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Bananasue
11-21-2017, 11:04 PM
I'm new to bananas and bought 3 dwarf varieties - supposedly I have the dwarf cavendish, dwarf namwah, and dwarf green. They did pretty well in the summer outdoors in pots and were repotted before bringing them in for the winter. I was hoping to be able to simulate the outdoor sun to have them continue to grow indoors, but I'm not sure how that's going to go. I've run into a few problems and need some help:

1. Black spots are growing on the dwarf cavendish along the stems - I thought it was mold and used organacide plant doctor (not sure if that was the right thing to do . . . ). Any thoughts on what these are and how do I get rid of them?

2. Brown spots on the dwarf namwah also along the stems of the leaves - same treatment.

3. Dwarf green seems to have a leaf that is stuck growing out of the top and doesn't want to open. How do I remedy this?

4. Picture of all 3 banana plants (dwarf green is hidden in the back and is way smaller than the other 2). Are those water suckers on the dwarf namwah and should I get rid of them? These are all indoors now and it gets down into the 20s overnight at times. Should I wait until Spring to get rid of the suckers?

I haven't used fertilizer yet as the soil they were potted in contained fertilizer. I used a potting soil but mixed it with about half perlite to try and make it as loose/airy as possible. I water about once a week or less, looking to see when the soil looks sort of dry before I water. I have two 120w Philip bulbs that were suggested by Home Depot. Should I get some better lights?

Many thanks in advance!

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62650&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62650&ppuser=26629)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62653&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62653&ppuser=26629)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62652&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62652&ppuser=26629)

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=62654&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=62654&ppuser=26629)

edwmax
11-22-2017, 06:45 AM
The plants look healthy. The black edge along the Petiole canal is normal for many banana varieties as the leaves get older. ... The bruise looking spot is the one to watch. Keep using the fungicide as the hot sun light liked mode & fungus on the plant outside. I use copper sulfate. Although the plants are inside, a cold window can be a problem to young plants. ... Also, keep a check on the potting soil pH (5.8 to 6.5 about ideal). ... And, you might consider foliar fertilizing the plant every 10 to 14 days. This would feed the plant while the corm & roots are growing.

Now the sucker, the plant and corm are too young at this point to grow a sucker/pup. The sucker is likely a 2nd TC plant which may be separate or have co-joined roots. They can be separated now, but I would leave the two together until they are much bigger. Then separate for two plants.

Iowa
11-22-2017, 07:42 AM
Your plants look good, be easy on watering though the winter. They will not use much water as they will go dormant this time of the year.

Bananasue
11-23-2017, 10:08 PM
Thanks for the advice! Is there a particular foliar fertilizer that you would recommend? Also any thoughts about the banana leaf that is stuck and won't grow out? Can I just cut the stem a little to give it some room to grow out?

Iowa
11-24-2017, 06:46 AM
Thanks for the advice! Is there a particular foliar fertilizer that you would recommend? Also any thoughts about the banana leaf that is stuck and won't grow out? Can I just cut the stem a little to give it some room to grow out?

May be going dormant for the season, if slow to start in the spring you may need the top cut back then.

edwmax
11-24-2017, 06:58 AM
I use MiricalGro, all purpose or for tomatoes. It's easy to obtain, but most any similar water soluble fertilizer will do. Mix and use as directed for INDOOR POTTED PLANTS: which is usually at a reduced mix concentration. MG mixing for indoor plants is 1/2 tsp per gallon of water; which is 1/6th of the concentration of the outdoor mix.

I don't think the leaf is stuck, the top end of the leaf is still green. It's just not growing. The foliar spray should help.