Brandon James

Hey all. I registered with this forum to seek some answers for my Musa Basjoo. The leaves are browning....even the newest leaves. I am not sure what is causing it. Here's a couple pics of it. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

Here's a few facts...
1. The Musa Basjoo is planted in full sun
2. The pups look healthy as could be with no browning, so it couldn't be from over watering could it?
3. For the past 2 or 3 weeks...it's been 90 degrees+ so I've been watering it every 2 or 3 days.
4. I fertilize it weekly with fish emulsion
5. The lower leaves don't seem to be effected as much. I've had to remove a couple of the newer leaves because they browned so much and over half the leaf had died

Attached Images

	20160812_124928.jpg (1.60 MB, 32 views)
	20160812_124944.jpg (1.64 MB, 31 views)

cincinnana

Just an observation.......

This is what I know.
I use black mulch on a few beds which I am aware is not the best thing to do .
But for aesthetic reasons (dyed black mulch) has to be to match the flow of the garden. Bad for me.

Plants such as ferns, hostas, and woodland plants dislike the extra heat the black /dark colored mulch creates and will stunt and could harm them and cause them to enter early retirement for the year.

Here is the deal.... black plastic and black mulch will raise the ground temp 50- degrees or more in full sun just because the surface is black.
Dark colored decks (like mine) will raise the temp also, just as much....even more for containers.

Put a thermometer under the sheet/mulch ....see what I mean....If it is not 50 degrees above the ambient air temperature then it will be at least 30, Still too hot for roots to be happy.

For fun place the meter in the root zone ..... and see what I mean

Black plastic is a great weed barrier and for heating the soil for some plants ...but not for bananas when they are small.

Radiant heat is not good also from walls and fences while still a young plant.

Neither are heat sinks such as concrete deck slabs and walkways which add heat to the soil.

Tomatoes in my Ohio garden love it but some of my Bordelons say..... whoa dude too hot in her (Nelly).

Of course this is just a guess

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