Pseudostem splitting.
 

I have dwarf cavendish that I have been trying to get healthy since I ordered it in april and finally have a new leaf starting to grow, but I noticed at the base of the psuedostem the old leafs are splitting. I was curious if I should be concerned or is this just the banana growing. I also noticed it on a couple of my other bananas. The picture does not show the color well it is actually green under the split.



Thanks in advance,
Chris

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

If whole plant was in the photo it would be easier to see it's condition, but I think it is going to send up a new P-stem to replace the one you currently have.

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

The base of the old leafs will split as the PS get's bigger. No worries!

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

I think you are right about a new psuedostem being pushed up. I cleared away the dead leafs and just since I took the last picture the split is bigger and it looks like a new green leaf is coming out the base at the split.



Chris

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

Looks like it might be a little wet too.

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

It had been a lot to wet my drain hole in the bottom got blocked and so I just unspotted made a lot more drain hole and better soil and now it is starting to finally grow after being repotted.

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

It is not common, but happens maybe 5 times per thousand plants. The normal reason it happens to me is a small slug goes down the center leaf and damages the P-stem.

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

Well I got home tonight and it is definitely a new psuedostem. It is amazing the amount of growth these plants can put on. Here is a few more pics.

Side


Front


Whole plant now leaning to the right


Will the leaf on the original pseudostem that is trying to unroll die or will it live, and should I just cut off the old psuedostem and only let the new one grow or as usual just leave it alone :ha:.

Thanks,
Chris

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

Boy That is about the coolest thing I seen all week :)
I had the wind blow over a Apple once and within one week I saw new growth starting , but that was an adult plant with an establish corm . Seeing this small guy doing the same thing is just plan amazing to me for some reason :) Great post!

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

The leaf of the original P-stem will stay alive and appear healthy for several weeks, it will eventually rot at the base. I nomally give it a slight tug when I walk by and after a month or so it will separate cleanly. You can remove anytime after you have a new leaf, after you remove it split the old P-stem and see if you can notice the cause..

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

The existing p-stem is damaged in some way, and the new growth is seeking a new path. Fairly normal in this situation, though not the best thing, as it means that there has been damage or loss if vigor, and the plant is essentially starting over.

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

Here is another picture update from today, just cool to watch it grow. Unfortunate it has to start over, but still interesting to watch.




Chris

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

I saw a W. Iholena do that when it was shipped on its side. DC's are pretty hard to kill so unless your trying real hard, its all good. :^)

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

Don't worry, your plant is not essentially starting over. It will continue to use the same corm, root system and the leaf remaining, it is only sending up a replacement P-stem. The growth will be much quicker than if you had to start over. Try to examine the old P-stem later it could be a good learning ezperience, the damage might be fairly obvious.
Good Luck and happy growing.

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

Thanks for the comments and encouragement, the new p-stem was totally emerged this morning with a partial leaf and a new one right behind it.



:goteam:

Chris

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

Well the original stem was bent almost all the way over today so I went to lift it and it broke off. When I checked inside I could not see any damage, but the inside of the Pstem was extremely small and totally white like an albino and did not look like any other pstem I have seen before. I will take a picture later tonight of the new pstem.

Chris

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

I thought I would update everyone, this is a new picture of the new pseudostem that split out of the original. IT is growing well.





Chris

Re: Pseudostem splitting.
 

Somehow these fellas seem to work it all out .I had some orinocos do the same thing last month-had to cut them in half but they are doing well.
Good luck and Happy Growing.