Log in

View Full Version : Psuedostem rotten


Dean W.
06-18-2008, 04:29 PM
My Ice Cream Banana pseudostem or meristem (part in the center) is rotten it has turned black and smells of fish. I thought I might ask here before I get a picture of it.

It came as a cut corm. As it began to grow it turned darker in color and now nothing. The out side of the stem is still green. Is it a lost cause?:eek:

Dean W.
06-18-2008, 05:13 PM
I used a sharp knife and cut off several pieces hoping to get to a green part. Here is a picture.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10459&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10459)

sandy0225
06-18-2008, 05:32 PM
it's probably a lost cause unless it has some buds on the side of the corm that are big enough to develop into pups. So don't give up yet if it was a large corm.

asacomm
06-18-2008, 06:05 PM
This is exactly the same case as mine. The pseudostem is green and solid, but
the center is dead black. As the corm was still alive, suckers came back.
I just don't know the reason why.
Anybody knows it?

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10171&size=1

Dean W.
06-18-2008, 06:25 PM
Okay, I'll keep it for now and hopefully it will sucker.

AltadenaGarden
06-18-2008, 07:40 PM
Was the ground kept really wet?

Dean W.
06-18-2008, 09:40 PM
It's in a pot. I've been having to water nearly everyday due to 100* weather.

pitangadiego
06-18-2008, 09:51 PM
Absolutely, positively plant it and give it a chance to pup. No banana is a lost cause until it is a dry, empty hole in the ground.

Dean W.
06-18-2008, 10:15 PM
I'll do that!:)

buzzwinder
06-18-2008, 10:35 PM
Absolutely, positively plant it and give it a chance to pup. No banana is a lost cause until it is a dry, empty hole in the ground.

Amen, Never give up !!!!!!!!!!!! Nanners are most resiliant and forgiving! Best wishes :)

natedogg1026
06-18-2008, 11:42 PM
I had one do that and it pulled through fine. Just took a while.

AltadenaGarden
06-19-2008, 12:59 AM
I was guessing that it suffered from root rot. This may be the case if the soil did not dry out between watering.

It's in a pot. I've been having to water nearly everyday due to 100* weather.

Dean W.
06-19-2008, 09:11 AM
I'll check out the roots when I plant it.

Rmplmnz
06-21-2008, 07:33 AM
Absolutely, positively plant it and give it a chance to pup. No banana is a lost cause until it is a dry, empty hole in the ground.

I agree with Pitangadiego..get that baby in the ground (well drained soil) ASAP..you say you watered daily?? That is way too much...water in when you receive and every 2 to 3 days thereafter...depending on conditions...I have left corms in a pile and the pseudostem totally wilted away and pups start coming out the sides (without soil or water..other than trace amounts from rainfall).

Good luck!!

Dean W.
06-21-2008, 07:37 AM
I've reduced watering and will get it in the ground today.

Rmplmnz
06-21-2008, 08:37 AM
I've reduced watering and will get it in the ground today.

Remember to not plant too deep...I would leave the top half of the corm exposed.....well drained soil.

Dean W.
06-21-2008, 08:44 AM
Okay, I won't plant to deep. What is the ideal depth for holes to be dug, Chris? I have some other bananas I need to plant too. We have rocky clay soil here and it's a pain to dig in. I plan on removing the rocky clay soil and filling the hole with rich potting soil and compost.

Rmplmnz
06-21-2008, 09:14 AM
Okay, I won't plant to deep. What is the ideal depth for holes to be dug, Chris? I have some other bananas I need to plant too. We have rocky clay soil here and it's a pain to dig in. I plan on removing the rocky clay soil and filling the hole with rich potting soil and compost.

Sandy soil is good...FL soil is so sandy you would not believe it. I do not enrich the soil until the plants start kicking....Rocky soil should drain...be careful with clay (ask the Californians on the board about clay soil).

When I plant a new corm I did a big crater (looks like a little bomb hit)..I make sure the soil is "well drained"...as the banana starts to really grow "then" I start to add organic matter (not before extensive growth)...Before extensive growth starts I will add compost tea (when I water)...The crater allows for enriched soil on large mattes...check out the picks I am posting today.

Keep us posted.

Just how I do it..I am sure other members have success with other methods.

Dean W.
06-21-2008, 09:18 AM
Thanks, I'll keep everyone posted. I'll start a new thread about rocky, clay soil. I also look forward to your pics.

hydrojeff
06-21-2008, 09:22 AM
careful with clay if you dig out clay and put soil in you will creat a pond for water to fill up and no where to drain, leave the clay alone and build up the soil on top, that way the water can escape the soil out the sides....

Dean W.
06-21-2008, 09:26 AM
Jeff, that's what I was thinking. Right now it's fine cause we haven't gotten any rain, but when we get a good down poor it will pond up. I may just amend the soil a little I dug out and put back in. Thanks for all the advice.:nanadrink:

Rmplmnz
06-21-2008, 09:30 AM
Jeff is right on....def be careful with clay soil..not banana's friend.

Dean W.
06-30-2008, 01:15 PM
Hey all,

The Ice Cream is starting to grow. I just noticed this today. Not all is lost. LOL!!! :D
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=10833&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=10833)

I guess I did good doing surgery on it. :2236:

mskitty38583
06-30-2008, 03:05 PM
glad to see shes growing again.

Dean W.
07-18-2008, 10:53 PM
Here's the Ice Cream today.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=11497&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=11497)
I finally got it planted in the ground. I found a place I feel comfortable with.

stumpy4700
07-18-2008, 11:46 PM
Another success story thanks to the ORG...............Congrats

Dean W.
07-18-2008, 11:50 PM
Another success story thanks to the ORG...............Congrats

I know I have to give thanks twice. Once for getting the banana. Thanks Chris. The other for saving it.

Rmplmnz
07-19-2008, 09:33 AM
I know I have to give thanks twice. Once for getting the banana. Thanks Chris. The other for saving it.

You are most welcome!!

Very nice job Dean..kudos!!

Chironex
09-15-2008, 03:10 PM
I had an FHIA 17 that did the same thing. I cut it down to about 2-3" from the soil line and within 4 days it put up new growth. At six days it had about 4 1/2" of new stem coming up. Like Jon said, never give up until it is an empty hole in the ground. Actually, I got a bucket with a rotted corm of FHIA 23 in it, too. Now there are 2 new bananas growing out of the hole in the ground! Go figure, right?

Dean W.
09-15-2008, 03:16 PM
Way to go, Scott! Yes, never give up hope on nanners.:ha:

Dean W.
09-15-2008, 03:18 PM
Here it is last week.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee185/Dean_Wil/100_7295.jpg

modenacart
09-15-2008, 06:45 PM
I have found with mine, when I take the overwintering medium off the plants, I end up doing more harm than good when I cut away what I think is rotted. From now on, I plan on cutting nothing from a plant that looks like it has rot on it.

Dean W.
09-15-2008, 07:02 PM
I have found with mine, when I take the overwintering medium off the plants, I end up doing more harm than good when I cut away what I think is rotted. From now on, I plan on cutting nothing from a plant that looks like it has rot on it.

Really, I just had one corm i cut yesterday. It started looking like a little sucker was starting to form, but I wasn't sure.

Chironex
09-15-2008, 07:48 PM
It looks great Dean! I know that I have learned my lesson. So far I have only lost 6 plants, but they were doomed from the start due to heat in transit. 1 Williams, 2 Dwarf Nam Wa Pearls (being replaced free), 2 Balbisianas that were just too small to survive the trip and a Grand Nain that I am trying to get to put out a leaf - if it does, then I will consider myself lucky. I have an African Red that is trying to make a comeback as well as a Gros Michel doing the same.

modenacart
09-15-2008, 08:00 PM
Really, I just had one corm i cut yesterday. It started looking like a little sucker was starting to form, but I wasn't sure.


Yeah, others might have different experiencies.

Dean W.
09-15-2008, 08:22 PM
It looks great Dean! I know that I have learned my lesson. So far I have only lost 6 plants, but they were doomed from the start due to heat in transit. 1 Williams, 2 Dwarf Nam Wa Pearls (being replaced free), 2 Balbisianas that were just too small to survive the trip and a Grand Nain that I am trying to get to put out a leaf - if it does, then I will consider myself lucky. I have an African Red that is trying to make a comeback as well as a Gros Michel doing the same.

Hey Scot, ya I have a few too, that I'm worried about. It was cool today. Hopefully, they have enough time to grow some before the weather changes.