bananimal

Need help folks!

I planted my starting collection of 11 different bananas after last danger of frost this year, and if someone asked, "how's it going?" I would have said OK -- 8 weeks ago.

The first casualty was the ensette Maurelli. I spotted red spider mites too late. Sprayed with light solution of malathion. Mites and leaves died. Kept it potted, leaves came back, mites too. Tried isopropyl alcohol per recommendation and had a repeat performance. Core died off. The pitogo followed suite afterwards but saw no bugs.

Presently all 3 still living "reds", those with red in their genetic makeup, are shooting new leaves that are each smaller than the previous one. Red iholele, gran nain x sumatrana, kru. What the heck is going on here??? The only thing I can think of is too much water - we started getting rain again 3 weeks ago ------- again - haaalp!

This has been my regimen from the beginning. All, except ensette and Ae Ae planted 8 ft apart along south fence. Removed 3 foot diameter circles of sod. Used power auger to break up soil and planted 9 plants that had been potted for at least 2 months. Top of root ball level with soil, topped with 20 lbs composted cow manure to whack the nematodes. Have been applying 1 pound of custom 6-2-12 banana blend each month - started after new growth appeared. Water comes from the sprinkler system - was 3 days/wk, now 2. Every thing grew, some slower than others.

I was told mixing ammendments with the soil itself was not necessary. Soooooo, what's wrong -- haaalp! I should mention that the others are doing well, especially the goldfinger and dwarf orinoco - both over 7 feet tall now.

Collection consists of dwarf orinoco, grand nain x sumatrana, red iholene, saba, dwarf brazilian, pitogo, kru, hua moa, goldfinger and ae ae (still potted - it goes to bed with me at night along with dog and wife).

NANAMAN

If you post some pictures, somebody on here should be able to help. Soil type,(heavy, light) , sun (full or part) would be helpful too. I've never had any insect problems with any of my naners, but what you described is an infestation. Possibly due to other stresses on the plants. Where do you live?

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funsocaltiger

How is the humidity in your area? Have you tried daily mistings and flushing off the leaves (especially the undersides) daily? Red spider mites generally don't like humidity.

Laurence

JoeS475

I had shrinking leaves recently - all affected plants were extremely pot-bound over wintertime (intentionally to avoid overwatering). After the plants came outside the leaves got smaller and smaller until one leaf was 3" long on one. With the help of Mitchel I figured out that the smaller leaves had developed in the pstems of the bananas while indoors over winter. They have now adjusted and leaves are getting huge again.

For me, for some crazy reason, I had very few spider mites this past winter.

All my plants are potted.

Were any of yours very pot-bound before you planted them? If so there's a good chance yours will outgrow this too like mine did.

Good luck,

~Joe

P.S. your pictures aren't showing up - can you upload them to your gallery?

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bananimal

Working on pics. Followed instructions and it didn't work. Called for help. Fix on the way.

B-mal

JoeS475

Here are pictures of my shrunken leaves. Does this look like yours?

The newest are getting big again, but you can see how small they got!



Another plant with the same thing, looks backwards!



Good luck,

~Joe

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bananimal

Here are pics of 2 bananas with the incredible shrinking new leaf problem.

Red Iholene --------



Gran Nain x Sumatrana -------



To answer your questions --- the soil is sand/muck mixed in with "builders muckage" from the pool builders using sprayed gunnite-- this stuff flowed down hill into the present banana planting area.

Humidity is high now, but Port St lucie, 15 miles from the coast, has pretty dry conditions during the winter. That is, dry for Florida. We've had no rain for months and months.

Dan, a.k.a. bananimal

xyzzy

It never stops raining here and Maurelli loves it. The more rain, the bigger it grows. The new leaves reach up more as they grow if it is wet and seem to stay low and not grow as big if it is dry.

We get small leaves which get tangled together and jam if it is too dry, but that in our climate is not very often!

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There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

bananimal

xxzzyy,

I get your drift. Prior to yesterdays' heavy rain, Pt St Lucie saw 3 weeks of intense heat in the 90's. Last week I completed an addition to the main sprinkler system of a microsprinkler line just for the bananas. The gn x suma has sprouted a normal leaf again as has the Kru. However, the Red Iholene is DOTM -- dead on the mat.

See my pictures this thread and my new photo gallery. Replaced it with a good pup from parent.

By the way mate, Devon has an astonishing number of pubs. Which ones are you nearest?

Dan

bananimal

xyzzy

Forgot to say that your ensete Maurelii remark has inspired me to try one again. I have a fairly wet location on the east side and will form a raised mound for it. It won't be planted in the ground, though, untill it shows real vigor potted.

thanks,

Dan

NANAMAN

Dan, a soil test would clear up a lot. If the PH is whacked, which I suspect it is, that would be easy enough to fix. With out a test, it's all just guessing! I would also mulch heavily, 2 days wk. watering in my S.Fl. yard just isn't enough.

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pitangadiego

Small leaves are the result of stress., beng pot bound, underwatered, very cold winter, or whatever. They should outgrow that. The Red Iho and the Suma X appear top be short on water, short on organics in the soil, short on mulch, and probaby also reacting to a very hot environment before they were well established. Be nice and be patient.

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