Healthy plants falling over unexpectedly

Kanana · 07-20-2022, 10:26 AM

We had a severe thunderstorm last Thursday afternoon and even has some hail here in SW FL. There were high winds with gusts reportedly up to 50mph. Even before this storm I had seen a couple of plants just fold over from the top. We’ve had a lot of rain since June and July has been pretty wet up until the last couple of days with no rain. I’ve had these bananas in this patch in my backyard for several years now. First time I’ve seen what appears to be a healthy plant just fold over and die. These are plants that weren’t flowering or anything.

Tinfoil hat theory is my HOA is sneaking around at night and one by one trying to kill off my banana trees. The HOA thought it was a great idea to not just prune the 10 foot Viburnum hedge that separates the community from the main road, but hack it down to stumps…. This hedge provided privacy and a sound barrier. Now it’s louder and I can actually see the colors of clothes the people driving in their cars are wearing.

Here are some pictures I took last night:

https://imgur.com/a/7i6rOKJ

Akula · 07-20-2022, 10:41 AM

I've had plants get pulled out of the soil, snap off right at the base, and snap in half after a storm with wind i.e. hurricanes, crazy thunderstorms, squalls, etc. It happens.

Kanana · 07-20-2022, 10:47 AM

So I need to cut it down at the base as I’m assuming once it folds over the plant is done?

Akula · 07-20-2022, 11:00 AM

Chop it off at the break with an angle cut and see what happens. It should continue to grow.

Kanana · 07-20-2022, 12:23 PM

What’s the best tool to cut it? I have long handled loppers and hedge shears but these stems are too thick for even them

Akula · 07-20-2022, 12:31 PM

I would use either a machete, a hand saw, or a reciprocating saw.

beam2050 · 07-20-2022, 03:01 PM

8 inch fillet knife

Kanana · 07-20-2022, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beam2050

8 inch fillet knife

Wasn’t sure you were serious, but I can see a fillet knife should work well. Maybe a dedicated knife just for the bananas? Will one of the cheap ones under $20 on Amazon be adequate?

beam2050 · 07-21-2022, 06:03 AM

its all i use, got mine from walmart. probably paid...10.00. dont get too wild with it, they are thin, they will break. an 8 inch will cut thru the rib bones of a large red fish which can be a bit tough.

07-20-2022, 10:26 AM	#1 (permalink)
Kanana Location: SW Florida Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 138 BananaBucks : 20,126 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 104 Times in 63 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Healthy plants falling over unexpectedly We had a severe thunderstorm last Thursday afternoon and even has some hail here in SW FL. There were high winds with gusts reportedly up to 50mph. Even before this storm I had seen a couple of plants just fold over from the top. We’ve had a lot of rain since June and July has been pretty wet up until the last couple of days with no rain. I’ve had these bananas in this patch in my backyard for several years now. First time I’ve seen what appears to be a healthy plant just fold over and die. These are plants that weren’t flowering or anything. Tinfoil hat theory is my HOA is sneaking around at night and one by one trying to kill off my banana trees. The HOA thought it was a great idea to not just prune the 10 foot Viburnum hedge that separates the community from the main road, but hack it down to stumps…. This hedge provided privacy and a sound barrier. Now it’s louder and I can actually see the colors of clothes the people driving in their cars are wearing. Here are some pictures I took last night: https://imgur.com/a/7i6rOKJ

07-20-2022, 10:41 AM	#2 (permalink)
Akula Location: Pensacola, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9a Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 1,236 BananaBucks : 70,492 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,540 Times Was Thanked 2,381 Times in 809 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 128 Times	Re: Healthy plants falling over unexpectedly I've had plants get pulled out of the soil, snap off right at the base, and snap in half after a storm with wind i.e. hurricanes, crazy thunderstorms, squalls, etc. It happens.

07-20-2022, 10:47 AM	#3 (permalink)
Kanana Location: SW Florida Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 138 BananaBucks : 20,126 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 104 Times in 63 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Healthy plants falling over unexpectedly So I need to cut it down at the base as I’m assuming once it folds over the plant is done?

07-20-2022, 11:00 AM	#4 (permalink)
Akula Location: Pensacola, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9a Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 1,236 BananaBucks : 70,492 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,540 Times Was Thanked 2,381 Times in 809 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 128 Times	Re: Healthy plants falling over unexpectedly Chop it off at the break with an angle cut and see what happens. It should continue to grow.

07-20-2022, 12:23 PM	#5 (permalink)
Kanana Location: SW Florida Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 138 BananaBucks : 20,126 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 14 Times Was Thanked 104 Times in 63 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Healthy plants falling over unexpectedly What’s the best tool to cut it? I have long handled loppers and hedge shears but these stems are too thick for even them

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07-20-2022, 12:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
Akula Location: Pensacola, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: Zone 9a Join Date: Jul 2017 Posts: 1,236 BananaBucks : 70,492 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,540 Times Was Thanked 2,381 Times in 809 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 128 Times	Re: Healthy plants falling over unexpectedly I would use either a machete, a hand saw, or a reciprocating saw.

07-20-2022, 03:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
beam2050 banana cereal killer Location: middleburg fl. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b-8a Name: walkinbeam Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 2,432 BananaBucks : 42 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10,738 Times Was Thanked 3,359 Times in 1,545 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 816 Times	Re: Healthy plants falling over unexpectedly 8 inch fillet knife __________________ ................................................... npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7 npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5

07-21-2022, 06:03 AM	#9 (permalink)
beam2050 banana cereal killer Location: middleburg fl. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b-8a Name: walkinbeam Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 2,432 BananaBucks : 42 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 10,738 Times Was Thanked 3,359 Times in 1,545 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 816 Times	Re: Healthy plants falling over unexpectedly its all i use, got mine from walmart. probably paid...10.00. dont get too wild with it, they are thin, they will break. an 8 inch will cut thru the rib bones of a large red fish which can be a bit tough. __________________ ................................................... npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7 npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5 Last edited by beam2050 : 07-21-2022 at 06:39 AM.

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