Magilla Gorilla

Hello all,

I am new to the forum. I live in Santa Barbara, CA and have many different types of bananas and other tropicals. I have four pups that need some help. They are two Ice Creams, Double Mahoi and a Red Iholena. They are all tissue culture plants about one foot high on a heat mat inside with a grow bulb on a timer. I did see some aphids but washed them off. The plants are watered and allowed to dry inbetween.

The problem is that they got a black discoloration on the stem and then fall over at that point. Since they are small, they then break at that weak spot.

This is a picture of an Ice Cream leaning over. Where the plant is leaning over is blackish in color. This becomes a weak spot.



This is a picture of the stalk that broke off shortly after.



This is another picture of the plant where it broke off.



If anyone has any ideas they would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Andrew

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Andrew

chong

Did those plants just come out of the "shadows"? I was having similar problems with my Siam Ruby, though not quite as severe. Check out this thread on said plant and the suggestions given by other members to correct it:
My Siam Ruby is Having Problems

My plant is doing better now. Though it was a combination of fungicide application and increasing the lighting that solved the problem. Initially, I just increased the lighting and the problem persisted. After I applied fungicide every 3 to 4 days, the discoloration at the midsection stopped and the plant actually grew faster.

The reason I asked if your plant just came out of the "shadows" is if you just took it out of hybernation and you had some light where you stored it, watering the plant during that time may cause the water to remain in spots of soil that could cause to roots in that area to get moldy. Also, it is not a good idea for the plant to be completely dried out before watering again. You just want to wait until the top 1/2 inch of soil is dry before watering again.

Watering after it completely dries out will require soaking of the pot for at least 4 hours to completely saturate to soil to the point of expansion. Otherwise, you will have pockets of dry soil in the pot that will continue to stay dry, and the water will just flow through the wetted areas and the gap between the soil perimeter and the pot. The top will look like it's watered but an inch or so below may still be dry.

Magilla Gorilla

Thank you for replying and thank you for the other post. Would over watering cause this? The bugs that were on it are dark in color and appear to be aphids. They die with a soapy water solution. The plants are close to the light and other bananas and tropical plants are doing fine in that area. It has only affected the four I mentioned.

Andrew

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Andrew

chong

It could be over watering during very cold periods. This will cause some roots to rot because the soil will have less ability to evaporate the moisture. Esp. if it's in a dark spot without ventilation. That's why I asked if they just came out of the "shadows".

chong

Bugs like Aphids cause superficial damage in the sense that they may deform leaves and look unsightly. Damage to your plants are from internal. So it might be fungus, or it might even be over fertilizing or watering or both. When the temperatures fall below 50°F, I really have to watch how much/often I water my 'nanas. And I don't fertilize in the winter months. I just add 1 drop of Superthrive per gallon in the water, when watering. Believe me between the dormat condition of the plant and the low temperatures, it may take up to a week and a half between waterings of my plants here in Seattle. The sun rarely comes out fully which exacerbates the problem.

Magilla Gorilla

The plants have not come outside yet. They are on a heat mat inside. They are going to be moved into my greenhouse after I complete a repair. If it is fungus, can it spread. On four tc plants have the symptoms. I have an AeAe and other plants (approximately 15 young bananas) that are fine. They are all receiving the same care. The plants are not over-crowded and the ventilation is fine (at night it does not get below 69 and during the day not above 75).

Thanks again.

Andrew

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Andrew

sandy0225

I'd say overwatering. Does your soil drain well, let it dry out to 1" below surface before you water again, and spray stems/affected areas with fungicide.

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Sandy Burrell



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Magilla Gorilla

The soil draines very well. I try not to allow the roots to sit in water. I just picked up a fungicide. Can this be sprayed directly on the plants or should I apply with a cloth? I would hate to kill my AeAe or any other plants.

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Andrew

chong

Yes, spray it at all surfaces of the plant plus the surface of the soil, twice a week. The one I used was already in a sprayer, so it was pretty easy to use, no mixing, but it was thick. If you have something that needs mixing and the mixture is thick, use a paint brush to apply. If the mixture is light, use a sray bottle. If it were me, I'd use a paint brush. This way, the solution will be applied directly at the intended target. With a sprayer, there is a tendency for overspray drift around the target.

Magilla Gorilla

Thank you!!

Andrew

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Andrew

Magilla Gorilla

I posted this thread last week. My problems are continuing. Now my AeAe appears to have the crud. The stalk of the plant gets weak and then turns brown to black. The stalk then feels mushy like something (a fungus?) is eating away at the cells. Then the plant droops forward. I have sprayed a fungicide. I don't think I am under or over watering (other small bananas not near the sick ones are doing fine). Before I loose my AeAe I did the following -- The affected mushy brownish stalk was peeled way from the plant. Under it is pretty and green. I then sprayed the good looking stalk with fungicide. Did I hurt the plant by peeling off a layer of stalk? On the four plants I may have lost I did not remove the stalk and they rotted away. Any suggestions would really be appreciated. My first thread and pictures are below. I did not post pictures of the AeAe.

Thank you!!!

Andrew

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Andrew