Near White Leaves
 

Good evening. I need some help. My client has a weird problem.

A couple years ago, I planted musa basjoo next to my client's house. They grow each year to about five feet overall height, but then all of a sudden develop a whitish leaf from the center and tend to stop growing. The fronds that have emerged lately are also skinnier. The older growth is a nice green color so I am perplexed. I apply regular watering and organic fertilizer called PlantTone. Do you have any suggestions?

I have grown basjoo for over 10 years but have never had an issue like this.

Thank you.

Austin

Re: Near White Leaves
 

Need some pics, you will get a much bigger response with pics!
Rough guess too much fert.

Re: Near White Leaves
 

I have issues in my yard due to low PH. In acidic soils some minerals become unavailable like calcium. Unless I treat mine with calcium nitrate, gypsum etc. I get stunting with some banana, especially Musa Sikkimensis. Whitish new leaves that are very thin and easy to tear, narrow leaves, and eventually spear like leaves that twist, with dead patches. Might not be the same, but the white leaves sound similar, as do the narrow description. You might check the PH and see what its like. Mine is about 5.5, pretty acidic. Perhaps it might also be the higher temps of summer, at high temperature growth slows.

Re: Near White Leaves
 

Pics!
[url=http://s24.photobucket.com/user/austinl01/media/Bananas/20150711_091418_zpsqojvwm1t.jpg.html]

Re: Near White Leaves
 

Yeppers I am pretty sure that is calcium, deficiency, as least part of the problem anyway. http://www.haifa-group.com/knowledge_center/deficiencies/crops/orchards/banana/#{25D2EDF7-93F5-4A1C-AE66-DC145AF37EB5}

Re: Near White Leaves
 

I took some old sheet rock, smashed it up into a powder (Gypsum) and applied it to the base of the plant, then later I found packages of Calcium Nitrate at the local Co-op that works well also. In my case the problem completely went away. But you need to check the PH to see if that is causing the issue.

Re: Near White Leaves
 

The Best Way to Put Calcium in Garden Soil | Home Guides | SF Gate

Banana pest and disease image gallery

Re: Near White Leaves
 

Excellent. That must be it. There is concrete residue deep in the soil.. Thanks guys.

Re: Near White Leaves
 

Thanks all. The problem has cleared up thanks to your advice.