yellow edges?
 

Hey all,

Here's a pic of one of my bananas (don't know what type) with fairly healthy looking leaves but with slight tinge of yellow all round the edges. Any hints? Too much water? Too much fertilizer?



Thanks

Zman

Re: yellow edges?
 

could be lack of sun.mine started doing this, but i turned the gro lites on and the are ok.

Re: yellow edges?
 

Yellow edges can mean too wet, too dry, or too much fertilizer. That's the fun part, trying to figure out which now!

Re: yellow edges?
 

wow Sandy that is tricky. I have fertilized it like every two weeks with orchid fertilizer, maybe that's too much...I thought that since it's in a pot, it needed a lot of fertilizer. Maybe I'll hold off for a while.

Re: yellow edges?
 

I've struggled with mine over the winter. I checked the soil with a meter for pH, moisture and light and all came up fine. Then found the problem to be under the leaves ... spider mites. That problem seemed to never end until I got the humidifier out and had that pointed at the plants. (but not too close) They all perked right up and mites stayed gone. Everything I've read is to start with checking the soil, look under the leaves and go from there.

Re: yellow edges?
 

I have a wilting Rajapuri I just planted in the ground. Could it be the intense sunlight it is dealing with now?

Dean

Re: yellow edges?
 

did you accumalate it to outside conditions before putting it in direct sunlight? like put it in the shade for say a week and then slowly pull it out of the shade over a period of a few days? if not this could be the cause of it wilting. just my opinion

Re: yellow edges?
 

Yes, I acclimated it somewhat. I think it was outside for like two-three weeks in partial shade and sun.

Re: yellow edges?
 

Since you live in Phoenix, you may have some "other issues"..? If you have been fertilizing every two weeks, even with a likely "low salt" Orchid fertilizer, you could still have extra salt build up? If you use softened water, the sodium levels will probably be high. "Outside/City water" in Phoenix may also be more alkaline, leading to salt burn? The yellow edges could also mean that your Nanner is suffering from very low humidity levels? By no means an expert. But...food for thought from a "tropical transplant", trying to grow tropicals.......?http://www.bananas.org/images/smilies/waving_banana.gif

Re: yellow edges?
 

What kind of pot is it in? Never seen one like that.

Re: yellow edges?
 

I used home filtered water to water them as I thought that would decrease the salt content...am I wrong? Also, I just recently found what I think are spider mites on this one and the other nanner doesn't have them. Can spider mites really make leaves turn yellow or brown? I've sprayed them with soap water and will wait and do some lady bugs.

Zach

Re: yellow edges?
 

yes spider mites can do that. they suck all the nutrients out of the plant just like aphids do.and this can kill a plant. except the spider mites are just a little harder to get rid of.

Re: yellow edges?
 

Zach,...Yes, indeedy...Spider mites could cause a lot of "yellowing", browning, and "cupping" of the leaves. S. Mites LOOOVE stressed plants. If I get S. Mites on my Adeniums & Pachypodiums, the leaves turn yellow quite quickly. The use of the Coir lining in a wire basket may also create an environment which goes from wet-to-dry very quickly in Phoenix? Uneven watering may stress the plant? We have had no rain for well over four months....don't know what your humidity levels are..but evaporation is swift here. I would think that your filtered water would be a good idea in Phoenix.

Re: yellow edges?
 

Dean....I doubt if intense sunlight would cause the wilting, if Rajapuri had been acclimated to a bright outdoor environment. You have a lot more humidity than we do. That's a great help. The sun is still fairly "weak"...good time to plant. but....if your night time temps are low, that Nanner is going to suffer. My Rajapuri has not even broken ground except for one teeny pup. Don't over water when nights are cool..!

Re: yellow edges?
 

Musamania,

I am still trying to get rid of spider mites and it seems like it's going well. About the coco pots, I think they might be good for bananas because of the drainage they offer. My bananas have never dried out and I water them regularly, but I probably won't be using coco pots for bananas in the future just for the logistics of it. Thanks!

Zach

Re: yellow edges?
 

Musamania, maybe I was overwatering it.

Dean

Re: yellow edges?
 

All my bananas have burnt edges from how windy it has been for a week. Stick with what you are doing they should get use to it. But I would replant your banana in a plastic pot.
What does your new growth look like?
Never give up, that next leaf might be perfect.