bdollarbill

I have a running question for the experts in the forum. I have about 20 or so different species banana's, I always cut the lower leaves to promote new growth, almost every picture I see here in the forum shows a bunch of lower leaves, am I actully getting any benefit from constant trimming or am I just getting the look I want from the plants? I know when I lived in VA my neighbor had same plants as I as we shared some, we did the same thing except for I trimmed mine back & he let his go, mine were quite a bit taller & greener so I guessed i was doing right. Any input appreciated.

Bill

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dablo93

if you dont cut too much leaves away it shouldnt be a problem.
I do the same when I dont like the smaller leaves or if they are damaged I also cut them away. But when its still looking nice and good I dont do it.

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mike

bdollarbill I am no expert. I don't cut my leaves until they begin to turn yellow or fold against the stem. My thinking is that the stem is made of leaves and constant cutting makes it weak. A weak steam and a heavy head of fruit probable would not work that well.

harveyc

Trimming leaves does not encourage new leaves to form. New leaves will come based on water, nutrition, and warmth. By trimming leaves you can have a prettier plant but you will sacrifice some photosynthesis. For optimum fruiting, I think you should remove only dead leaves but for landscape needs there can be a balancing of your goals (appearance, fruit production).

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Taylor

I like the look of the plant with all or most of it's leaves. Plus, more leaves = more solar intake. More intake means faster growth and or healthier growth.

In my opinion, stop cutting off leaves until they are brown, broken, or need to be removed for other reasons. I saw your auction. When was the picture of the Velutina taken? It basically is a stem with no leaves...hope that was after winter.

Taylor

See my video in my signature (which will be removed soon) for how I like my bananas. Full of leaves = awesome.

bdollarbill

Velutina picture was after a transplant from a bad location last season to a more sunny place in the yard. But I trimmed the leaves all but emerging leaf on all of them when I moved them, they are in full sun now but do not seem to like all day sun as much as I hoped. They do get daily watering and are healthy just still little slow recovering from the move.

Bill

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Bananachris

I agree with Harveyc. The banana is a herb and not a tree. I cut the leaves when they are turning yellow. Green leave are stil full of life and help the plant growing. And my opinion, they look much beautiful and bigger. I water them and nutrite them with organic compost of banana leaves, grass, etc. of my garden.
And after harvesting I don't cut them down. A steam of 1,5 m/yard helps the pubs to become strong!

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pitangadiego

Anything green (half a leaf, shredded leaf, folded leaf - anything green) contributes energy to the plant, Yellow and brown can be removed.

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moomooman

I'd agree with the above poster, except for I only cut mine when they're brown. Don't forget to add the dead leaves to the 'ol compost pile!

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