Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

Ive transplanted 50 of the Agri-starts bananas outside - there will still be 2-3 more months of summer here in south texas.

The varieties are African Rhino Horn - Hua Moa- Ice Cream- Cordaba and Mysore. They all look similar at 7-8 inches high. Most of the plants seem ok but its only been about 5 days.

Some of the plants have whitened leaves and it looks like they are doing poorly - theres some brown and drooping - what might the problem be ... and the solution...

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

Sounds like they were not ready for full sun just yet.

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

I agree with momoese.. Most plants need a transititon period... I keep repotted plants in a shaded area easing them into full sun over about a week..
I'm sure yours probably came straight from the greenhouse...

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

Are your plants in pots or in the ground? I plant any small banana in a pot until it is well rooted and more of a robust plant before planting in the ground. This also makes it easier to give them more shade. Your small TC plants probably don't have the root system necessary to handle full sun, though your climate isn't as dry as mine.

Good luck,

Harvey

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

The plants in the greenhouse are all in pots- outside they are in the ground. I do have some outside in pots as well. The ones Im referring to went from the greenhouse to the yard.


I went around all the plants whose leaves were turning white and placed large planters over them. Maybe that will work - and a few days out of the sun will bring them back. Any opinions?

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

If the "large planters" you placed over the are dark (i.e., black plastic pots?), I think you'll cook them. Even if it doesn't get too hot under the planters, the lack of any sunlight isn't a good idea and won't help the aclimate. You just need something to give the a little bit of shade.

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

thanks yes they are the black planters - I will now go and remove them - dont think i can create shade easily they are in open area.

Maybe Ill stand out there with an umbrella

Do you think even the very thin plastic pots with a few holes are too hot?

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

Yes.

Take every chair from your house and borrow any extras from neighbors and place them directly over those baby bananas. Stand out there with an umbrealla over another and get the wife to bring you a beer every 30 minutes and both you and the bananas will be happy. ;)

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

NO more wife but I usually have a pet rabbit. Maybe I should let him watch the bananas and settle for looking at pictures of the plants online.

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

I have a nice Chinese Tallow tree that lets in filtered light and that is my natural "shadehouse". New bananas go in pots and are placed under that tree and get a few hours of sun in the morning and maybe an hour late in the day. It seems to work out well.

You should be able to do something. Get some small stakes and place 4 around each banana and staple a small white bag or piece of paper over them.

You can do it. Once they take off it is very rewarding to watch them grow.

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

You gave me a great idea - I can put one stake in and a pot over the stake that should allow substantially more shade time. The pot wont reach anywhere near the ground so it shouldnt be too hot.

How's that?

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

Sounds reasonable. If you're around to adjust the position, you can give it some shade much of the day.

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

I have used the black 1 gallon commercial plant containers as shade but I put them on the south side of, and right next to the plant, as close as possible without touching it.

It provides shade during the hottest time with the strongest sun but gives morning to about noon sun for acclimation. I feel that if it touches it may burn them. The plants naturally grow out of the shade and prosper.

Total lack of sun will make them turn white or pale due to a lack of photosynthesis.

I have also found that smaller fresh TC plants get quite a shock going from a Florida greenhouse to my hot, dry, backyard full of things looking for lunch. The 2 days or so they spent in the box getting there just makes acclimatizing that much harder...

I do like the lawn chair and beer delivery though...
It's that reason I plant TC plants in pots for a while and put them under a shade tree for the morning sun/afternoon shade schedule. After they are strong and vigorus, then I plant out in the 'plantation' and continue shading with black plastic gallon pots.

Good luck!

Re: Leaves of new transplants turning white
 

Harvey,

I certainly hope that Chinese Tallows aren't as invasive in California as they are here in the Houston area. They are a scourge here, taking over wooded areas, fenceline, undeveloped properties, etc. I understand that further north, like Zone 7, they aren't really a problem (I think winter helps keep them in check) and do make a nice shade tree with nice fall color, but they are such a problem here. They really should be considered an invasive species here due to their prolific seeding. Just keep and eye on them is all I'm saying.