View Full Version : Help Am I Doing Something Wrong!!
oldguardmom
09-16-2009, 03:01 PM
I started Ensete Ventriocosum from seeds. I now have them planted in styrafoam cups. I have noticed that the leaves are turning on the ends. I have put to much work into them to have them die. I water (plain water) them when the dirt fells a little dry and the leave start to droop a little. If you are intereste in seeing them I have placed a couple of pictures of the plants. You can find them by looking in the photo gallery under :
Home » Member » oldguardmom » Sick Plants
Thank you to all the reply.
Tania
Tania, first congrats on getting all of them to sprout. You certainly have a green thumb. Since they are indoors the humidity is probably low and causing some of the browning. They look like they're growing just fine though and the baby leaves tend to brown up quickly. As long as they are growing ok I just wouldn't sweat it. You might consider a humidity tray under or around them if your concerned but I don't think yo have to worry.
LilRaverBoi
09-17-2009, 02:55 PM
Yeah, I wouldn't worry about it unless it's getting worse steadily. Like Bob said, humidity definitely may be a part of it. Also, are you fertilizing?
For plants grown from seed, those look very healthy. As far as the one dead one in the photo, not all new seedlings survive BUT you seem to have a better than average success rate, anyway. I'd just watch them & don't let the soil stay Too wet.
jmoore
09-19-2009, 11:05 AM
I can't remember who it was, but someone from this site once told me that ensete ventricosum are fussy and should be allowed to dry out before watering. The roots need to breathe and they don't like being stuck in damp compost. They certainly don't need as much water as you would expect. You may be over watering.
I've given up on EV, they are a pain in the backside.
Cut back on the water.
Excellent germination rate though, well done.
Oh one more thing, do the cups have drainage holes? Just a thought
Velutina
09-19-2009, 11:53 AM
How much light are they getting?
From my experience with Ensete ventricosum,
Bright, indirect light. Let soil almost dry out before watering. They tend to do better in smaller pots (ie, dont put seedlings in pots too big). High humidity. Fertilize often once established.
My guess based on your pictures is a soil moisture issue. How often do you water?
oldguardmom
09-19-2009, 02:08 PM
Adam first let me thank you for your responce.
I started to explain the location and then just decided to take a picture to show the location. I am going to try to upload it here if it dosent work I will place it in my photo albums. The windows are facing the East. They are also located on the kitchen table, to the left of the table is the kitchen bar. I know the picture looks dark on the plants but there is more light on them than it shows. I did get a responce about fertilizing which I am not sure how to do, what to use, and how much on such young plants. Again I am so new at this I hardly know anything. I do know that I dont want to loose any plants because sounds crazy but I have grown very attached to them since they were raised from seeds and given to me from my military son.
Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also guess the attachment didnt work, so I know it is in my gallery.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Tania
Velutina
09-19-2009, 04:38 PM
I suspect that they are not receiving enough light, especially for the size of pot they are in. Do the pots have drainage holes? Insufficient light + wet soil can lead to root rot. How long do the plants go between waterings?
I see you are in zone 6 so will have to overwinter the plants indoors. If you don't have a good area next to a window, you could consider getting some cheap fluorescent shop lights. E. ventricosum does very well under fluorescents (I've used NO and VHO bulbs, 5000-6500K)
For small bananas, I usually fertilize with miracle grow (but any liquid fertilizer will work). I just mix about 1/4-1/2 the recommended amount and move up to the full amount as the plant grows.
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