Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

I live in Western Kentucky (zone 7) and have a small basjoo growing outside in a half-barrel. Every leaf that is put up is either brown already, or browns out very shortly thereafter. The half-barrel is on the back deck where everything gets the hottest portion of the afternoon sun, which can reach to 100 degrees. I have just read that extreme heat, such as this can burn a basjoo, so that probably takes care of that problem. My question is, if I move the banana to the front porch, out of direct sunlight, would it recover, or should I bring it inside for a while?

I appreciate your help so very much!

Re: Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

I doubt anyone can diagnose what ails your basjoo without a picture. How long its been in the pot and how long its been where is would help as well. The only times I've seen a leaf come out like you describe is because its over watered or something is eating on the leaf before it can emerge and then its usually black. Your soil for the barrel would greatly help as well. :^)

Re: Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

I will get a pic as soon as I can tomorrow morning. Also,as for the soil that it is in, is the generic brand name potting soil at Wal-Mart. I fertilized twice, along with watering sometimes even more than twice a day.

It has only been in this pot for about a month or so, and the pot it is in is a half-barrel.

I've not seen any holes or other spots that suggest it could be bugs, although Jap Beetles are pretty bad right now.

I have this basjoo in later afternoon sun, which sometimes is 100 degrees or more, therefore I water to compensate for the high heat. Am I sabotageing my own success here? I'll take a pic of the exact place it's at right now, and then I'm going to move the barrel around to the porch and see how that goes.

Maybe someone can tell me what I am doing wrong and I can get a nice tree out of this.:woohoonaner:

Re: Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

I think you may be over watering it. Some of my banana's even with the heat I only have to water them every other day since they aren't as big as the others. I don't use regular potting soils and have peat and sand in my mix. :^) Does the barrel have holes on the bottom?

Re: Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

I would definitely move it out of the hot sun. When you have plants in containers, they need to stay in more shade than plants in the ground. Containers can get so much hotter, and simply cook roots.
I would move it into complete shade until it recovers. Don't put it indoors.
When you say you have a small Basjoo, just how small is it? It's quite possible it is in too big a container. If the container is too big, the soil will hold too much water and possibly drown the plant! As Abnshrek said, a photo would help.

Re: Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

Musa Basjoo doesn't like the heat like most banana plants. From all you said, and without a picture, I'm going to take a stab as an answer. When you water with the hot sun beating down on the pot, it's more than it can take. I think you're boiling the roots. I would put a couple of white bed sheets or something, wrapped litely around and over the pot to shade and keep the pot and soil cooler. Also, only water late afternoon or evening when the sun isn't hitting the pot. It'll have all night to drink what it needs. My bet is that you'll start seeing green leaves growing again. Hope that helps some. Best of luck to ya.

Re: Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

I have brought it into complete shade. I never really thought about the possibility of a tropical planting not really needing a lot of heat. I'm going to keep it in the shade and hold off on water until it has used up what it has.

Thanks to everyone for the quick and complete answers to my questions.:woohoonaner:

Re: Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

Probably a water-oriented issue or possibly fertilization problem. I doubt it is getting too much sun or heat, despite what others say (unless its a small plant or has been recently moved out to full sun). Most bananas can handle massive amounts of sun/heat with no issue.

Re: Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

I started a Basjoo patch this year with 1 foot tall TC
and several already winterized corms. (Craigslist =])

This patch is all turning yellow/brown
My only bananas doing it.
Maybe it was the "Top-soil" from HD mixed with perhaps to much compost.(Mushroom/Cow)

Or maybe the 5x5x2 foot hole is holding more water than I thought.

I would ground plant it...

I hope you find a solution as I would like to know also.

Good luck!

Re: Musa Basjoo turning brown?
 

I brought my Basjoo up onto the porch where it is only getting a very short amount of morning sun every day. All of the brown, burned leaves have been cut off and a brand new beautiful green leaf has unfolded today. Glad I've got all of your combined experience to go off of. Thanks again.