jpfloors

Okay, I have two questions: I've never been around when my Dwarf Cavendish has flowered in the past (the only banana I've ever had til this year). I always ended up on Vacation when it's happened so I've never been around to see what the flag leaf looks like or the flower before emerging. Well this is my Third Generation plant (along with 7 others that I still have) and it began to pup a week ago, then a few days later a noticed a leaf MAJORLY smaller than the rest of the leaves, about 1/4 the size of the rest. But today it appears there is a new cigar leaf emerging. Is this a flag leaf and is that a flower forming, or is it possibly just a deformed leaf and it's just going to continue to grow til it is ready to flower? My next question is wondering why the leaves are forming new cigar leafs before the previous leave fully emerges? The first two generations of Dw. Cav. I had didn't do this. This was in a different area (Orlando, only 40+ miles west of where I am now). It is keeping the leaves VERY close together and tight as shown in the picture and they're not spreading out. Is the plant just over healthy (if there is such a thing)? LOL Thanks everyone!

jpfloors

Okay, feel silly now, but just thought of another possibility. It does look like another leaf, but it gets VERY THICK toward the middle of the P-stem where it's emerging... could it be two flag leafs? Maybe I lucked out and it's really a double mahoi instead of dwarf cav. Does that happen with those (receiving a flag leaf for each flower)? If it is, that's what you got MsKitty 8-) Hehehe but doubt it!

Dean W.

jpfloors, good luck w/ your bananas.

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Bananaman88

It's tought to tell for sure from your photos, but in my opinion it is not a flag leaf. You'll know when the bud is about to push out after the flag leaf because the bud tip will look distinctly different than a new leaf emerging. We have some Dw. Cavendish in the ground where I work and they look sort of like this right now, almost like the leaves are getting bunched up (hopefully not choking). I'd suggest trying to remove (peel off) some of the old brown leaf sheaths and see if that helps to allow you leaves to drop down and spread out a bit.

jpfloors

Actually that's been done, whenever it turns brown. Very weird. Hard to tell from the pic, I know. They'll be a leaf 3/4 the way out of the p-stem, one 1/2 way out, and then another 1/4 of the way out all at the same time. It's like it's producing its' new leaves too fast. This morning from last night, there isn't any change, probably will be this evening. But the "leaf" now emerging is VERY THICK, much thicker than I've ever seen. I'll keep posted on what happens. It just looks very weird compared to what I've seen it do in the past. But again, this'll be my first flower to view emerging. I can't wait!

damaclese

you said you move them to a new location maybe the conditions are such that the plants trying to protect its self (maybe from hotter sun) so its keeping its leafs closer in to the core of the plant for shade? in Vegas most plants put on thicker leafs in the summer compared to the winter foliage

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jpfloors

Thanks Pauly... good point, but it did it throughout the winter as well, which is also when I moved it so maybe that could be it. I inspected today again, the emerging leaf is the flag leaf, I'm sure of it. And at the top of the emerging point it is about 2" thick so I'm sure the flower is just under it, but now I'm VERY curious about the previous leaf that emerged... why did it come out 1/4 the size of all of the other leaves? It looks the EXACT same only much smaller. I'll take more pictures in a day or two when it's emerged even more. It's hard to tell much in the pictures right now with how bunched up the leaves are.

mskitty38583

well jp at least you might be getting a flower. that is so awesome!!!! and hey if the one i got is a dc or a double moahi i dont care, its a lovely tree no matter what kind it is. i love nana trees.. keeping my fingers crossed for your flower!

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jpfloors

Hehehe thanks Sam, I know it's not a double mahoi.. I wish LOL But I do have a TC that's about a foot tall of a double mahoi from Sandy... it's doing great as well! I keep going outside and looking at it. I can't wait until the flag leaf spreads out to reveal the flower! I think it might tomorrow. It'll be the first bloom I've ever seen as it's emerging!

damaclese

deverting its energy to building flower cells mabe?

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Bananaman88

Well, it does sound like you may be getting ready to see a bloom. The leaves do tend to get smaller just before flower emergence.

D_&_T

Here is to hope you get to see the emergence this time.

Is this the same mat ours came from?

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jpfloors

Thanks D&T. All of my DC's came from a single one I had started with two years ago. This one above is a third generation one, and I believe you got a fourth generation one, but couldn't say whether it came from this one specifically. When I moved I had three adults and a LOT of pups; 11 plants total.

mike

Good luck JP. My DW Cavandish had a lot bigger trunk before it flowered but It could be different growing conditions. I wish you luck.

hydrojeff

your killing me Josh, what does it look like now?post some pics dude.

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MediaHound

Congrats congrats!

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jpfloors

Here it is today! Just curious.. .the 1/4 size leaf that everyone seems to agree isn't a flag leaf has the stem turning red up the center of the leaf. Why is that if it isn't a flag? Little hard to tell in this picture.

Lagniappe

You really couldn't tell in the first pic .

Gabe gave a really nice description of leaf size in relation to bloom onset in this thread: Flowering Time


Congrats !

hydrojeff

so cool Josh, thanks for sharing, i know your stoked about it!!!!!!!!!

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damaclese

thanks for the updated pic looks like some ones going to be a dad soon heheh



Bananas do what they do go figure!

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