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View Full Version : Help! My Basjoo is turning YELLOW!


hilashes
06-09-2009, 11:47 AM
What is happening to my poor Basjoo?? I noticed the last couple of leaves were getting yellow as well as the oldest ones, but look at the new one coming up, it's ALL yellow! (see pics) Plus 4 pups coming up are the same! Yesterday I gave it 2 Tbsp of Epsom salts plus Miracle Gro 24-8-16 to help it out. I also threw some 12-16-12 slow release around it to help it through the summer so I don't have to be out there with the soluble every week.
Is this ok? I know I may have overdone it with the slow release so quickly after the Miracle Gro, but I panicked...I've heard they're hard to over-fertilize.

Heidi

http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18163&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18163)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18165&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18165)
http://www.bananas.org/gallery/watermark.php?file=18164&size=1 (http://www.bananas.org/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=18164)

Lagniappe
06-09-2009, 12:35 PM
It may be drowning or all that fertilizer could have raised the ph and locked out the very food you were trying to feed it.
Just my thoughts.
It doesn't look all that bad to me. I mean, it looks like the newer leaves are still coloring up and the oldest are on their way out. I'm viewing the pics on my phone though.
I had a fig tree to turn yellow overnight after a hard rain. As I removed it the planting hole filled with water - Doh!

hilashes
06-09-2009, 02:20 PM
Thanks for the reply. I've had to water it every other day because of our hot hot weather with no rain for over a month! It was turning yellow before I applied the fertilizer that's why I applied it. I wonder if it had too much water. The water disappears right away into the soil so I'm sure it's well drained. It's also planted on a rocky retaining wall.
Thanks for the reassurance!

Heidi

Patty in Wisc
06-10-2009, 10:48 AM
24-8-16 and 12-16-12 sounds like a lot of nitrogen & phosphate. nanas like something higher in potassium like 15-5-30 (what I use).
You sure it's not too fast draining? Shove a stick or dowel along side the roots & before you water, pull it out & check for moisture. You might need to add a good soil mix.
Just my 2 cents worth.

hilashes
06-10-2009, 11:04 AM
Patty that is great advice, thank you! I planted the banana in black soil mixed with other organic matter. Yesterday I pulled back some mulch and the mat underneath was still moist. Also I wondered a bit about the potassium. I have some 0-0-50, should I put a bit around that too?
Thanks again!
Heidi

Patty in Wisc
06-10-2009, 11:24 AM
Sounds like the soil is too wet. Pull the mulch away & let it dry out a bit and in a while add a little potassium.
Maybe the soil is too heavy?

hilashes
06-10-2009, 01:27 PM
I'll try that, thanks Patty.