marksbananas

I have a Musa Bajoo in a large container, whiskey barrel cut down. It was planted in there last year about september time it over witered fine and has been doing really well since spring to a height now of 6 foot and producing a new leaf every week. I am concerned as i planted it in a good quality compost but is it possable that this is getting old now? i feed at least once a week when i water, during the summer months anyway. I was woindering if i should take it out and change the soil? replace it with fresh soil and if so what sort should i replace it with a monent it is a mix of miracle grow compost and sharp sand to help drainage. Thanks for any advoce that can be offered. Mark

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marksbananas

I have also noticed that on the new leaf that is coming out that there is a whole in the leaf there is none of the green bits just a skin like tissue over the whole. I have posted some photos of it wondered if any can shed any light on this as was concerned it had a disease or something. Thanks below are the photos, plant itself seems very healthy and doing really well.

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Bananaman88

Marksbananas,

Hey, not really sure if that is a basjoo you have or not. I didn't think that they had any reddish color to the undersides like that. I could be wrong, though. Maybe MediaHound or Gabe could weigh in on that.

As for the holes in the leaves, the shots are a bit blurry, but they look very similar to a problem I've had twice now with my Burmese Blue. The last leaf that it was getting ready to unfurl looked very healthy...until it actually unfurled. It looks almost like a leaf does when it can't open up and then cooks in the heat or that it has either gotten water logged (and we have just had a ton of rain here lately) or some disease. I cut the leaf off the last time it happened and the next leaf emerged normally. I'll have to wait and see what happens with the next leaf this time. I think it will be OK as the plant otherwise seems OK. Good luck with yours!

Mark Hall

Mark are you sure you have a Basjoo there ? The leaves look to wide and glossy and also the deep burgundy under colour makes me think its a Sikkimensis.

The soil should be ok for a while. you could always give it a feed then top dress a few inches on top to perk it up a bit.

Hopefully one of the experts on here will ID your banana if its not what I think it is

Mark

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marksbananas

thanks for the help i was told it was a basjoo when i bought it from ebay. How can i id it to know what i have for sure? thanks

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SteveW

Hi Mark,
I'd make a guess at it being a Helens Hybrid,the chalky film on the stem looks similar to my HH than any of my sikkis.But I'm definately no expert.

Before this year I only grew Basjoo and a couple of small sikkis,now I've got more types than I can shake a stick at.
In the last week I've managedto buy Ice cream,Velutina,Laterita and reserved a Variegated Raja Puri
The latter I've got to wait 6-8 weeks for,but well worth the wait

Steve

frankthetank

That looks nothing like my Basjoo...from going bananas in Florida...

redtail_2006

This is my sikki opening up so you can compare not a very good pic sorry

marksbananas

No thats cool thanks i am not sure if its that or a helens hybrid or daj giant. I have been looking at some photos of the daj gaint and they are almost the same. I have no colouring on the top of the leaf except the big leaves coming though now have a red stem, otherwise they are all a green, light when first opened then darkens up after a day or two. All i know is that it i growing very fast and its one of about 3 types. Guess i find out for sure when it flowers.lol

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Heracleum

I,too,do not think that the plant is a Basjoo. Far too much colour on the leaf.
One point about the photo. I notice you are dressing the top of the pot with cobbles. Avoid anything that is remotely lime based as most,if not all, nanas prefer an acidic media.

marksbananas

thanks for that i had only placed the stones there as was doing sdome moving around in garden they are no longer there. Thanks for the advice tho.

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john_ny

Hope you have luck finding out which one you have. I have about 50 basjoos, and they all unfurl like the one in this posting that I made, acouple of weeks ago.
Watching a banana grow.

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John