Banana Leaf Problems--Please Help!

andy17 · 07-13-2014, 10:19 PM

Hello everyone,
I hope everyone is having a good summer! So I've recently noticed these mysterious leaf problems on several of my banana plants. It has been very hot and dry here ( >90 F temps with no rain in 2-3 weeks). Despite supplemental watering every morning, they can be bone dry it seems by the end of the day sometimes. I can't tell if its heat stress/leaf burn or maybe dehydration or fertilizer burn or something else? Two of them also look very pale green instead of a healthy, deep green. But in their state, I'm afraid fertilizer (if it isn't the cause), would make it worse. Any help would be really appreciated!

cincinnana · 07-14-2014, 06:48 AM

I think you answered your question in the second sentence.

Looking at your photos as a whole and taking account of the surroundings my first impression would be heat/lack of water stress. Concrete makes a wonderful heat sink and will readily hold residual heat and perhaps the fence is reflecting some also. Keep in mind that if the ambient air temperature is 90 then your container is going to much hotter than that on the concrete/deck.

Many of my container plants will fold their leaves during heat of the day only to unfold once the sun goes down.
If your plant is newly transplanted the symptoms might be magnified a bit because the roots are not supplying the plants demand for water and nutes.
Larger saucers to hold extra water will help also with the plants needs.

You could move them to shadier/cooler location for a week or so and watch them perk up.

merce3 · 07-14-2014, 01:44 PM

looks like the same issue i had. i thought it was sunburn, but overfertilization was suggested by another member. whatever it was it grew out of it. i suspect overfert because the next leaf was super long

07-14-2014, 06:48 AM	#2 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,878 BananaBucks : 5,121 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,914 Times Was Thanked 11,779 Times in 4,912 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,957 Times	Re: Banana Leaf Problems--Please Help! I think you answered your question in the second sentence. Looking at your photos as a whole and taking account of the surroundings my first impression would be heat/lack of water stress. Concrete makes a wonderful heat sink and will readily hold residual heat and perhaps the fence is reflecting some also. Keep in mind that if the ambient air temperature is 90 then your container is going to much hotter than that on the concrete/deck. Many of my container plants will fold their leaves during heat of the day only to unfold once the sun goes down. If your plant is newly transplanted the symptoms might be magnified a bit because the roots are not supplying the plants demand for water and nutes. Larger saucers to hold extra water will help also with the plants needs. You could move them to shadier/cooler location for a week or so and watch them perk up. __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴

07-14-2014, 01:44 PM	#3 (permalink)
merce3 Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 538 BananaBucks : 75,431 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,092 Times Was Thanked 1,107 Times in 382 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 257 Times	Re: Banana Leaf Problems--Please Help! looks like the same issue i had. i thought it was sunburn, but overfertilization was suggested by another member. whatever it was it grew out of it. i suspect overfert because the next leaf was super long __________________

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