View Full Version : Orinoco Leaves Normal?
Island Brah
05-11-2017, 08:18 AM
This is my tall Orinoco that I kept in a 5 gal pot over the winter and it did awesome. its been in the ground for a little over 2 weeks and the bottom leaves are drooping down to the ground while it is still producing leaves and the color of the leaves look great to me. it just finished popping a new leaf too.
One of the leaves drooped down last week so I just thought wind got it or something normal happened to it. I noticed yesterday that another leaf drooped down and it began to make me wonder if its okay. These leaves have been on since early winter so I wasn't sure if it was just dropping the bottom leaves like normal or what.
Its been getting water, lots of sun, getting fed with 15-5-30 fertilizer, and all my other bananas in the same spot are growing fine so I don't think its a major soil issue or a deficiency (i could be 100% wrong).
Anyways, the pics are below for any advised action I should take or if its normal and I need to relax lol. Its a new planting spot in my yard so I just want to catch something bad happening sooner than later if that makes sense.
Thanks for the help!
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/mets2007/095E3D74-3102-4D7A-BA45-DE7C6FABC558.jpg (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/mets2007/media/095E3D74-3102-4D7A-BA45-DE7C6FABC558.jpg.html)
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/mets2007/FCACED73-58EC-410F-8F1F-EB311077D8F8.jpg (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/mets2007/media/FCACED73-58EC-410F-8F1F-EB311077D8F8.jpg.html)
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/mets2007/E4148BAB-B079-4DC6-9C91-989656328BF6.jpg (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/mets2007/media/E4148BAB-B079-4DC6-9C91-989656328BF6.jpg.html)
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/mets2007/73B1CADD-5BF4-4036-B9C6-FB3F165C37DD.jpg (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/mets2007/media/73B1CADD-5BF4-4036-B9C6-FB3F165C37DD.jpg.html)
If it's putting out new leaves I think you'll be OK. It's just getting rid of the old leaves that have been dormant all winter.
:03:
edwmax
05-11-2017, 11:37 AM
It is normal for the lower older leaves to die. But these usually start showing some brown dead areas before drooping.
What I see is a very narrow yellowing of the leaf edges, leaf tip curling under, & leaf end split of the new cigar leaf which indicates a possible nutrient deficiency. The yellowing edge generally indicates a deficiency of Magnesium, but this is too early to tell. ... However, when a plant is deficient in one nutrient, it is very likely deficient in several nutrients. ... Does the symptoms seem to be getting worse and is the yellowing edge getting bigger? This might clear up all by its self.
SO !!! what are you using for fertilizer and when was the last application? What is the minor nutrient content? What other amendments have you added to the soil?
.... Until this get figured out, I would make up a folar spray with magnesium, calcium, and a weak Miracle grow. Then spray the plant 2xs a week for 2 weeks; then once a week until improvement is seen.
You need to review your fertilizer usage because application of too much nutrients, such as calcium which will block the roots from taking up other needed nutrients, and can cause this problem too.
Island Brah
05-11-2017, 01:01 PM
Thanks for the detailed reply edwmax!
The yellow edges appear not to be getting any worse but I will keep a close eye on it now that I now what to look for. I think those yellow edges were there from winter but I didn't pay too much attention because it appeared to be growing decent. So, I'm not sure at all.
When I took them from the 5 gallon pot into the ground, I mixed 1 part native soil and 1 part Black Kow composted manure back into the hole with more Black Kow composted manure as top dressing. I've done this with every banana plant I have and all of them appear to like it.
I used Banana Fuel for the fertilizer. The last application was 2 days before the second leaf drooped (Monday. Took pic on Wednesday).
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/mets2007/20160714_213856.jpg (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/mets2007/media/20160714_213856.jpg.html)
I'm running low on Banana Fuel and was going to try Fruit Fuel next so I can compare the two results.
i wouldn't even know where to begin with making a folar spray...
edwmax
05-11-2017, 01:55 PM
Banana Fuel is water soluble. Mix 1/4 tsp to one gal. water and spray on the plant leaves. This is folar spray. The plant will take it in within minutes compared to days or weeks by root.
Island Brah
05-11-2017, 02:05 PM
Banana Fuel is water soluble. Mix 1/4 tsp to one gal. water and spray on the plant leaves. This is folar spray. The plant will take it in within minutes compared to days or weeks by root.
Good deal! I never thought it would work like that since I think of the roots for consuming fertilizer.
That leads me to a few questions:
1) If I just fertilized 2-3 days ago, when should I start spraying it?
2) Should I apply the 1/4 tsp per gallon of Banana Fuel by spray instead of the ground with all my naners all the time or just on this one since the bottom leaves are drooping until it gets better?
Really appreciate your help!
edwmax
05-11-2017, 03:47 PM
Good deal! I never thought it would work like that since I think of the roots for consuming fertilizer.
That leads me to a few questions:
1) If I just fertilized 2-3 days ago, when should I start spraying it?
I would start spraying the plant. If the roots are impaired then ground application is not being taken up. ... But the question here is was the BF applied dry or as a water drench and how far away from the roots was it applied? This high strength N can burn the roots if it comes in direct contact.
....
2) Should I apply the 1/4 tsp per gallon of Banana Fuel by spray instead of the ground with all my naners all the time or just on this one since the bottom leaves are drooping until it gets better?
Really appreciate your help!
For big plants increase the 1/2 tsp per gal. Then folar spraying would depend on your time and equipment. ... Current ag practice is to land apply base fertilizer for the year; then folar spray the crop every 2 to 3 weeks during the growing season. This has the benefit of using less fertilizer with less cost by not losing fertilizer to runoff and/or the plant not getting fertilizer because of lack of moisture in the soil.
This year I plan to do this on my own plants and garden as a supplement to granular fertilizer, but I have not gotten the spray equipment I need yet.
Tytaylor77
05-11-2017, 08:21 PM
Looks 100% normal and very healthy to me for just being out of the winter basement and planting. You planted like a week ago most people would be dealing with transplant shock. I see no signs which means you did awesome and kept the rootball together. Great job. Don't worry about the small stuff you will kill yourself worrying. All the black kow and fert you put, there is no way it is deficient in my opinion. Tall plants drop low leaves just like yours is. 100% healthy and growing great! Keep up the good work and don't worry just watch the, take off!
cincinnana
05-12-2017, 05:57 AM
This is my tall Orinoco that I kept in a 5 gal pot over the winter and it did awesome. its been in the ground for a little over 2 weeks and the bottom leaves are drooping down to the ground while it is still producing leaves and the color of the leaves look great to me. it just finished popping a new leaf too.
One of the leaves drooped down last week so I just thought wind got it or something normal happened to it. I noticed yesterday that another leaf drooped down and it began to make me wonder if its okay. These leaves have been on since early winter so I wasn't sure if it was just dropping the bottom leaves like normal or what.
Its been getting water, lots of sun, getting fed with 15-5-30 fertilizer, and all my other bananas in the same spot are growing fine so I don't think its a major soil issue or a deficiency (i could be 100% wrong).
Anyways, the pics are below for any advised action I should take or if its normal and I need to relax lol. Its a new planting spot in my yard so I just want to catch something bad happening sooner than later if that makes sense.
Thanks for the help!
Many plants will give this look when transplanted or newly moved outside.
Even disturbing/stressing the root ball slightly when planting will cause the leaves to droop and bend.
Then, once out of the container and the ground your plants will do fine.
You will notice a different plant in about 3-4 weeks once the roots hit the native soil.
edwmax has the plan for the ferts and nutes.
Looks like a great growing area.
Island Brah
05-12-2017, 10:05 AM
I would start spraying the plant. If the roots are impaired then ground application is not being taken up. ... But the question here is was the BF applied dry or as a water drench and how far away from the roots was it applied? This high strength N can burn the roots if it comes in direct contact.
The Banana Fuel is applied as a water drench. I put 1 tsp in a gallon milk jug and pour it around where the roots should be. Then I lightly just water it in a little. I've never had an issue doing this but I want to try giving a little less to the roots and a little as spray. I read a little on the wiki about it and it says the morning is best for the spray due to the pores being more open.
Looks 100% normal and very healthy to me for just being out of the winter basement and planting. You planted like a week ago most people would be dealing with transplant shock. I see no signs which means you did awesome and kept the rootball together. Great job. Don't worry about the small stuff you will kill yourself worrying. All the black kow and fert you put, there is no way it is deficient in my opinion. Tall plants drop low leaves just like yours is. 100% healthy and growing great! Keep up the good work and don't worry just watch the, take off!
Thanks Ty! The banana gods hopefully agree since the 2 new leaves don't have a bit of yellowing lol
Many plants will give this look when transplanted or newly moved outside.
Even disturbing/stressing the root ball slightly when planting will cause the leaves to droop and bend.
Then, once out of the container and the ground your plants will do fine.
You will notice a different plant in about 3-4 weeks once the roots hit the native soil.
edwmax has the plan for the ferts and nutes.
Looks like a great growing area.
Hopefully this is what is happening and you probably have great experience with this with the amount of potted naners you have!
Thanks so much everyone! What a great forum!
beam2050
05-12-2017, 10:29 AM
[QUOTE=Island Brah;305074]The Banana Fuel is applied as a water drench. I put 1 tsp in a gallon milk jug and pour it around where the roots should be. Then I lightly just water it in a little. I've never had an issue
last year I put miracle grow on my bananas. that was before I joined this forum. I killed a number of them and the rest went into shock for over a month. was talking to another forum member who did the same thing with another water soluable fertilizer and killed most all his. said to me that bananas do not like nitrogen really fast, ok with a time release fertilizer. guess I should say I watered my bananas, not put it on the plant itself.
edwmax
05-12-2017, 11:16 AM
I gave a lot of info above. Mostly showing due to lack of info we can not say what is wrong with the plants, ... If any thing. ... TY and Cinci are correct. Your plant do look good. But because of some of the symptoms I pointed out, I prefer not to play the 'wait & see' game, because if there is a problem the plant become much more stressed and hard to deal with. ... I find folar (even with just water) spraying has too many benefits.
As an example, this happened to my small banana patch (12 plants). About 4 weeks ago the corms I planted last November started growing (slowly). The cigar leaves were pale yellow and the bigger Orinaco plants with new cigar leave were also pale yellow. ... Ok I applied more chicken manure and some Allum-sulfate. ... A week later I decided to plant some tomatoes & few peppers between the banana plants for shade. I found the soil was 'bone-ass-dry' and we just had a 2 1/2" rain a few days before. ... I started soaking the ground twice a week and spraying the all the plants with water twice a day (morning & evening). Now after 3 weeks all the banana leaves are a 'nice dark' green and the tomato plants are almost knee high with golf ball size tomatoes (1/2 the time normal to set a tomato (45 -50 days)). The big orinaco plants now have 3 or 4 pups (2 almost 24" tall) each and the new corms also have a pup or two showing.
Island Brah
05-12-2017, 11:19 AM
last year I put miracle grow on my bananas. that was before I joined this forum. I killed a number of them and the rest went into shock for over a month. was talking to another forum member who did the same thing with another water soluable fertilizer and killed most all his. said to me that bananas do not like nitrogen really fast, ok with a time release fertilizer.
Which slow release do you use? I was just debating with myself if a slow release was the way to go for consistency or to continue to use a water soluble like Banana Fuel or Fruit Fuel. I know I can make my own fertilizer mixes but I'd rather spend a few extra bucks and purchase an already professionally made fertilizer.
I was speaking to Gabe a while back before I selected a fertilizer to go with and he told me a general slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote is the way to go for indoor potted banana plants so there isn't over/under fertilizing going on. I would assume it would be just as good for bananas in the ground, just applied with a greater amount (i'd have to read the label lol).
beam2050
05-12-2017, 11:35 AM
Which slow release do you use? I was just debating with myself if a slow release was the way to go for consistency or to continue to use a water soluble like Banana Fuel or Fruit Fuel. I know I can make my own fertilizer mixes but I'd rather spend a few extra bucks and purchase an already professionally made fertilizer.
I was speaking to Gabe a while back before I selected a fertilizer to go with and he told me a general slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote is the way to go for indoor potted banana plants so there isn't over/under fertilizing going on. I would assume it would be just as good for bananas in the ground, just applied with a greater amount (i'd have to read the label lol).
you should go with gabe on that one to be honest. I use 10-10-10 and Alaska fish fertilizer which is a water soluble, 5-1-1. [recommended amounts] I wet my bananas down with clean water when I water them. but I am not a specialist on fertilizers by any means.
Island Brah
05-12-2017, 11:36 AM
I gave a lot of info above. Mostly showing due to lack of info we can not say what is wrong with the plants, ... If any thing. ... TY and Cinci are correct. Your plant do look good. But because of some of the symptoms I pointed out, I prefer not to play the 'wait & see' game, because if there is a problem the plant become much more stressed and hard to deal with. ... I find folar (even with just water) spraying has too many benefits.
As an example, this happened to my small banana patch (12 plants). About 4 weeks ago the corms I planted last November started growing (slowly). The cigar leaves were pale yellow and the bigger Orinaco plants with new cigar leave were also pale yellow. ... Ok I applied more chicken manure and some Allum-sulfate. ... A week later I decided to plant some tomatoes & few peppers between the banana plants for shade. I found the soil was 'bone-ass-dry' and we just had a 2 1/2" rain a few days before. ... I started soaking the ground twice a week and spraying the all the plants with water twice a day (morning & evening). Now after 3 weeks all the banana leaves are a 'nice dark' green and the tomato plants are almost knee high with golf ball size tomatoes (1/2 the time normal to set a tomato (45 -50 days)). The big orinaco plants now have 3 or 4 pups (2 almost 24" tall) each and the new corms also have a pup or two showing.
I'm for sure going to try the folar spray. I've seen videos about how banana farmers use it so I was always interested in doing it, just didn't know any water soluble fertilizer would work for that. I thought it had to be some special stuff so I never even looked into it lol.
You mentioned not having folar gear/equipment, I was just going to buy a new weed killer/bug spray sprayer at Home Depot and use that. They're like 10 bucks. Just have to make sure I label that one good and keep it separate from by brush killer sprayer LOL.
Island Brah
05-12-2017, 11:43 AM
you should go with gabe on that one to be honest. I use 10-10-10 and Alaska fish fertilizer which is a water soluble, 5-1-1. [recommended amounts] I wet my bananas down with clean water when I water them. but I am not a specialist on fertilizers by any means.
He didn't say not to use a water soluble fertilizer for in-ground bananas such as Banana Fuel, just advised a slow release for indoor potted ones. I was mostly regarding the brand of slow release and that its cheap and easy to find anywhere too.
like everyone says, there is no magic button and everyone has different soils in different regions so what works for some may not be the best for others. We need a company to make a magic banana fertilizer for each region...Then use drones to apply it for us LOL
beam2050
05-12-2017, 11:59 AM
He didn't say not to use a water soluble fertilizer for in-ground bananas such as Banana Fuel, just advised a slow release for indoor potted ones. I was mostly regarding the brand of slow release and that its cheap and easy to find anywhere too.
like everyone says, there is no magic button and everyone has different soils in different regions so what works for some may not be the best for others. We need a company to make a magic banana fertilizer for each region...Then use drones to apply it for us LOL
what I have seen in Georgia is a lot of clay. me I have near 15 feet of gold colored sand, very good drainage. the 10-10-10 and the Alaska brand fish fertilizer I buy at home depot and Walmart to name a few.
Island Brah
05-12-2017, 12:38 PM
what I have seen in Georgia is a lot of clay.
Yeah GA is not too fun to dig in. I have a loamy top layer with clay, chalky, silty soil. Its weird - some spots have lots of each so I literally have to dig a hole and see how the water drains before I plant any bananas.
I'm on a wooded river with open grass front and back yard so I have a variety. sometimes I have to use a mattock to bust up chalky looking rock before it will drain decent.
After about a year the planting areas break down some and loosen up because I add composted materials to the planting holes when I put them into the ground.
beam2050
05-12-2017, 12:45 PM
yes I feel your pain, used to do monitor wells on military bases in contaminated soils, Georgia was one of a number of states I have done this in. the marine logistics base in Albany Georgia I spent 2 1/2 years working.
edwmax
05-12-2017, 02:07 PM
....
You mentioned not having folar gear/equipment, I was just going to buy a new weed killer/bug spray sprayer at Home Depot and use that. They're like 10 bucks. Just have to make sure I label that one good and keep it separate from by brush killer sprayer LOL.
I use those and they are good for small spray jobs; spraying copper sulfate in the garden and herbicide on the weeds. They're just a lot of work and the cheap ones don't last. Tractor Supply has a 15 gal with electric pump for $90 or 25 gal for $130. .... Walmart has a small hand battery pump sprayer ($5). I may try putting one those on a two gal sprayer tank. I was using one of these on a gal bottle in the green house for folar spraying miracle grow on 10 flats of tomato & pepper plants and potted banana plants.
Island Brah
05-14-2017, 05:17 PM
When you spray, is the idea just to coat the leaves or what?
edwmax
05-14-2017, 06:49 PM
When you spray, is the idea just to coat the leaves or what?
Yes ...
If the spray dries before being absorbed, it will dissolve the next
time the leaves become wet (dew, rain, watering). If any drips to the ground, in time it will be picked up by the roots.
cincinnana
05-14-2017, 08:04 PM
When you spray, is the idea just to coat the leaves or what?
Brah...check out some of these web pages...the exact information applies to your plants.
Techniques and plant response are similar just the plants are different.
Youtube offers some good takeaways also.
Indoor guidelines are exactly the same.Foliar Feeding Marijuana Plants (http://www.ilovegrowingmarijuana.com/how-to-foliar-feed-your-marijuana-plants/)
Island Brah
05-15-2017, 10:25 AM
Alright, I sprayed them all last evening with 1/4 tsp of Banana Fuel in 1 gal of water. I coated the leaves and a little on the pstems. Fingers crossed!
I watched many youtube videos that showed before and after effect of foliar spraying and it really seems to give them a huge boost. Why aren't more folks on this forum doing this?
Only question I have is why do people make a special mix for foliar spraying when they can use the water soluble fertilizer they already use?
I'll post the results as soon as I notice any.
Island Brah
05-17-2017, 12:43 PM
I wanted to share a 48 hour update on the foliar spray application that I put on my tall Orinoco and other cultivars.
It seemed to have worked and all of the banana plants that I sprayed are looking noticeably stronger just 24-48 hours after the foliar feeding. To be honest, I did not think this would really work at all since you do not hear of too many people on this forum doing it. When I got home from work the day after the foliar feeding, I thought I would find brown leaves on all my bananas from the foliar spray and the 90 degree full sun heat we had. I was wrong and I was rather surprised by the results.
I suspected my tall Orinoco was having a slight issue so I used it as my main test sample. In the pics below you will see a tear in the leaf farthest on the left. That tear had about an inch+ of yellowing all around it and after the foliar feeding, the yellow went away within 24-48 hours.
I failed to take a before pic of this tear that had yellowing around it because I didn't know it would turn the yellow green again. (pic was taken from on top of my deck and I had to zoom in - sorry it is slightly blurry)
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/mets2007/IMG_0725.png (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/mets2007/media/IMG_0725.png.html)
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o169/mets2007/IMG_0727.png (http://s120.photobucket.com/user/mets2007/media/IMG_0727.png.html)
I also noticed the robustness of the new cigar leaves on every banana plant I foliar fed. The new leaves on my edible varieties were popping out pretty thin in diameter before but I thought it was just the variety or whatever (I'm not an expert or a banana botanist lol). After the foliar feeding, every single one of them popped new cigar leaves immediately and they are all very noticeably more robust. Much more of the cigar leaf popped out faster than before as well.
The color of the leaves are a little more vibrant too.
I can't 100% tell you if it was the foliar spray that made these results or if it was something rather coincidental with the stage of growth, weather, roots breaking through native soil, or something else. I'm not an expert and have a fraction of experience as most on this forum but from my observations after spraying, I will be foliar feeding all my banana varieties every 2-3 weeks in addition to fertilized soil drenching from now on.
Many thanks to edwmax for the guidance on this and also Tytaylor77, cincinnana, and beam2050.
edwmax
05-18-2017, 09:59 AM
Thanks for the verification of the technique. ... Did the folar spray help 100%? May be -May not; but I'm sure it helped some .... . My best comparison would be the old Grandmother giving a sick child some 'chicken soup'. It may not have cured the cold, but it sure as hell didn't hurt.
At the top of this thread, I didn't just jump in with instructions of things to do. Because some activities could cause more harm than good (more fertilize or water); more detail was needed.
As pointed out (by other posters) your main problem was most likely transplant shock & weak pstem from being inside for the winter. IMO, folar spraying of water & fertilizer is the best treatment for this condition until the roots can acclimate to ground conditions and to minimize further stress to the plant.
You made a little green friend for life ... welcome to the banana Jungle!
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