Banana with leaf problem
 

Hi,

The last few (around 5) cigar leaves on my banana plant have been coming out curved and will not open up properly without me helping them, and now the pup on my plant is having the same problem. And even after opening up the tip is still weird and twisted. I don't know what variety it is. I have two other bananas close to it that do not have the problem and also some pups from this plant I separated earlier this year do not have the problem. Anyone have any ideas what is causing this and how to fix it? I am fertilizing them with well composted manure and an organic general purpose fertilizer. It has been raining enough that I don't need to water them. The plant is about 4 feet tall


Pup leaf


Cigar leaf on mother plant


Weird tip on leaf


Another weird leaf

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

I get that with mine. I tend to think it has to do with rapid vigor. I help them unfurl then after a few like tgat they get normal again. My FHIA 3 and 18 are the worst but some others do it also. Love to hear other explanations.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

I’ve got the same thing going on with a few plants which are about the same size as your plants. I’ve even had a few giant leaves (new ones) break off which is very frustrating. I think they get weighed down by the rain and wind breaks them off. It’s been raining quite a bit in my part of Florida since mid May. Just have to ride it out I guess.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

I have had 3 the in the last week do that. about the same size, 3 to 4 ft. p-stem heighth. but its been kinda dry here for the last couple weeks or so. using 10-10-10 fertilizer, just fertilized a week prior. and one I just got, it was in a pot.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

I did some digging on the forum and found this post.

http://www.bananas.org/f2/bent-leave...tml#post140766

It appears that it is a sign of a calcium deficiency coupled with rapid growth. There has been a lot of rain recenly in my part of Florida and the soil/sand is not very good at retaining nutrients. I will have to add some lime and see if it rectifies the problem.

Thank you

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

Glad to find this out. I will do the same.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

thanks. never had problems with cigar leaves, but last year had some deformed leaves on a few plants. I live on sand and am highly acidic stands to reason the cigar leaves. just put lime around all my bananas. thanks again

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

Well that describes exactly the problem I have with my Maoli. Growing like a weed especially in the Southwest Florida rains. I will pick up some Lime and give it some. My problem right now is my plant has outgrown my ladder. The latest leaf tip is probably 10 feet high.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

Give them some RED to help with vigor. ... Or may be a little viagra to stiffen the cigar leaf. ... haha

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

I have the same problem in a potted plant. I will be adding some lime to see if it helps. Thanks for the original question and the suggested solution.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

That can also be caused by auxinic weed killers such as 2,4D, typically sold for use on lawns. Sometimes manure is contaminated with auxinic herbicides.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

It is simply fast growth. Caused by slightly too much fertilizer or lots of rain. The new leaf emerges too fast and does not have time to “harden” itself off. So the leaf either bends, breaks, is deformed, has brown marks (sunburn), etc. it’s no big deal and will fix itself.

Normally it has to do with rain and or fertilizer! I can be a calcum or boron problem but in my opinion only a very small % of the time. Calcium is always good though. Just don’t overdo it.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

AN UPDATE ON THIS ONE.

had 2 after liming put out straight cigar leaves, then they both rolled out bent cigar leaves that needed some help. the third one so far is fine.

guess I will hit those 2 with a little more lime. just a little bit, I live on a sand hill and that stuff goes down quick.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

In my case it seems weird. I prepare the soil the same way for every plant. I have 13 varieties and probably 50 or so plants. This is my only one that does this. The plant in question for me is a "Dwarf Maoli" which is hardly a Dwarf. It was tagged as a Dwarf along with several others that were at the nursery. Planted in Feb at about one foot tall. Now at least ten feet tall. If this thing is a Dwarf I am Wilt Chamberlin! LOL. I love the look of this plant and yes this thing grows as fast as my Blue Javas. I had two leaf's that came up fairly straight and now the latest is crooked. Not a huge deal. I am having a lot of fun playing with different varieties.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

I have about 10 of the Musa Maoli. I understand it to be an amazing Paciffic Plantain. It FOR SURE is NOT dwarf! Mine are still small and im expecting 17’ or so range. Maybe even larger!

All the history calls it a tall. Not sure why the “Dwarf” label was added. It was done by the TC company. Maybe they was on a clif looking down at the “dwarf” plants lol.

Re: Banana with leaf problem
 

LOL. Well it sure is one healthy plant. It has a trunk the size of an apple tree! widest and longest leaf's I have. Even the Blue Javas leaf's are not as big. I had one break in a micro storm and the bottom of the leaf (not including the stalk) to the end was 7 feet. Damn thing was really wide also. Gave it to my neighbor and she made us some wonderful Thai deserts wrapped in banana leaf's. Not sure what she did with the other six and a half feet. Right now I am babying my Kanderian. Sickly little thing I got as a TC. It is growing ever so little. Been at it for a few months now.