Broken Stem
 

Well I kept my banana growing in the greenhouse all winter and we had a late cold spell and I had to put it back in. I was trying to move it around and it fell over and broke the stalk. It did not break all the way through though. I wrapped it with a rope at the break to make it stronger. It appears to be doing ok. Does anyone know if it will grow back together.

Thanks,

Robert

Re: Broken Stem
 

Three years ago, I transported a 6 ft. banana plant 25 miles in the back of my pickup truck. By the time I got home, the pseudostem had broken. When I planted it, I placed 3 stakes in the ground up against the pstem at 12, 4, & 8 o'clock (the plant had a small corm). I then used duct tape & wrapped around the stakes & pstem to support it. The plant initially put out leaves that were "ripped" in half, but eventually made a total recovery.

You do need to be careful not to wrap the pstem too tightly, as you can constrict the new growth (I've done that, too :o )

As your plant grows new leaves, creating undamaged pseudostem, your plant will heal from the inside out. :)

Re: Broken Stem
 

You can only wait and see. It you see new leaves appearing, that is very good. As each new leaf rises throgh the center, it will strengthen the pseudostem, but continue to support it until all current leaves have died off. If you don't see new leaves appearing when weather is warm enough and it should be growing, then you may need to cut if off below the folded spot to let new leaves out.

Re: Broken Stem
 

Thanks for the responses. I wrapped a rope around it and it appears to be doing ok. The new leaf that was coming out is unfurling ok. Maybe I will get lucky. I will loosen the rope up a little at a time. It does have an 18" pup so all is not lost. I just wanted to get it to bloom so I can find out what kind it is.

Thanks,
Robert

Re: Broken Stem
 

Well the plant has put on 3 leaves since the broken stem. I took the rope off and it looks like it will be ok. The last leaf to come out is about 1.5 ft longer than any other prior leaf, whole leaf is much larger than any previous one. Does that mean anything ? When it was growing last year all the leaves were the same size. Will try to get pic tomorrow. Know its a stupid question but this is my first banana, however I did also plant what is supposed to be a small Red Iholene.



Thanks
Robert