View Full Version : Cut off leaves of pups?
austinl01
07-08-2008, 08:40 AM
Hi, everyone. I just planted many musella lasiocarpas at school for a small project. They have very small corms with just a few roots, but they are rather large pups at an overall height of 3 feet. The plants are growing in full sun, and it's very hot outside right now (90-95F).
The musellas have many leaves, but I don't think they can sustain all the leaves given their small root systems and the hot weather. I was thinking about cutting off some leaves and leaving just a couple, but then again I'm thinking the plant needs those leaves for photosynthesis to make new roots. Could you experts please weigh in on this? What would you do?
bencelest
07-08-2008, 09:00 AM
I am not an expert but if I were you I'd go for your feeling. I'd cut some of the leaves because roots and leaves must be proportional for the photosynthesis to take place right. I'd rather have more roots than leaves.
I've been doing that for years on my other plants when I transfer and I've been very successful.
If roots can not supply the water the leaves need it will lose its turgidity and will droop and wither.
dablo93
07-08-2008, 10:11 AM
I also dont know what you have to do but I should cut all the leaves off, exept the 2/3 newest ones.
the p-stem is also green for the photosynthesis
Bananaman88
07-08-2008, 12:05 PM
I too think you should remove most of the leaves. If they were growing well prior to their move, they should root-in and start producing new leaves before long. Leaving only one or two leaves will certainly aid the plant in not losing too much water-a big factor if they have limited root capacity right now.
harveyc
07-08-2008, 12:18 PM
It would probably have been better to pot them up and put them in an area without full sun until they established a better root system. Planted in the ground as you have done it is best to remove leaves as you proposed. Once I also put a shadecloth over a new pup and that seemed to help.
austinl01
07-08-2008, 03:57 PM
Thanks again, everyone. I went ahead and cut off all leaves except one and the emerging leaf from the peudostem. They already look better! The site has some irrigation, but I'll be sure they are watered a few times each week until they are settled into their new home. I'll keep you guys updated.
:bananarow:
bencelest
07-08-2008, 04:27 PM
No. Don't water too much. You are inviting root rut.
Water once when you plant it and stop watering until you see some new sprouts. But soak the soil thoroughly the first time.
austinl01
07-08-2008, 05:31 PM
Thanks for the post, bencelest. I'll stop watering them until they send up new growth. I guess sometimes you can baby a plant too much! LOL. I'm sure they are much hardier than I think. Again, I appreciate you responding. This forum is great!!! I'm going to try to post a lot more often here. :)
bencelest
07-08-2008, 07:06 PM
You are welcome. I learned it the hard way.
harveyc
07-08-2008, 11:23 PM
I'll confess: I rotted several of my indoor potted bananas late in the winter. As the grew taller in my heated shop under grow lights it got crowded and it was hard to check each pot for moisture so I just watered them. :(
bencelest
07-09-2008, 12:01 AM
At least I was not alone.
harveyc
07-09-2008, 12:04 AM
At least I was not alone.
I only confessed after you admitted it first! LOL
bencelest
07-09-2008, 08:56 AM
I guess even the "Experts" (Yay!)(who?) make mistakes! (LOL)
sandy0225
07-09-2008, 10:07 AM
Everybody loses a few now and then.
Try cutting all the leaves in 1/2 next time when you transplant one. That seems to help but it leaves part so that they can do a little photosynthesis too. It makes them look ugly but it helps them take off quicker.
bencelest
07-09-2008, 10:35 AM
personally a newly transplanted plant that were trimmed to size to proportion the roots and the tops to me looks CUTE!. And as you said new shoots will come out faster.
austinl01
07-09-2008, 11:01 AM
It seems that rot commonly occurs when temps are cool. Is rot less of an issue during these hot summer days?
bencelest
07-10-2008, 02:47 AM
I think so. Because bananas grow like crazy during the summertime they need a lot of water to sustain their system likewise more fertilizers are needed for normal speedy growth so the roots will be so busy taking the water from the soil.
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