Dean12692

Hi All, this is my first post on the forum!

This is also my first year trying to grow my own bananas in California zone 10a, and I am having a problem that I cannot find any information on. Right now I have 2 small banana plants that went in a few months ago (dwarf namwah and blue java) that ar perfectly healthy and despite being planted in December, have survived.

The problem is with my oldest. A manzano banana tree that went in the ground about a year ago. It has survived through our dry California summer and wet winter. This banana plant is about 10 ft. Tall with a 4 ft. pup. Both the parent and pup have pushed out 2 new leaves each since winter. I never pruned my plants back except for the leaves that were dead or dying. Now the issue is the new growth leaves are coming out very pale green, almost white and the leaves are about as thin as tissue paper and end up shriveling with the majority of the leaf being the spine. What am I doing wrong and how can I get these plants to start growing thick green leaves agin?

zfallon84

New leaves are white? Sounds like an iron deficiency. I had an issue like this with a "blue java" tissue culture plant. One leaf came out with quite a bit of yellow to it. The next leaf was like a ghost. Though my banana didn't have the shriveling. So, you could have a compound nutrient problem. Check your soil ph to make sure that your soil isn't too alkaline. Also, use these to help figure out what is going on:

https://richmond.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-con..._nutrients.jpg

http://newcastlegardens.com/wp-conte...unnamed-26.jpg

Yug

Magnesium deficiency? Epsom salt might help. I don't know the amount to use, though.

beam2050

after a cold winter some of my plants first couple leave are very poor. with some good night time temps they usually pull thru.

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npk of wood ash 0/1/3 to 0/3/7

npk of banana leaf ash 1.75/0.75/0.5