dying banana tree
 

I brought my banana tree inside for the winter about 3 weeks ago. It experienced some gluttination at first but it was still growing a new leaf and going strong. Now the leaves are turning yellow and becoming brown at the ends and the new leaf has stopped growing. Anything i can do to save it. This is my first banana tree.

Thanks!

Re: dying banana tree
 

Your banana plant does not like growing conditions in your house. I know none of mine like it in my house! The best you can hope for is just to try to keep it alive in a sunny windowsill. Do NOT overwater it inside! That is a really quick way to kill a banana. Wait until the leaves look like they are wilting, and the soil is very dry, to water the plant. Was your banana potted outside, or in the ground? If it was in the ground, that would explain a lot. That would be transplant shock. If it was potted, and you merely brought it inside, it is trying to adjust to its new environment. Can you take a picture of it?

Re: dying banana tree
 

:0491: thats how some of them look for a while!

I learned some of indoor care last winter with my citrus, running a humidifier or misting the leaves seems to make the naners happy so far.

What are the recs on fertilizing in the winter? Im planning on very sparing liquid ferts once a month...?

Re: dying banana tree
 

I'd also like to HIGHLY recommend concern brand insecticidal soap spray. It is the most amazing thing for totally eradicating spider mites.

Re: dying banana tree
 

How about digging up the plant and removing the soil around the roots and letting it go dormant. I know it isn't easy to grow them inside. I had several die last year from rot due to overwatering. My recommendation would be to stop watering and maybe dig it up and let it go dormant.

Re: dying banana tree
 

Mostly, it's lack of light.

Beeing used to outside light, they pop out 1 or 2 leaves when brought to the warmer inside, using stored energy. When the naner eventually runs out of energy, there is no new energy source (in this case light) to keep it going. In my opinion, dry air is not the main concern, low light levels are.

I solved this problem by using a high power natrium lamp. Now my biggest concern is keeping the plants contained until next spring!:2748:

Erlend

Re: dying banana tree
 

Let me share something that I learned.

I bought a couple of dwarf cavs a few years ago for indoors. I watered them and kept them moist for a few months and they did okay. After a few months I got really sick and was pretty much stuck in bed for 2 months. During this time they were in a room with a window facing S and one facing W. The blinds were opened so they got some light through a screened window. The temp was about 70f the whole time and they never were watered or misted. They still looked pretty good! When I felt better I started watering, and they took off. Only problem is one of them got more light than the other. They were both watered equally, and the one with just a little less light curled up and died.

This was a very small difference in light but it seemed to make the difference. The one that survived I put in the yard in April and it is doing great. 6'+ to the top of the leaves and 3 pups.

I also bought a cav pup this year and put it in a pot for a couple of months. I noticed when I lighlty watered it, I could see the area right above the roots dry out in a day or two. Then watered it a little again.

They do like water but it's relative to the size of the plant and the amount of light.

On misting:It worked well for me for awhile until I started seeing little brown burns on the leaves. I stopped misting and they went away. I tried misting with dechlorinated water and they love it! It's something about the city water here. It's very acidic. The roots seem to love it but not the leaves.

Garnetmoth, I plan on planting some of them in earthworm castings and just watering them lightly. That should take care of the fertilizer issue during the winter.
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D'.