HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

Hi Everyone,

I'm a new member. I've read through the forums for the last few years but never joined. I've been a Musa Basjoo owner for several years now. Last year was the first year for my current plant. I cut it down (to about 2 ft height) and wintered it as normal. Due to the late cold this spring I waited longer than normal to uncover it. As a result the first leaf/shoot was pushing against the top of the container and was curled up. However, after some time and fertilizer it finally got going and was growing well. I used a mixture of "Banana Fuel" fertilizer and Miracle Grow. I normally just fertilize with the Banana Fuel but wanted the extra nitrogen of the Miracle Grow to get it going from its stunted start. Unfortunately, over the last couple of weeks something is starting to go wrong. My leaves are getting smaller and opening before they completely emerge from the pseudostem (see pictures). I've never had this happen before and don't know what is causing this. Can anyone tell me what is causing this and what I can do to get my banana back on track to growing normally and producing nice big leaves? Thanks!

P.S. I also posted this in the Cold Hardy Banana forum but also posted it here as I thought more people would see it here.

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Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

May be getting ready to push out a bloom?

Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

Shouldn't be. Only been uncovered and sprouting from the winter "stump" for about 6 weeks. This will be only the 6th leaf pushed out. Last Basjoo I had got to 25-30 feet by the end of summer and still hadn't put on a bloom. Am in Illinois and Mid-May to October is about the full growing season.

Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

We'll see. Just don't think so. Basjoo usually requires 12-24 months of warmth to bloom. This was wintered outside. Including last summer it probably has only had 5 months of warmth.

Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

That would be TOTAL and not required to be continuous; and above 55 deg F.


I did make a longer post above, but it appears to gotten deleted. I agree the last 2 leaves showing are a pre-flag & a flag leaf. .... Look inside the partially rolled & open leaf to see if the top of a bud is showing

Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

Yeah, it's about to flower. That is why the leaf is different.

Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

Well you are correct. It is flowering. Kinda sucks to have a Basjoo flowering at 5 ft tall but it is what it is I guess. Will be interesting to see things develop. I have a new question now. I have a sword sucker that is growing next to it that I have left alone. I have removed any other suckers. Should I leave the one sword sucker or remove it too? How big will the sucker get while the mother plant flowers and develops fruit? Again, this is a Musa Basjoo so it's not like the fruit is going to be edible.

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Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

That's 4 foot taller then this one.

Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

LOL. That's crazy. Suggestions on the sword sucker? Leave it?

Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

Re: HELP: Growth Slowing Problem
 

25-30 feet in the midwest in a single growing season? That's HUGE! What are your techniques? Mine, fed by fish emulsion, are lucky to hit 10 feet with the leaves standing straight up by the end of the growing season, in neighboring Iowa.