Bonnie

I was so excited when my Dwarf Cavendish bloomed and as the flowers started to open. Now it looks to me that they are prematurely turning dark at the tip of the flowers.
My hubby is 6'1" and you can see how large the bud is when we first saw it.

I forgot how to post pictures but here is the URL on my website where there are 3 pictures.
New Page 1

Island Brah

Hi Bonnie,

I'm not versed enough in bananas to tell you what is happening but I know some experts will chime in.

I'm in a very similar zone (border of 7b & 8a) as you and I'm curious what method you used to get it to bloom in Newton, NC with your winter temps?

Thanks!

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Bonnie

We have a 96' greenhouse (we grow and sell aquatic plants) where my banana trees are kept for the winter. I have about 8 trees all together.
I have another tree that just sent up a flag leaf a couple of days ago.

Tytaylor77

Looks like it's just the end of the bunch. Is there any hands with normal curved fingers on them above the pictures? If so this is totally normal. If you could take a picture backed off a few feet showing the entire bunch it would help a lot.

Also the flowers do not look good long. They start to turn black very fast. I've never timed it but I would say within 2 days for sure.

Post more pictures and we can help tell if everything is normal.
Congrats on the bunch!
A dwarf cav bunch in NC is impressive! It took me 3 years of trying to get my gran nain to bloom early enough To fully ripen.

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Bonnie

I added 2 more pictures here:
New Page 1

The top picture shows the top hand of fingers.
The 2nd picture shows the entire bloom. So does it look normal to you?

Tytaylor77

No it is not normal. It's like the fingers did not develop. Very strange. I have never seen anything like this. Hopefully a Musa expert like Gabe will see the post and tell us what it is.

Maybe genetics? Have you ever see a bunch from this clone? Or was it a TC?

Maybe it's just not developed due to conditions. Greenhouse, etc. I have had friends get small bunches that had no normal fingers. Just small ones that were aborted.

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beam2050

I have had friends get small bunches that had no normal fingers. Just small ones that were aborted.[/quote]

I have friends that did it to. lack of fertilizer.

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npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7

npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5

Bonnie

We did have a couple of nights around 50 after I saw the flower. But then it seemed to progress nicely. It does get fertilized about every 4 weeks.
What is TC?

Tytaylor77

TC = Tissue culture.

I agree with beam2050 it can be caused by lack of fert. Potassium I would guess. I think it can be caused by other things too. About half of the ones I've seen started as potted plants then were transplanted into the ground after being in the pot for some time (small pot I should say). Could also be not enough water or too much. I doubt the cold caused it.

100% of the ones I have seen it was the first bunch ever off the mat/plant! After a pup comes up and flowers it should be fine if it is taken care of. Bananas need lots of potassium!! What fertilizer are you using?

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Bonnie

What is TC?

Bonnie

No it is not a Tissue Culture but a pup that matured. The plant is in a 25 gallon pot.