HELP! Musa Basjoo leaves choking

Illinistu · 06-26-2020, 10:15 AM

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new member. I've read through the forums for the last few years but never joined. I've been a Musa Basjoo owner for several years now. Last year was the first year for my current plant. I cut it down (to about 2 ft height) and wintered it as normal. Due to the late cold this spring I waited longer than normal to uncover it. As a result the first leaf/shoot was pushing against the top of the container and was curled up. However, after some time and fertilizer it finally got going and was growing well. I used a mixture of "Banana Fuel" fertilizer and Miracle Grow. I normally just fertilize with the Banana Fuel but wanted the extra nitrogen of the Miracle Grow to get it going from its stunted start. Unfortunately, over the last couple of weeks something is starting to go wrong. My leaves are getting smaller and opening before they completely emerge from the pseudostem (see pictures). I've never had this happen before and don't know what is causing this. Can anyone tell me what is causing this and what I can do to get my banana back on track to growing normally and producing nice big leaves? Thanks!

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cincinnana · 06-26-2020, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illinistu

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new member. I've read through the forums for the last few years but never joined. I've been a Musa Basjoo owner for several years now. Last year was the first year for my current plant. I cut it down (to about 2 ft height) and wintered it as normal. Due to the late cold this spring I waited longer than normal to uncover it. As a result the first leaf/shoot was pushing against the top of the container and was curled up. However, after some time and fertilizer it finally got going and was growing well. I used a mixture of "Banana Fuel" fertilizer and Miracle Grow. I normally just fertilize with the Banana Fuel but wanted the extra nitrogen of the Miracle Grow to get it going from its stunted start. Unfortunately, over the last couple of weeks something is starting to go wrong. My leaves are getting smaller and opening before they completely emerge from the pseudostem (see pictures). I've never had this happen before and don't know what is causing this. Can anyone tell me what is causing this and what I can do to get my banana back on track to growing normally and producing nice big leaves? Thanks!

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Looking fine....you will have a flower soon.

Looks like your plant is about to toss a flower......

keep taking pics

cincinnana · 07-02-2020, 07:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illinistu

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new member. I've read through the forums for the last few years but never joined. I've been a Musa Basjoo owner for several years now. Last year was the first year for my current plant. I cut it down (to about 2 ft height) and wintered it as normal. Due to the late cold this spring I waited longer than normal to uncover it. As a result the first leaf/shoot was pushing against the top of the container and was curled up. However, after some time and fertilizer it finally got going and was growing well. I used a mixture of "Banana Fuel" fertilizer and Miracle Grow. I normally just fertilize with the Banana Fuel but wanted the extra nitrogen of the Miracle Grow to get it going from its stunted start. Unfortunately, over the last couple of weeks something is starting to go wrong. My leaves are getting smaller and opening before they completely emerge from the pseudostem (see pictures). I've never had this happen before and don't know what is causing this. Can anyone tell me what is causing this and what I can do to get my banana back on track to growing normally and producing nice big leaves? Thanks!

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All good....did your plant sort itself out??

Illinistu · 07-09-2020, 06:05 PM

Well you are correct. It is flowering. Kinda sucks to have a Basjoo flowering at 5 ft but it is what it is I guess. Will be interesting to see things develop. I have a new question now. I have a sword sucker that is growing next to it that I have left alone. I have removed any other suckers. Should I leave the one sword sucker or remove it too? How big will the sucker get while the mother plant flowers and develops fruit? Again, this is a Musa Basjoo so it's not like the fruit is going to be edible.

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cincinnana · 07-10-2020, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Illinistu

Well you are correct. It is flowering. Kinda sucks to have a Basjoo flowering at 5 ft but it is what it is I guess. Will be interesting to see things develop. I have a new question now. I have a sword sucker that is growing next to it that I have left alone. I have removed any other suckers. Should I leave the one sword sucker or remove it too? How big will the sucker get while the mother plant flowers and develops fruit? Again, this is a Musa Basjoo so it's not like the fruit is going to be edible.

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Me, I leave them on because they will be next seasons plants.

Backyard Banana Joe · 07-10-2020, 10:24 AM

Do you have any interest in growing edible varieties?

Illinistu · 07-10-2020, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Backyard Banana Joe

Do you have any interest in growing edible varieties?

Well I grow this plant out by my front door. I like tropicals and wanted something big and tropical there. So this is grown more for ornamental reasons. The biggest problem I have with edible varieties is that I really don't have a good place in my condo to winter them. I live in central Illinois and the winter temps can get well below zero. The Basjoo I just insulate and cover with a large, heavy-duty rubber trash container and leave outside over the winter. I'm not aware of any edible varieties that will survive the winter here.

06-26-2020, 10:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
Illinistu Find me on the map! Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 15 BananaBucks : 469 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	HELP! Musa Basjoo leaves choking Hi Everyone, I'm a new member. I've read through the forums for the last few years but never joined. I've been a Musa Basjoo owner for several years now. Last year was the first year for my current plant. I cut it down (to about 2 ft height) and wintered it as normal. Due to the late cold this spring I waited longer than normal to uncover it. As a result the first leaf/shoot was pushing against the top of the container and was curled up. However, after some time and fertilizer it finally got going and was growing well. I used a mixture of "Banana Fuel" fertilizer and Miracle Grow. I normally just fertilize with the Banana Fuel but wanted the extra nitrogen of the Miracle Grow to get it going from its stunted start. Unfortunately, over the last couple of weeks something is starting to go wrong. My leaves are getting smaller and opening before they completely emerge from the pseudostem (see pictures). I've never had this happen before and don't know what is causing this. Can anyone tell me what is causing this and what I can do to get my banana back on track to growing normally and producing nice big leaves? Thanks! [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] Last edited by Illinistu : 06-26-2020 at 11:48 AM. Reason: Photos not appearing with post

07-09-2020, 06:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Illinistu Find me on the map! Join Date: Jun 2020 Posts: 15 BananaBucks : 469 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10 Times Was Thanked 8 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: HELP! Musa Basjoo leaves choking Well you are correct. It is flowering. Kinda sucks to have a Basjoo flowering at 5 ft but it is what it is I guess. Will be interesting to see things develop. I have a new question now. I have a sword sucker that is growing next to it that I have left alone. I have removed any other suckers. Should I leave the one sword sucker or remove it too? How big will the sucker get while the mother plant flowers and develops fruit? Again, this is a Musa Basjoo so it's not like the fruit is going to be edible. [IMG][/IMG] [IMG][/IMG] Last edited by Illinistu : 07-09-2020 at 06:22 PM. Reason: Added Photos

07-10-2020, 10:24 AM	#6 (permalink)
Backyard Banana Joe Banned Location: Central Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9B Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 771 BananaBucks : 20,745 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,676 Times Was Thanked 1,016 Times in 495 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 123 Times	Re: HELP! Musa Basjoo leaves choking Do you have any interest in growing edible varieties? __________________ https://www.flickr.com/photos/185363902@N05/albums

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