View Full Version : Any idea whats causing this?
bananaSD
03-11-2018, 02:41 PM
Anyone know what might be causing my new leafs to have these brown/burn marks? Live in southern california and hasn't even been much sun lately.
https://i.imgur.com/UOgTQxK.jpg
Thanks!
sputinc7
03-11-2018, 04:09 PM
Please tell us more about your fertilization schedule and watering schedule... How much of what and how often?
bananaSD
03-11-2018, 05:23 PM
It's on our regular sprinkler system which waters on Tues (10 min) and Friday (10 min) each week. I am planning to move it to a drip system next month.
As for fertilizer, all I have been using is the bag the company who planted it gave us. Its called Moon Dust https://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/fertilizers/Moon-Dust
Not sure if maybe this is the issue and it's causing these odd burn streaks.
Thanks for your help.
Debart
03-11-2018, 06:04 PM
I live in Hilton Head and have the same thing on my new leaves.I am new to this so can’t help you.
Anyone know what might be causing my new leafs to have these brown/burn marks? Live in southern california and hasn't even been much sun lately.
Thanks!
I would guess too much water, it's not out of the dormant season yet.
edwmax
03-11-2018, 08:45 PM
It's on our regular sprinkler system which waters on Tues (10 min) and Friday (10 min) each week. I am planning to move it to a drip system next month.
As for fertilizer, all I have been using is the bag the company who planted it gave us. Its called Moon Dust https://www.moonvalleynurseries.com/fertilizers/Moon-Dust
Not sure if maybe this is the issue and it's causing these odd burn streaks.
Thanks for your help.
Change fertilizers to a balanced triple type formulated for gardens (not trees). My cost for 10-10-10 is $10 for 50lbs. $30 for 20lb bag of Moon Dust is outrageous. ... The Moon Dust manufacture website does not give complete element analyst nor is a label readable. Obviously a very hyped product and very little data for the user and no micro elements are provide for (???). ... However, 16-8-4 general purpose fertilizer is wrong for bananas unless you are also supplementing the potassium with something else. ... The manufacture indicates that Moon Dust contains additional gypsum & sulfur. So I suspect the sulfur may be causing a highly acidic soil condition. Check the soil Ph with meter in several places around the base of the banana plant. Ph should be about 6 to 6.5 for bananas.
Read the forum wiki for more info about fertilizer for Bananas. Info:Fertilizer - Bananas Wiki (http://www.bananas.org/wiki/Info:Fertilizer)
sputinc7
03-11-2018, 09:25 PM
I know it's a nutrient issue but not sure which one. Too acidic could be the issue...
Tytaylor77
03-12-2018, 03:52 AM
The curving of the outer edge of the leaf is a sign of overwatering. I would cut back on water and fert! Just let it catch up and see what happens.
edwmax
03-12-2018, 10:50 AM
I do agree with Tytaylor about the water. But I'm more worried about the gypsum & sulfur added to the fertilizer. These are two items that should not just be arbitrarily added to the soil without a specific need to lower the Ph. ... Gypsum depending on it source might be highly acidic itself. Cheap gypsum as a byproduct of admissions smoke/flue scrubbing contains sulfuric acid. These were not added as minor elements as the manufacturer indicated the gypsum was to break up heavy dense soils.
Cut back on the water; change fertilizers but withhold any for the present; Check the soil Ph and tell us what it is.
bananaSD
03-14-2018, 07:42 PM
I was able to check the PH level of the soil today and it was a 7. I guess I should just cut back on the watering and see if the next few leaves look normal?
Also, does anyone have a recommended fertilizer I should buy that does well for your bananas?
Thanks for the help.
edwmax
03-14-2018, 08:23 PM
The Ph is a little high and will reduce the take up of micro minerals by the plant. Bananas need a Ph range of 6 to 6.5 ... So add 1lb of sulfur per 100 sq ft area around the plant. ref: How to Lower Soil pH - The Homeowners Column - University of Illinois Extension serving Champaign, Ford, Iroquois and Vermilion Counties (http://web.extension.illinois.edu/cfiv/homeowners/080818.html)
Any fertilizer with micro elements formulated for vegetable gardens will do. I use 10-10-10, but any of the balanced triples will do. Just calculate the application rate based on the nitrogen content and supplement potassium with potassium sulfate or murate of potash (MOP)
Did you review the fertilizer info on the forum wiki? It will you details of what other users use.
Island Brah
03-21-2018, 12:10 PM
Anyone know what might be causing my new leafs to have these brown/burn marks? Live in southern california and hasn't even been much sun lately.
https://i.imgur.com/UOgTQxK.jpg
Thanks!
Which Musa cultivar is this? I couldn't find the name in the thread.
Tytaylor77
03-23-2018, 12:33 AM
Which Musa cultivar is this? I couldn't find the name in the thread.
Looked like an E. Maurelli To me.
How are the newer leaves looking?
bananaSD
03-24-2018, 11:35 AM
UPDATE: The new leaf is looking beautiful that just came in (picture link below).
I took the advice from everyone and cut back all watering and stopped that moon dust fertilizer. Hopefully that is what is helping. As the weather starts to heat up I will increase the watering and also look for a good 10-10-10 fertilizer as was recommended. Is there anything else I should feed it to help growth?
https://i.imgur.com/0EBQSdR.jpg
Thanks for your comments and help.
Tytaylor77
03-24-2018, 11:13 PM
Looks perfect! All signs of overwatering are gone on that new leaf! Great job!
bananaSD
03-25-2018, 07:07 PM
Do you think I should trim off these lower hanging leafs that look almost dead? Picture Below
https://ibb.co/mYVgKn
I also noticed from the non-watering and non-moon dust fertilizer, my PH level dropped to 4.5 It was almost 7 about 2 weeks ago. Not sure if i need to add anything for this, or the 10-10-10 will help?
Thanks for the input!
edwmax
03-25-2018, 07:33 PM
Do you think I should trim off these lower hanging leafs that look almost dead? Picture Below
https://ibb.co/mYVgKn
I also noticed from the non-watering and non-moon dust fertilizer, my PH level dropped to 4.5 It was almost 7 about 2 weeks ago. Not sure if i need to add anything for this, or the 10-10-10 will help?
Thanks for the input!
That's quite a drop in Ph. Recheck it and check the soil further out from the plant and a couple of places in area. Get to know what the normal soil Ph is. Is that a raised planting bed with mulch in the photo? ... Also, check the Ph of your water. ... Did you add any sulfur as I indicated above?
Lime will raise the Ph but we need to know why the Ph dropped so sudden.
bananaSD
04-06-2018, 11:48 AM
Another quick update. Got a new leaf coming in and it's looking good, no signs of the burn marks. I am guessing as the weather starts warming up the new leaves will start coming more frequent.
https://ibb.co/inyiHH
One thing I did notice today is I checked my Ph level and it has dropped all the way to the 3-4 range. Is this something I should be concerned with and maybe supplementing?
Thanks for the help :)
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