Drooping cigar leaf

katykat · 07-12-2017, 04:21 PM

My Cavendish banana is about 10 ft. tall and was planted this spring. Leaves are dark green except for the newest one, and it has four pups 1-2 ft. tall. I fed it 1/2 pound balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) earlier this week--first time I have fertilized.
Yesterday, I noticed that the cigar leaf is drooping--just curved over with the tip lower than where it sprouts from the center. It is very pale green. There is one other dark green leaf near the top that is curling up on one side, with the edges curled toward the midrib. The other leaves look fine . . . any ideas about what could be causing this? Sorry I can't upload a picture--the site never lets me

Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me diagnose this!

sputinc7 · 07-12-2017, 06:17 PM

A pic would be helpful, though...
It sounds like it has something to do with that fertilizer... That is obvious.

Odds are your pics are too big. Try to get them down to around 1 meg and try again.

katykat · 07-12-2017, 07:21 PM

Sputinc7, thanks for the size suggestion on the picture--it worked perfectly! Here's what I'm concerned about:
Banana Gallery - Drooping_cigar

sputinc7 · 07-12-2017, 09:30 PM

It looks that nice without being fertilized? You gotta be using something... Grass clippings? Compost?
My guess is a reaction to the fertilizer. It still looks good, give it some time and a couple rains. I had one which, after fertilizing a bit much, had a pure white leaf.
If leaves begin turning brown on the edges or dying off, post again...
I am not the resident expert here, someone else may have better advice. Wait for it.

Tytaylor77 · 07-13-2017, 02:40 AM

It is from the fertilizer! The banana put out super fast growth since it was fertilized. The faster growth did not allow the new roller leaf to (harden) by the sun, wind, etc. it's nothing bad. The leaves can break but normally end up fine. Another effect is leaves that twist or curve. In fact it's what I do on purpose! I call it "Pushing" the plant.

Kegas76 · 07-13-2017, 10:32 AM

Be sure to manually unroll the leaf if it doesn't do so on its own or the next leaf will get jammed up inside the other.

Island Brah · 07-13-2017, 10:40 AM

Exactly!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tytaylor77

It is from the fertilizer! The banana put out super fast growth since it was fertilized. The faster growth did not allow the new roller leaf to (harden) by the sun, wind, etc. it's noting bad. The leaves can break but normally end up fine. Another effect is leaves that twist or curve. In fact it's what I do on purpose! I call it "Pushing" the plant.

katykat · 07-13-2017, 12:18 PM

Oh my-- great suggestion re unrolling. I would have been back here in another day or two with that very question, I'm sure. Just did a bit and managed to split the leaf in several places, then discovered that it's not completely clear of the previous stem. Thanks, everyone!

Botanical_Bryce · 07-13-2017, 07:47 PM

I don't ever fertilize only mulch and have 2 varieties doing this constantly. I unroll the leaves then at some point the plants go normal.

sputinc7 · 07-13-2017, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botanical_Bryce

I don't ever fertilize only mulch and have 2 varieties doing this constantly. I unroll the leaves then at some point the plants go normal.

What are you mulching with? Bananas need to be fertilized here in the sand hill we call Florida or they don't grow much... Mulching with grass clippings, compost or manure is fertilizing, you know...

katykat · 07-15-2017, 08:48 AM

We mulched with black shredded cedar. The nanas are planted in about four inches of "rose soil" from a local garden center over brown clay. The clay stays pretty wet due to frequent watering (by us and by our neighbors on the other side of our fence). So far, so good. But the bananas started looking lighter green--especially the new leaves--so I tried some fertilizer. Just hoping I did it right.

Botanical_Bryce · 07-15-2017, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sputinc7

What are you mulching with? Bananas need to be fertilized here in the sand hill we call Florida or they don't grow much... Mulching with grass clippings, compost or manure is fertilizing, you know...

I only use oak leaves and nothing else. Started producing corm to flower most plants in under a year. By not fertilizing I imply by my own default that i am not using chemicals. I fill my truck with other peoples oak leaves and pile them high and get incredible results. I expected 1000 pounds but we had a mega late freeze that cut me back to 100 or so.

sputinc7 · 07-15-2017, 12:10 PM

That is interesting. According to what I found, you might increase yields with something added with more K... Grass clippings, for instance... Chop the leaves with a mower / bagger which will add grass clippings. (It's possible this is already happening if you bag them with a mower.) I use grass clippings and they love them. My first couple bunches had almost nothing else and did great. I now have 12 varieties and not enough land to grow enough grass.
N-P-K Value of Everything

katykat · 07-15-2017, 12:43 PM

Do you mulch right up to the base of the stem, or leave several inches of space?

Botanical_Bryce · 07-15-2017, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by katykat

Do you mulch right up to the base of the stem, or leave several inches of space?

I just bury mine.

sputinc7 · 07-15-2017, 01:06 PM

I use green grass clippings, which have high nitrogen and even higher potassium, so I leave about 6-8 inches for 2 reasons.
1. When green grass composts, it can get hot, like 130-150 degrees F. That would not be good on the plant.
2. Sometimes grass clippings can mesh together into a water resistant pad which will slowly decompose from below if kept moist, which fertilizes and mulches. Water from me or the rain can get under from the space around the PS, just don't overdo it and cause the corm to rot. I check for this and break up this meshing so water can get thru. Once you break it up it won't re mesh until you add new clippings.
He is using oak leaves, most likely live oak leaves which I tried to use but they become impermeable to water and rot very slowly, from the bottom up.

Botanical_Bryce · 07-15-2017, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sputinc7

I use green grass clippings, which have high nitrogen and even higher potassium, so I leave about 6-8 inches for 2 reasons.
1. When green grass composts, it can get hot, like 130-150 degrees F. That would not be good on the plant.
2. Sometimes grass clippings can mesh together into a water resistant pad which will slowly decompose from below if kept moist, which fertilizes and mulches. Water from me or the rain can get under from the space around the PS, just don't overdo it and cause the corm to rot. I check for this and break up this meshing so water can get thru. Once you break it up it won't re mesh until you add new clippings.
He is using oak leaves, most likely live oak leaves which I tried to use but they become impermeable to water and rot very slowly, from the bottom up.

I get results and the oak leaves are loaded with worms so I am leaving good enough alone. I almost never see people collect clippings in Florida. Most people have mulching blades.

sputinc7 · 07-15-2017, 02:18 PM

If it works for you, great. I am a big believer in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." but I always look for ways to improve what I have. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
What you have isn't broke if it grows bananas.

Botanical_Bryce · 07-15-2017, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sputinc7

If it works for you, great. I am a big believer in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." but I always look for ways to improve what I have. Sometimes it works, sometimes not.
What you have isn't broke if it grows bananas.

I do things other peoples way and it ruins me and other people try my way and it ruins them. I have had other types of plants under premium conditions and I fail miserably then I go to someone's house and they are succeeding with no care. Crazy how that works.

07-12-2017, 04:21 PM	#1 (permalink)
katykat Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 64 BananaBucks : 22,329 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 43 Times Was Thanked 58 Times in 20 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Drooping cigar leaf My Cavendish banana is about 10 ft. tall and was planted this spring. Leaves are dark green except for the newest one, and it has four pups 1-2 ft. tall. I fed it 1/2 pound balanced fertilizer (10-10-10) earlier this week--first time I have fertilized. Yesterday, I noticed that the cigar leaf is drooping--just curved over with the tip lower than where it sprouts from the center. It is very pale green. There is one other dark green leaf near the top that is curling up on one side, with the edges curled toward the midrib. The other leaves look fine . . . any ideas about what could be causing this? Sorry I can't upload a picture--the site never lets me Thank you in advance to anyone who can help me diagnose this!

07-12-2017, 06:17 PM	#2 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 101,666 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf A pic would be helpful, though... It sounds like it has something to do with that fertilizer... That is obvious. Odds are your pics are too big. Try to get them down to around 1 meg and try again. __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

07-12-2017, 07:21 PM	#3 (permalink)
katykat Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 64 BananaBucks : 22,329 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 43 Times Was Thanked 58 Times in 20 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf Sputinc7, thanks for the size suggestion on the picture--it worked perfectly! Here's what I'm concerned about: Banana Gallery - Drooping_cigar

07-12-2017, 09:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 101,666 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf It looks that nice without being fertilized? You gotta be using something... Grass clippings? Compost? My guess is a reaction to the fertilizer. It still looks good, give it some time and a couple rains. I had one which, after fertilizing a bit much, had a pure white leaf. If leaves begin turning brown on the edges or dying off, post again... I am not the resident expert here, someone else may have better advice. Wait for it. __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

07-13-2017, 02:40 AM	#5 (permalink)
Tytaylor77 Banana Plants for Trade Location: East Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Ty Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,367 BananaBucks : 47,619 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,612 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf It is from the fertilizer! The banana put out super fast growth since it was fertilized. The faster growth did not allow the new roller leaf to (harden) by the sun, wind, etc. it's nothing bad. The leaves can break but normally end up fine. Another effect is leaves that twist or curve. In fact it's what I do on purpose! I call it "Pushing" the plant. __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com Last edited by Tytaylor77 : 07-13-2017 at 03:23 PM.

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07-13-2017, 10:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
Kegas76 Location: Pasco Co., FL Find me on the map! Zone: 9a sandhills Name: Andy Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 221 BananaBucks : 8,981 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 79 Times Was Thanked 337 Times in 120 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 506 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf Be sure to manually unroll the leaf if it doesn't do so on its own or the next leaf will get jammed up inside the other.

07-13-2017, 12:18 PM	#8 (permalink)
katykat Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 64 BananaBucks : 22,329 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 43 Times Was Thanked 58 Times in 20 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf Oh my-- great suggestion re unrolling. I would have been back here in another day or two with that very question, I'm sure. Just did a bit and managed to split the leaf in several places, then discovered that it's not completely clear of the previous stem. Thanks, everyone!

07-13-2017, 07:47 PM	#9 (permalink)
Botanical_Bryce Location: Inverness, Florida Zone: 9a Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 881 BananaBucks : 76,455 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 1,459 Times in 636 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf I don't ever fertilize only mulch and have 2 varieties doing this constantly. I unroll the leaves then at some point the plants go normal.

07-15-2017, 08:48 AM	#11 (permalink)
katykat Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 64 BananaBucks : 22,329 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 43 Times Was Thanked 58 Times in 20 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf We mulched with black shredded cedar. The nanas are planted in about four inches of "rose soil" from a local garden center over brown clay. The clay stays pretty wet due to frequent watering (by us and by our neighbors on the other side of our fence). So far, so good. But the bananas started looking lighter green--especially the new leaves--so I tried some fertilizer. Just hoping I did it right.

07-15-2017, 12:10 PM	#13 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 101,666 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf That is interesting. According to what I found, you might increase yields with something added with more K... Grass clippings, for instance... Chop the leaves with a mower / bagger which will add grass clippings. (It's possible this is already happening if you bag them with a mower.) I use grass clippings and they love them. My first couple bunches had almost nothing else and did great. I now have 12 varieties and not enough land to grow enough grass. N-P-K Value of Everything __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more. Last edited by sputinc7 : 07-15-2017 at 12:15 PM.

07-15-2017, 12:43 PM	#14 (permalink)
katykat Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 64 BananaBucks : 22,329 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 43 Times Was Thanked 58 Times in 20 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf Do you mulch right up to the base of the stem, or leave several inches of space?

07-15-2017, 01:06 PM	#16 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 101,666 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf I use green grass clippings, which have high nitrogen and even higher potassium, so I leave about 6-8 inches for 2 reasons. 1. When green grass composts, it can get hot, like 130-150 degrees F. That would not be good on the plant. 2. Sometimes grass clippings can mesh together into a water resistant pad which will slowly decompose from below if kept moist, which fertilizes and mulches. Water from me or the rain can get under from the space around the PS, just don't overdo it and cause the corm to rot. I check for this and break up this meshing so water can get thru. Once you break it up it won't re mesh until you add new clippings. He is using oak leaves, most likely live oak leaves which I tried to use but they become impermeable to water and rot very slowly, from the bottom up. __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

07-15-2017, 02:18 PM	#18 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 101,666 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: Drooping cigar leaf If it works for you, great. I am a big believer in "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." but I always look for ways to improve what I have. Sometimes it works, sometimes not. What you have isn't broke if it grows bananas. __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

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