Dwarf Cavendish Leaf Clump Problem
 

Hi,

Some of you who have grown Dwarf Cavendish (Musa acuminata) before have probably bumped up against this problem.

The leaves at some point in time (probably 5 months ago, it's about 3 years old) started growing at a rate faster than the banana can grow up. That means its beginning to clump a bunch of leaves together.

Is this common? How come it's not growing much vertically? the leaves and plant itself looks very healthy, however, I read this might be a common problem for this type of banana.

Any advice?

Thanks

Re: Dwarf Cavendish Leaf Clump Problem
 

Yes, it does happen but fruits normal non the less. Seems to happen more often on the "water sucker" plants than the "sword suckers".

Re: Dwarf Cavendish Leaf Clump Problem
 

Is this what you are talking about? ...This happened to one of my Dwarf Cavendish.....rather than cut the clump off the stalk, I took a knife and did surgery. Just cut into where it was clumped to release the leaves. [IMG][/IMG]

Re: Dwarf Cavendish Leaf Clump Problem
 

[quote=mari@adams.net;331218]Is this what you are talking about? ...This happened to one of my Dwarf Cavendish.....rather than cut the clump off the stalk, I took a knife and did surgery. Just cut into where it was clumped to release the leaves.

choke is where the next leaf can't come out at all, I believe what the poster is referring to is where the leaves come out so fast they are just right on top of one another instead of having a few inches of vertical growth between each of them.

Re: Dwarf Cavendish Leaf Clump Problem
 

Do you mean like this?
Is this normal growth, do I need to cut the top off so that it can start again?
Can’t figure out how to rotate the photo, sorry.

Re: Dwarf Cavendish Leaf Clump Problem
 

That doesn't look like a DC. ... it looks to be a Truly Tiny or Little Joey.. I can't see the base of the Pstem at the soil line well. If the pstem has a big bulge & it appears to be, it is a Joey. The leaves are normal for these plants.

Re: Dwarf Cavendish Leaf Clump Problem
 

That may be normal for your plant, but that is kind of what one of my dwarf cavendish was doing when I decided to pull down and cut away some of the outside of the stem....seemed to release something and the leaves started growing okay again.

Re: Dwarf Cavendish Leaf Clump Problem
 

There is a Super Dwf Cav that is sometimes sold as a Truly Tiny. The Super Dwf Cav get about 4 to 5 ft at the pstem crown. The Truly Tiny and Little Joey maxs out at 3 ft at the pstem crown.

Re: Dwarf Cavendish Leaf Clump Problem
 

Dude, I think your plant's got Banana Bunchy Top.