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View Full Version : Hello All and Please Help


chunkymonkey
08-14-2017, 01:36 PM
Hi Everyone,

My name is Jennifer and I live in Southern New Jersey and am in plant zone 7b. I bought a Musa Dwarf Cavendish Banana plant around the end of June this year. While it has grown, I can't figure out what kind of soil it should be in and it's starting to not look so great. I will probably have to bring it indoors in about a month or so, I'd really like to get the right soil mix for it while it still can enjoy the heat and humidity. Also, I gave it Miracle-Gro for Orchids and the leaves have big brown spots so I think I may have given it to much and burnt it a little. I'm thinking if I could get the right soil mixture, it will hopefully heal. I did see one person posted to put Perlite in the soil but mixed with what? And is Perlite a good idea?

Thank you for any suggestions!

Jennifer (ChunkyMonkey -- one of my favorite ice-creams!!)

beam2050
08-14-2017, 03:58 PM
welcome. can you post pics? mix your perlite with potting soil. you want a well draining potting soil. and if your plant is to small it could be over fertilized. what did you use to fertilize, npk? pics would help to identify what is happening.

edwmax
08-14-2017, 04:06 PM
Welcome to the banana Bunch!

Please post a picture(s) of the plant and pot. How much & how often do you water and fertilize the plant?

As far as the potting soil, any commercial potting mix should be OK. But mix 1/3rd to 50% perlite to the potting soil. The perlite will increase drainage and lighten the pot weight.

a.hulva@coxinet.net
08-15-2017, 06:54 PM
Perlite is great. I mix 50% perlite with 50% potting MIX.

HMelendez
08-17-2017, 06:24 AM
Welcome to the banana gang!......:2723::bananarow::2723:

Dalmatiansoap
08-17-2017, 06:43 AM
DC isnt good indoor plant. I would myself switch to something more suitable for indoor planting like M. Velutina or Ornata sp.

sputinc7
08-17-2017, 10:25 AM
Welcome to the banana nut club

chunkymonkey
08-24-2017, 10:36 PM
Hello everyone and thank you :) I'm still getting used to this site so bear with me. I will post a picture shortly. Currently, it is 50% Perlite and 50% Sphagnum Peat Moss - both by Miracle-Gro. Here are pictures .....

chunkymonkey
08-24-2017, 10:49 PM
I uploaded 4 images in my "member's gallery." If you are not able to see them, please reply and let me know. thanks :)

Tytaylor77
08-25-2017, 12:41 AM
It still looks fine! Don't worry about small marks or spots like that. I see no sign of overwatering! That's good! The plant looks like it could use more light. Maybe SLOWLY introduce it to more sun.