banidles

So this is week 3 or 4 of me having 2 dwarf musa cavendish plants and I have even added a pineapple plant to the group.

They are sitting next to a 2x4 window that isn't getting much light, especially over the last week or so since it is now winter and it is constantly overcast. Temperature is a consistent 26-30 Celsius due to a reef aquarium sitting right next to them and humidity never falls bellow 50 percent, again from the aquarium, and the misting i give them. I bought a humidifier and I find I don't need it yet.

I was planning on getting a grow light but I have been noticing the plants have really taken off without it. I am getting new leaves every 4-5 days. The baby plants growing from the sides have grown on average 3-5 inches a piece. I am watering when the top layer is relatively dry. Between the 3 plants I water 1/2 gallon with 1/2 tablespoon of Miracle Grow tomato fertilizer. Since beginning the fertilizer regiment, I saw some tip browning but the leaves are recovering and the new leaves are displaying no damage.

Currently, each plat is about 36" tall from the floor (about 18" to where the leaves start) and they are in 8"dia X 7"tall pots. The diameter of the stalk where it meets the soil is about 2.5". Should I consider re-potting? I currently have some large square planters and bags of seeding soil, perlite, and vermiculite ready to go but i don't want to disturb the plant unless I absolutely have too. This weekend i will be re-potting the pineapple since that didn't come from a nursery but rather a big-box store so it looks like it is in some plain-jane peat moss and the pot is rather tiny.

Also, should I just monitor the plants and hold off on the grow light? Will they do well over a few months of dim days provided I keep all other environmental conditions stable? I am worried. I am going away on vacation for 3 weeks in Nov and even though I have somebody to maintain the plants and aquarium they won't be able to get a growlight in an emergency if the plant spontaneously begins to deteriorate due to lack of light.

Hammocked Banana

I wouldnt get a light until after the vacation. It may cause your nanners to dry out quickly, which may fry them if you're gone for 3 weeks. I would pot them up into 5-10gal containers, give em a good soaking and leave them for the 3 weeks. The drying tips sounds like a lack of humidity, which is weird bc it seems like you got that covered. Could just be an environmental shock, they'll recover. Also dont worry too much about this winters growth, it will grow a lot but lose most of its leaves when it is reintroduced back out into the strong sun and wind. It will regrow new leaves quite fast though