TS_Terrapin

Hi all,

I'm in Phoenix Arizona where the temperatures have been consistantly over 110F lately. We've got a blue java banana (over 4 feet tall) plant in the back yard in full sun that looks like it's not doing so well lately, and general searches haven't been much help. Most of the new leaves are coming up pale green with browning fringes and occasionally ash colored patches. They feel a little thin compared to the older leaves that came out greener and they look like this:


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kM3...ew?usp=sharing

We had the problem a few weeks ago and added more fertilizer which gave us a few leaves that were greener but still ripped as soon as they came out (like this one):


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yK0...ew?usp=sharing

The pup banana plant looks fine and emerged after we started having this issue.

It's being watered by our automatic grass sprinklers, and we tested the soil drainage before planting and it seemed fine. Are we just dealing with it being scorched by the sun? Should we keep fertilizing it more? What do you all think?

Thanks!
TS//TERRAPIN

Akula

I'm not shy about applying the fertilizer but in your case it might be better for the plant if it grows slower (less fertilizer) in such extreme temps and blazing sun because when the plants are fertilized heavily they grow fast and the leaves coming out can be a bit weaker due to the rate of growth and therefore more susceptible to sunburn. Maybe add some type of shading device such as shade cloth to cut down the sun a bit especially so when they are smaller.

Good luck!

edwmax

The temps are way too hot for bananas. Banana plants stop growing when the temps are excess of 100 deg F. The leaves fold down. With the ambient temps at 110 F, then radiant heat of the sun on the leaf is 130 -140 F plus, which is causing the scalding & burns. .... Bananas grow best when temp are in the upper 70s to 90 deg F. ..... Your plant needs SHADING.

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