proletariatcsp
08-11-2008, 12:28 PM
Thank you to everyone who has responded to my previous posts in regard to my banana growth problems.
It turns out that neither disease nor fertilizer were to blame for the leaf deformities and bunchy top symptoms. I have pests, sooooo many pets.
From what I have read, my ecosystem has not been established and it is said that the 'bad bugs' establish themselves much more rapidly than the good ones. To that extent I wish to ask for advise regarding their removal and prevention.
Since I began growing, I have or have had, Mealy bugs, thrips, spider mites, white flies, snails/slugs, leaf miners, and aphids. I have tried soapy water, neem oil containing products and non-poisonous pesticides. Nothing is working.
The spider mites and mealy bugs are currently the most threatening, as well as some small white colored gnats that are eating into the base of my young bananas, just below the soil line. When I water these white gnats surface and seem to jump around like fleas. I noticed their lavae in the p.stem and soil. They have already killed 2 of my bananas and I can not get rid of any of these 3 pests. The mites are getting worse, leaving webs on everything.
Calcium, fertilizer question,
Last week my ice cream grew a leaf that was nearly white. It had a burgandy colored streak running the length of the margin. Also the mid-rib was very maroon, burgandy colored. The others leaves have always had very green to light green mid-ribs. I have included pics.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12248&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12248&ppuser=3766)
Here you can see the Maroon colored mid-rib. And below, you can see the newly emerging leaf showing deformity and white color at base
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12249&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12249&ppuser=3766)
From these symptoms I thought this may be a lack of Calcium/Boron. I have amended the soil with micro's including boron. Only this citrus product supposedly takes weeks to work.
Do I need Calcium/Lime or just a good citrus fertilizer? My pH is consistantly 6.5-6.8.
It turns out that neither disease nor fertilizer were to blame for the leaf deformities and bunchy top symptoms. I have pests, sooooo many pets.
From what I have read, my ecosystem has not been established and it is said that the 'bad bugs' establish themselves much more rapidly than the good ones. To that extent I wish to ask for advise regarding their removal and prevention.
Since I began growing, I have or have had, Mealy bugs, thrips, spider mites, white flies, snails/slugs, leaf miners, and aphids. I have tried soapy water, neem oil containing products and non-poisonous pesticides. Nothing is working.
The spider mites and mealy bugs are currently the most threatening, as well as some small white colored gnats that are eating into the base of my young bananas, just below the soil line. When I water these white gnats surface and seem to jump around like fleas. I noticed their lavae in the p.stem and soil. They have already killed 2 of my bananas and I can not get rid of any of these 3 pests. The mites are getting worse, leaving webs on everything.
Calcium, fertilizer question,
Last week my ice cream grew a leaf that was nearly white. It had a burgandy colored streak running the length of the margin. Also the mid-rib was very maroon, burgandy colored. The others leaves have always had very green to light green mid-ribs. I have included pics.
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12248&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12248&ppuser=3766)
Here you can see the Maroon colored mid-rib. And below, you can see the newly emerging leaf showing deformity and white color at base
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=12249&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=12249&ppuser=3766)
From these symptoms I thought this may be a lack of Calcium/Boron. I have amended the soil with micro's including boron. Only this citrus product supposedly takes weeks to work.
Do I need Calcium/Lime or just a good citrus fertilizer? My pH is consistantly 6.5-6.8.