OCBLUE

Hi all, I am new to growing bananas. We bought two plants, probably 2-3 months ago. The first 2 weeks, it was hot (90-105 degrees). It has cooled down a bit, but still the temps are 80-92 most days. At night, it gets down into 60s (sometimes a bit lower, sometimes a bit higher). They get sun much of the day. During the heat spell, the leaves drooped, so i watered every day, sometimes twice a day (i read if the leaves droop, means they need water).

Now, I'm lost, in that i don't know how often to water. And, i can't tell if they are doing well, or OK, or poor, or what.

Can you look at the photos, and tell me your thoughts?

Thanks,

Richard

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Hamakua

compost

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beam2050

I agree. grass clippings and leaves around the base of the plant piled high might help.

that wall and drive have to be throwing another 10 degrees extra on those plants by the look of it. but to me your plants look fine.

do you know what kind they are?

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OCBLUE

one of them is "ice cream". I'll need to look up the other one (can't remember at this moment)

edwmax

Nice looking plants. ... Ok ... The folded down leaves indicate sap flow and transpiration of water has ceased due to heat and/or water stress. At temps above 100° the leaves will fold due to heat regardless of water.


I see you have provided some shading from the hot sun, good!

1) Mist the plants 2 or 3 Xs during the day to help cool the plant.
2) Mature banana plants can transpire as much as 2 1/2 gal of water per day per plant in large well watered banana fields ... These are not mature plants, so I would guess they may transpire about 1 to 1 1/2 gal. per day. ... Also, be aware of the water-soil evaporation rate. This is measured and reported by your local Ag weather reports. This is likely about 1/4" to 1/3" per sft per day (15 to 20 gal per day for 10ft dia area ???). ... So water needed is (water transpired by the plant) + (water loss to water-soil evaporation). .... You can water daily as long as you don't make the ground soggy. Use the drooping leaves as your guide.


3) Add a thick layer of mulch (grass clipping, leaves, straw, ect. : not compost ) to help keep the ground cool and slow water evaporation.

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imclumbi

Looking good! You'll figure it out. Plus you get all this great expert advice from the experienced members on this forum. Welcome to bananas.
John

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sputinc7

Ed.. Why not compost? Homade compost is a wonderful mulch with the added benefit of fertilizer built in. (If you are referring to the bagged kind from walmart, I agree.)
I usually use my homade stuff before composting is complete so it's like mostly composted grass clippings, etc.

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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.

edwmax

It depends on what it is made with and how. Not all compost is the same. ... Compost can pack down to a dense layer; may hold too much water choking (air) the banana roots at the ground surface; and may still have active decomposition which can attract bugs. For use as a fertilizer, much of the nutrients will leach off during the 8 to 12 months it takes to make, unless you have a collection system for the 'tea'. So use as a fertilizer could be questionable as one doesn't know what the final NPK values are.



However, for the above use around the banana plant, I have no problem with some compost being spread and then covered with a thick layer of straw or grass clippings. ... The idea was to get a thick airy blanket over the ground to keep the soil cool from the sun.

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