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View Full Version : Blue Java Help. Problem diagnosis?


mercurial5
02-25-2020, 06:09 PM
I bought my Blue Java about a week ago. I'm trying to figure out if it looks this sad because of the cold or if it is something else. Right now I have it in a greenhouse and have been covering it at night and using Christmas lights (I don't think they are the warmest) It seems that it has just gotten worse though. The soil is still moist, I bought feed but was waiting until it adjusted first. The leaf is dry and curling in parts. Overall it is browning and wilting from the end back towards the base. I don't want to kill it. I live in southern Oregon, temps have been in the 30s at night and 50-60 during the day. This is my first Banana. Thanks! (trying to figure out the photo gallery as I am also new here. Apologies if I'm going about this wrong.

edwmax
02-25-2020, 06:27 PM
A picture would help, but tell us how big the plant is and the size of the pot. where did you get te plant?

Backyard Banana Joe
02-25-2020, 06:29 PM
Hello! Welcome!


Bananas don't grow at this time of year except in tropical climates. So your plant should not be growing right now. Secondly, if your plant was a pup, freshly dug, it would go through a shock. Much more so if it is cold. And the leaves do turn Brown naturally when it is cold that cold. In the early weeks\ months, you are not going to want to over water your plant. That sometimes leads to rot. 😊

mercurial5
02-25-2020, 06:34 PM
Yes, I am having terrible trouble with the image uploader. It keeps telling me it was successful but then it says I have no photos. It's 3ft, I think it came in a 5 gallon and I transferred it to a 7 gallon a few days in. I used cactus soil and mixed it in with what was already there. I got it in Sacramento, CA.

Iowa
02-25-2020, 07:45 PM
Yes, I am having terrible trouble with the image uploader. It keeps telling me it was successful but then it says I have no photos. It's 3ft, I think it came in a 5 gallon and I transferred it to a 7 gallon a few days in. I used cactus soil and mixed it in with what was already there. I got it in Sacramento, CA.

Your pics may be too large, they need to be 2MB or smaller I think.

sddarkman619
02-25-2020, 11:18 PM
if the temp in the greenhouse is 30° that's part of your problem, xmas lights aren't going to help. you need to put a heater in there to warm the whole place.
use a milkhouse heater(23prong) with a thermostat.

Milkhouse: https://amzn.to/2Tesish

Thermostat: https://amzn.to/3a6mlnU

how big is your greenhouse anyway?

mercurial5
02-26-2020, 12:26 AM
It's pretty big. Not mine though so I've never measured it. I could bring it back inside, but I wanted it to get some good sunlight also. I'm going to try to get some better pictures tomorrow.. I think it was the file size giving me trouble.. It looks so sad. Ugh. I can probably get some kind of heater in there at least. I know it's not quite the same, but the lemon tree that's been I there isnt having issues really.

So, if it is the cold and the leaf is pretty thrashed, should I just leave it to do its thing or will it need to be cut back? When I looked months ago it had my location on the cusp of the growing zone, so I figured it would maybe be ok. I'm hoping to have it settled in better for next winter at least...

Thanks for all the suggestions so far!

Akula
02-26-2020, 11:02 AM
9/10 the issue with banana plants in pots, especially in cool environments, is overwatering which causes root rot. Better if soil has a dry feel to it rather than moist in temps below 65F.

mercurial5
02-26-2020, 01:15 PM
Goodness. finally got an image to upload. I gave it maybe a 1/4 cup of water since I got it and that was it. I'm going to try a heater in there tonight.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=65742]http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=65742&size=1[/url]