Hang9392

Can anyone tell me why my banana plants have leaves emerging looking like something is already eating on it? I have over 50 plants that have been inside of a heated breezeway since beginning of October 2014 and am located in Northeast Florida.

The plants were is SAD shape, originally located around a backyard pond and were dug up, split up (some not all) and placed in containers with "Ultimate Soil Mix" and fertilized with Osmocote 14-14-14 before bringing them inside.

The temperature in the breezeway is a around 75-80degrees F during the day and around 70-72 degrees F at night. I also have supplemental lighting in the form of 16 overhead 100 watt daylight and cool white CFL bulbs alternating 4 of each on each side of a light bar equipped with "Y" adapters giving me a total of 8 CFLs on each side. This light bar is an a timer for 15 hours daily/ On @ 5:00am - Off @ 8:00 pm. There are also 4 aluminum rectangular pans (disposal) filled with water to aid in maintaining the humidity level. I haven't measured the level.

I have tried applying (only once) a dawn (equivalent) and water solution in a small spray bottle to all of the plants leaves (top and bottom) back in the end of October (about 3 wks ago) but not since.

I just bought a 1 gallon pump up sprayer from Lowes and will try this solution again paying attention to hit each and every leave on each plant and see what happens.
This isn't really a big problem, just something I've noticed and do NOT want it to spread! I will keep you all posted.

Meanwhile, this seems to be an excellent light/temperature / humidity climate because ALL of the plants are thriving, producing nice, bright green leaf growth! I water each plant thoroughly every 2- 3 days (4 max.) until each pot has water draining from the drain holes on the side of the pot. I do this with a lever operated wand on a hose set on moderate spray pattern, keeping in mind the outside temp/ well water temp which eventually becomes around 60 degrees and not wanting to shock the plants with water that is TOO cold. I even have about 6 gallons of water I keep filled with tap water that I maintain at room temp (78- 80 degrees) to use when outside temp is too cold. I add about 1/2 cap of 10-10-10 liquid fertilizer per gallon (can't remember brand, Yellow plastic bottle w/ blue cap). After all, my goal is to maintain a perfect climate for growth in an attempt to flower and fruit as many plants as possible.

We just had our first freezing temps and below (29 degrees F), outside of course and my temps inside the breezeway are maintaining mid 70's daytime, low 70's at night.......by way of an 18k BTU wall mounted A/C-Heat Unit in an adjacent room with the door left open to the breezeway.

Lt me know if anyone has experienced the new leaf growth being eaten and if this an insect, what you used to get rid of it....Thx. I will post some recent pics of the plants .

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Hang9392 - Hardiness Zone 8B Callahan, Florida http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...oohoonaner.gif

lmswayne

I have had the same problem with mine. I don't know if you have snails down there but that is my problem up hear the snails lay there larva in the plant deep in the canter and the baby's eat on the tender leafs the holes look like there in a line across the leaf.

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Hang9392

Hmm, I have never seen a snail here and I've lived here over 20 years. I am mainly concerned because, I initially saw this on only 1 plant that I bought online (from tissue culture). It came in a small 1 quart pot. I repotted it after a month as recommend and after a week (basically unattended) I noticed the new leave(s) had holde eaten in it. Now that I have moved all o my plants inside and tending to them manually I do believe that I seeing eaten leaves (small holes, small amount) on a few plants). Just curious if or what I should spray them with something. I bought something at Lowes (a liquid) but, it says Not for Indoor Use. How serious is that warning. I am not Living in this space...it's just a breezeway between my house and an in-law suite (unoccupied).

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Hang9392 - Hardiness Zone 8B Callahan, Florida http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...oohoonaner.gif

Hang9392

hey, I just thought of something...what if it IS a snail....what do I do to get rid of it/them?

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Hang9392 - Hardiness Zone 8B Callahan, Florida http://www.bananas.org/images/smilie...oohoonaner.gif

lmswayne

I have no idea it seams as though as they get bigger they move on and I find them and feed them to the crows. Check the back of the leafs and in the center you have to move the leafs around a bit if it is a snail you cans see the little buggers and pick them out. Good luck I hope that is the problem because it is one you can find and get rid of.

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bananimal

Check out my post titled Banana grubby damage. Look at post number 6.

Also try to post some pics.

Banana Grubby Damage