HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Hi everyone,

I'm from Sydney, Australia. I'm not sure how many aussies are using this forum.

Anyway, I bought this banana tree from some guy in Gumtree a month ago. It was potted.
I planted it and it was growing weird leaves but I cut them off and then later until now it grows normal leaves then this morning, this leaf looks strange to me.

I don't know if it's starting to show signs of Bunchy symptoms?

If it is really Bunchy, please advise how to remove it. What herbicide would I need to buy from Bunnings?











Thank you for your help, guys.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

I have a feeling that they could be water suckers after reading the post on distinguishing water suckers and swords.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

You do not have Bunchy Symptom.

Water suckers and sword suckers only differ by irrigation and soil nutrients. In the long run they both produce equivalent bunches of bananas. The "water vs. sword" distinction is something introduced by unscrupulous sellers of banana plants.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Calcium & Boron deficiency I'm guessing. Putting some lime in the soil should make future leaves come out more green without that thatched pattern.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Also, as me, you can use crushed egg shells around your 'nanas!......a good source of calcium!.....


*****one of my favorite words*****


"BIO-RECYCLE!".........:bananarow:

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Thank you for telling me that. I was worried that if the banana has it, then it may spread it to other banana trees nearby.
May I know what is the surefire way to know if the banana is suffering from bunchy symptoms?

I was this close to cutting the banana tree down and burn it or something equally.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

I don't have any lime or eggs on me, so I guess I'll have to go to the shops to see what fertilizers they have! :)

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Ditto what Rob said. Classic symptoms of calcium and/or boron deficiency.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Is the banana plant a Lady Finger variety.?

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

BBTV (Banana bunchy top virus) symptoms can vary between varieties, but generally you will see that newer leaves are shorter and narrower than the previous ones, the plants stop gaining height with each new leaf, and the leaves are often yellow on the edges and become brittle.

Your plant does not appear to show BBTV symptoms.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Thanks, I will be going to buy this - Richgro Natural Dolomite Lime fertiliser

https://www.bunnings.com.au/richgro-...-lime_p2985046

Hope this will help nurse the banana back to health.

I'm not really sure. When I bought this plant, the seller doesn't know what type of banana it is, he only knows that it can grow up to 5 feet or higher.

Thank you. I literally took the meaning "bunchy" as in the leaves are curled up so I mistakenly thought this banana plant has BBTV.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

It might not. Sometimes calcium and boron are both deficient (e.g., in Hawaii), other times it is one or the other (e.g., boron in my soil). In those cases, adding the wrong one will either exacerbate the problem or not have any effect. If you add that dolomite lime fertilizer and your problem is a boron deficiency, that won't help. The best thing to do is get a soil and leaf tissue analysis to figure out what is deficient. Absent that, I'd add both, not one or the other. For boron, just add a tiny bit of regular old borax. For a large established mat, I use 1-2 teaspoons every 6 months or so, per the Keppler and Rust banana book. Foliar sprays with boron in them are a quick fix for boron deficiency.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Thank you for your sage advice. It's a bit too late for me, I have already added lime fertilizer to the soil near the banana plants in the morning then I read your advice just now. I hope the problem has not been exacerbated. I guess I'll just give it a week and see what happens.
After reading your advice, I went to the shop to look for boron fertilizer or foliar sprays with boron in them. Nope, don't find any except a powder with 0.08 boron in it. So I used it.

So I'll give it a week then I'll take photo of it as progress.

Thanks again.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

You are welcome. Took me a while to figure out that I had a boron deficiency and how to deal with it. There is no harm in scattering a little bit of borax (again not more than 2 teaspoons per mat) around your plants now, even though you've added lime fertilizer.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

What type and how much fertilizer was applied when the banana was planted? Did the fertilizer include micro elements & nutrients? ... Is it possible too much was applied or in direct contact of the roots; thus the roots were damaged? This would account for the nice green growth then sudden yellow leaves.

For a calcium deficiency, I would expect more yellowing at the edge and greener near the midrib; then progressive chlorosis (death) of the leaf. A general yellowing of the leaf is indicative of nitrogen deficiency. Here is a link to banana plant deficiency symptoms and corrective action with pictures. Banana plant deficiency symptoms and corrective measures [compatibili…

Assuming the root system is good and not damaged when planted. I think you have a general lack of all the micro & macro elements and nutrients. I would apply nutrient supplements to the soil and apply a folar spray with nitrogen, calcium and potassium once a week for 4 to 6 weeks. ... Then re-evaluate the plant.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Cheers, mate. Diagonising banana illness can be very tricky as we don't know what deficency they are having. I guess it's always about the soil. The soil is probably sandy and thick/not easy to drain hence the boron or calcium deficiency.

Before the banana was planted, I think there was some fertilizer in the soil so probably you're right, the root might have touched the fertilizer. This is a mistake I have made, in hindsight. I hope it doesn't mean a death sentence for the banana plant. Maybe it is reversible with some action?

Thank you very much for the link, they are very helpful.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

you should be able to find boron in the laundry isle at the market

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

I saw them, they're labelled as Borax. Thanks for the hint. I didn't know they sell borax in the shops.

Is it something like this?

https://shop.coles.com.au/online/mob...sentials-borax

Need to put a very small amount, I think?

What does boron do with the soil? I'm just curious.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

That's the stuff. For a plant as small as yours, I'd sprinkle no more than about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of borax around you plant and water it in. I'm not sure that borax/boron does much to the soil, but it is a micronutrient required by all plants for proper growth, just as we need tiny amounts of some minerals for our bodies to function properly.

Re: HELP from Sydney - Bunchy Banana Symptom?
 

Great, thanks! How many times would I have to apply it, say, once a week, or once a month or?