Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants

Simply Bananas · 08-10-2010, 10:08 AM

Hello:

I have a stand of Ice Creams that usually does well. This year, the plants are stunted, dwarfed, and have very odd shaped leaves.

6' of thick p-stem on the biggest one.

Paddle shaped leaves too.

I have two other stands, both are normal. Here is the closest stand...about 15 feet away. P-stem's up closer to 10 feet.

Any clues?
Thanks

blownz281 · 08-10-2010, 12:15 PM

Seems like the other mats look alot better in general? One getting more water or light?

Simply Bananas · 08-10-2010, 01:00 PM

The shorties get a little more light--perhaps an hour or two. Water should be about the same.

blownz281 · 08-10-2010, 01:07 PM

Feed them maybe? Just for the heck of it look for bugs...

pitangadiego · 08-10-2010, 01:09 PM

When in doubt, add water and then fertilizer. The brown leaves would indicate insufficient inputs, esp. water - either from too little water, or some issue inhibiting or destroying root growth (gophers, moles, way to soggy, etc).

Gabe15 · 08-10-2010, 01:37 PM

A few times I have seen fungi which do not normally attack Musa cause damage and strange growth when they infect the plants under certain conditions. This is one idea about what could be happening as it does not look like a normal banana disease, but the plant does look diseased. However, something like this is very difficult to diagnose, and for now I would recommend to just treat it like normal and see how it progresses.

Bananaman88 · 08-11-2010, 11:36 AM

Brown and stunted leaves could also mean too much water. This is probably unlikely but have you done a little exploratory digging to make sure all is well with the roots on the mat in question? IF the soil is staying saturated for some reason (busted water or irrigation pipe, poorly draining soil, etc.) you could have some root rot going on.

Simply Bananas · 08-11-2010, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bananaman88

Brown and stunted leaves could also mean too much water. This is probably unlikely but have you done a little exploratory issue to make sure all is well with the roots on the mat in question? IF the soil is staying saturated for some reason (busted water or irrigation pipe, poorly draining soil, etc.) you could have some root rot going on.

We have sandy soil so drainage is not a problem. No busted water pipe or irrigation lines.

Its actually all 3 p-stems that are affected. Mis-shapen leaves and that dwarfy appearance.

I am guessing that it is perhaps some cheap fertilizer that went bad or something similar.

sandy0225 · 08-12-2010, 03:22 PM

Fertilizer doesn't really go bad. I think it looks like a root problem. most likely some kind of rot on the roots due to stress or bad drainage at some time. I bet if you were to dig up that plant the roots wouldn't look right. You could put some systemic fungicide on that plant, like bonide systemic that will go though the plant and treat the roots too. The organic people here might have other ideas though.

pineapplefarmerwannabe · 08-15-2010, 06:05 PM

the first thing that came to mind is to check the soil for acidity where you dug them up from and where that at.I think it might be more alkaline or most acidity.

Simply Bananas · 08-15-2010, 07:23 PM

They have been there for 6 years. The first 5 they were fine, produced fruit and all the other good things.

Bananaman88 · 08-16-2010, 02:54 PM

They may have depleted the surrounding soil of nutrients. I'd suggest adding some comost to the surface of the soil. Earthworms and other micororganisms will help break it down and pull it down into the soil profile amending your soil. A good aged compost can work wonders!

Simply Bananas · 08-16-2010, 03:03 PM

Twice a year they get a big bag of partially composted grass clippings as well as occasional vege scraps from the kitchen....like all the others.

Holes left by dug up pups get filled with composted manure.

All winter leaf and p-stem damage is left with each matte for re-incorporation.

08-10-2010, 10:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Simply Bananas Formerly known as porkpi Simply Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: James Island SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b-9a Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 854 BananaBucks : 287,995 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants Hello: I have a stand of Ice Creams that usually does well. This year, the plants are stunted, dwarfed, and have very odd shaped leaves. 6' of thick p-stem on the biggest one. Paddle shaped leaves too. I have two other stands, both are normal. Here is the closest stand...about 15 feet away. P-stem's up closer to 10 feet. Any clues? Thanks __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

08-10-2010, 12:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
blownz281 Location: Coastal NC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b coastal Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,373 BananaBucks : 350,483 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 440 Times Was Thanked 756 Times in 534 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 14 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants Seems like the other mats look alot better in general? One getting more water or light?

08-10-2010, 01:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Simply Bananas Formerly known as porkpi Simply Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: James Island SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b-9a Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 854 BananaBucks : 287,995 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants The shorties get a little more light--perhaps an hour or two. Water should be about the same. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

08-10-2010, 01:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
blownz281 Location: Coastal NC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b coastal Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 1,373 BananaBucks : 350,483 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 440 Times Was Thanked 756 Times in 534 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 14 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants Feed them maybe? Just for the heck of it look for bugs...

08-10-2010, 01:09 PM	#5 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 1,481 BananaBucks : 129,690 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2 Times Was Thanked 2,707 Times in 923 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants When in doubt, add water and then fertilizer. The brown leaves would indicate insufficient inputs, esp. water - either from too little water, or some issue inhibiting or destroying root growth (gophers, moles, way to soggy, etc). __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

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08-10-2010, 01:37 PM	#6 (permalink)
Gabe15 Moderator Gabe15's Photo Gallery Location: Oahu, Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 12 Name: Gabe Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 3,892 BananaBucks : 13,340,017 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 8,237 Times in 2,200 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 8 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants A few times I have seen fungi which do not normally attack Musa cause damage and strange growth when they infect the plants under certain conditions. This is one idea about what could be happening as it does not look like a normal banana disease, but the plant does look diseased. However, something like this is very difficult to diagnose, and for now I would recommend to just treat it like normal and see how it progresses. __________________ Growing bananas in Colorado, Washington, Hawaii since 2004. Commercial banana farmer, 200+ varieties.

08-11-2010, 11:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 217,012 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants Brown and stunted leaves could also mean too much water. This is probably unlikely but have you done a little exploratory digging to make sure all is well with the roots on the mat in question? IF the soil is staying saturated for some reason (busted water or irrigation pipe, poorly draining soil, etc.) you could have some root rot going on. Last edited by Bananaman88 : 08-16-2010 at 02:52 PM. Reason: typed wrong word

08-12-2010, 03:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 355,374 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants Fertilizer doesn't really go bad. I think it looks like a root problem. most likely some kind of rot on the roots due to stress or bad drainage at some time. I bet if you were to dig up that plant the roots wouldn't look right. You could put some systemic fungicide on that plant, like bonide systemic that will go though the plant and treat the roots too. The organic people here might have other ideas though. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

08-15-2010, 06:05 PM	#10 (permalink)
pineapplefarmerwannabe pineapplefarmerwannabe's Photo Gallery Location: baton rouge/new orleans Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brian Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 38 BananaBucks : 3,067 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 19 Times in 10 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants the first thing that came to mind is to check the soil for acidity where you dug them up from and where that at.I think it might be more alkaline or most acidity. __________________ "A smart man can run a country,only a really smart man could survive in the wild."

08-15-2010, 07:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
Simply Bananas Formerly known as porkpi Simply Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: James Island SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b-9a Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 854 BananaBucks : 287,995 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants They have been there for 6 years. The first 5 they were fine, produced fruit and all the other good things. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

08-16-2010, 02:54 PM	#12 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 217,012 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants They may have depleted the surrounding soil of nutrients. I'd suggest adding some comost to the surface of the soil. Earthworms and other micororganisms will help break it down and pull it down into the soil profile amending your soil. A good aged compost can work wonders!

08-16-2010, 03:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
Simply Bananas Formerly known as porkpi Simply Bananas's Photo Gallery Location: James Island SC Find me on the map! Zone: 8b-9a Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 854 BananaBucks : 287,995 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 478 Times Was Thanked 1,191 Times in 335 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 458 Times	Re: Goofy Acting Ice Cream Banana Plants Twice a year they get a big bag of partially composted grass clippings as well as occasional vege scraps from the kitchen....like all the others. Holes left by dug up pups get filled with composted manure. All winter leaf and p-stem damage is left with each matte for re-incorporation. __________________ Afterall...doesn't everyone want a bigger Banana? Our Banana Videos On YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCii..._p_tJVXZOHAdRA

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