rscotth

This has really become apparent as of lately and even the newer leaves are showing this black looking gunk. The picture is showing the plant after a several long days of no rain and looks a bit wilted.
This plant (DC) seems to be growing real slow as compared to a dwarf orinoco in the same vicinity. You can't see it in the picture but there is a water sucker on the far side. I suppose the sucker could slow the growth but now the brown areas are of some concern.
Is it worth my while to do the copper sulfate application if I'm not sure.........

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Bob

It doesn't appear to be sigatoka which tends to come from the mid rib and radiates out first as black streaks cross ways along the length of the leaf. Is it in a pot buried in the ground? It seems more of a cultural practice issue, maybe underwatering? Has it been excessively windy or maybe a pest problem?

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rscotth

Actually- that is the top of a plastic pot about 5 inches deep with pine needle and grass clipping mulch. This was in an effort to hold water and let the roots get a good soaking without having the water run off. I plan to ditch the rock garden and make this a banana pad eventually, maybe next spring when I have made enough compost to back fill.

It is showing signs of under watering and the rocks are making a brutal micro-climate. I haven't really seen any signs of pests, yet. Well except for a renegade grasshopper that was delt with severly.

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Bob

Good idea using the pot top. I do similar. Try more water and see if this improves things. Usually I'll drop the hose inside the plastic and walk away for a minute or 2 when I water. Hopefully this will help.

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rscotth

Excellent- thank you very much for the confirmation of it not being what I first suspected. I've been watering morning and night but this late summer heat is taking it's toll. Here is a shot of the future banana pad. We have really gone to extraordinary lengths to get the bottle palm through the winters here in zone 9 but it has struggled since day one. We'll try to keep it going but with only the one leaf and the new one trying to emerge for the last three months this may be it's last winter.

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