JSTHouseholds

I know I probably should have made an introduction post first since I'm new here, but I really wanted some advice for a Gros Michel tc I bought a month ago. I live in zone 6a, so if it's a dumb idea for me to try growing a variety as tropical as gros michel here, feel free to tell me because it would only serve to help me out. First of all, I think it may have gotten pretty cold during shipping (~30°F). I bought a shipping heat pack for it, but it was pretty cool by the time it got here. I could tell something was wrong with the plant as soon as I opened the box because it already had leaves dying and I immediately emailed the seller. He said it looked fine. The issue is that the plant has not grown since it got here and is slowly drying out and losing its leaves. My room only gets to around 40% humidity this time of year. Could it not be getting enough light as well? I have a dwarf namwah and "blue java" pups growing in the same spot and they all seem to be happy as a clam and growing like weeds (at least relatively lol). I actually ordered the dwarf namwah at the same time as my gros michel and it handled the shipping MUCH better, which is leading me to think they probably got harmed by the cold at least somewhat. Can cold ever make a banana plant slowly die off? Maybe it just contributed to how stressed the plant is in a fairly dry and cool room like mine, I don't know. My room is usually 67-70°F and I have a heating pad if you think that would be good for it. From what I understand, Gros Michel is not as cold hardy as my other varieties and should never get cold at all. I think it might need more humidity. At one point, I taped a plastic baggie on the pot to give it some humidity and it started turning yellow, so I guess it was too much. Looking back, I shouldn't have taped it ha ha. I watered it a little bit when it was still damp at one point and I'm willing to bet that was a bad idea indoors. If you need any more information just let me know; I just couldn't think of anything else to include. I put the images on my gallery in case I messed up linking them.


Thanks in advance to anyone that gives ME of all people time out of their day. I probably should have made a member introduction first, so, I'm sorry about that. I just felt I had to ask about this guy fast because it seems to get worse everyday and I have no idea what to do about it lol. I hope this wasn't too annoying of a first post and I can't wait to grow bananas with all of you this season.

Iowa

__________________
Growing Musa Orinoco since 1993 - Added 2018-Basjoo, Zebrina' Rojo, Ensete Red Abyssinian - Added 2019-Goldfinger - Added 2020-Kokopo (Short Cycle), Double (Mahoi), Highgate, Super Dwarf Cavendish - Added 2021-Pisang Ceylon(Mysore), Musa Margarita, Ensete Ventricosum - Added 2023 - Siam Ruby

JSTHouseholds

Ok! I'll definitely do that. Thank you!

sddarkman619

Kinda sounds like the same stuff I told you when you emailed me.
"do not water it until the soil is dry."

Except I would NOT plant it into a larger pot, why?
Because:
1) the soil needs to be able to dry out between watering.
2) a larger pot will hold the water longer and it is too big for the small root system to use that water efficiently, especially during this time of year and could cause root rot.
3) as I said just let it recover form the shipping and keep me posted. If it dies I'll replace it.

yes taping the bag onto the pot was a bad idea for several reasons.
1) no air exchange
2) the soil can't dry out because it is now trapped in there.

If the air is not heated in your house then leave the tent off. and by tent I meant like just a bag , somewhat open so the air can exchange but something that can keep some humidity in.
Maybe mist whats' left of the leaf occasionally.

Gros Michel are VERY tropical plants and DO NOT do well in cold. even here in San Diego.
The heat pack was a 60 hour pack and your shipment took longer than expected thanks to USPS and the mess they are in.

__________________
Ca Licensed Nursery - Snail/Disease Free and Inspected:
Bountiful Garden Nursery - A1469.001

Banana Plants for Sale
https://www.bananatreesforsale.com

Sign up to the Newsletter for Updates:
Sign Up Here

JSTHouseholds

That's beyond kind of you to replace the plant if I ended up killing it, but I really don't want you to have to pay for a mistake I made. I posted here trying to gather all the info I can to help it survive in our state. Thanks for being a great seller. You were right about just leaving it be though, I should really chill out lol.

sddarkman619

You have 30 days form date it was received for a replacement. as I said keep me posted. If it's been affected by the cold in transit, that's not your mistake.

__________________
Ca Licensed Nursery - Snail/Disease Free and Inspected:
Bountiful Garden Nursery - A1469.001

Banana Plants for Sale
https://www.bananatreesforsale.com

Sign up to the Newsletter for Updates:
Sign Up Here