
Neem. Or Spinosad.
Several low dose treatments will help. Once you rid of said pests continue spraying with a home made compost tea or store bought EM1. After awhile you will have healthy microbes & a healthy musa.
Instead of poisonous chemicals to spray, is there a non toxic remedy for the beetle looking things? Thanks
That's why I recommanded the one I did. It's ok for organic growers and it's not absorbed by the plant. I heard good things about neem oil too. Garden Safe sells some too. Sadly we don't have it here...
subsonicdrone
09-05-2016, 06:01 AM
kind of expensive for a couple plants but there are biological controls
https://www.koppert.com/fileadmin/Koppert/Images/header/Aphidius.jpg
a.hulva@coxinet.net
09-08-2016, 10:57 PM
My personal opinion is to get on it with Malathion. Spray two or three times the first week. They WILL kill the plant.
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