A touch of rot
 

I have a young basjoo about 8 inches - it was 4 inches about a month ago. It has a touch of rot around its base. Some of you folks are saying to give it lots of water, others not so much water. I've been giving it water when it needs it and it still has some rot.
What to do?

Alley Cat

Re: A touch of rot
 

musas don't like much water when its cold, because then they dont grow.
how warmer, how more water you need to give.
maybe you gave it too muchh water in cold periods?
young plants are also sensitive for it.
today i foundout that a ensete ventricosum seedling died; it rotted away.
fortunelaty i have 2 extra ventricosums;)

Re: A touch of rot
 

How about your soil? Did you mix it with perlite and sand to help the water drain away from the corm. Just regular potting soil can be to heavy.

Re: A touch of rot
 

Once it warms up the rot should dry out. If you can trim it away I would do so. I've had a lot of problems with rot due to our cool soggy spring. Now that it's warmed up most of my rot problems have gone away. Is the plant potted or in the ground? Daen's right, they don't dig a lot of water with cool temps. Bad mix, especially the lil one's. May just have to baby it through till it's hot.

Re: A touch of rot
 

I had rot on mine this spring. I cut a big chunk of the rot out. I figured what the heck I might as well try to plant it in a pot and see what happens. I burried it in some soilless potting mix and sure enough I had a pup come up. It is currently growing in my mother-in-laws backyard. These things are indestructable.

Roy

Re: A touch of rot
 

It's fine now - that was a while back. It sure is a fast grower.

Re: A touch of rot
 

I get 34" of rain anually, mainly in the winter months. Rot? Never. Big healthy strong vigorous basjoo bananas. I have to water routinely in the summer months to help with the growth.

Cheers, Barrie.

Re: A touch of rot
 

its good to hear from you that your basjoos don't mind your weather.
here in holland its in winter also very rainy with no days above 17 degrees C.
I tought that even basjoos were quite sensitive for rot in cold days (0-10 c)

Re: A touch of rot
 

Interesting to know. I might have to get one to add to my collection.:ha:

Re: A touch of rot
 

Basjoos indeed tolerate the cold and wet for at least half the year here in Portland Oregon zone 8b without even stressing them. The ground is soggy and the air 30 to 55 degrees F November through March. Usually the plants will not require protection but I choose to protect my largerst canes because I really want them to get BIG!