Leaf mushy then brown
 

Hello! I'm having an issue with two of my bananas. On the Dwarf Red, it was fine when I checked on it yesterday morning, but when we took it in that evening parts of the new leaf were mushy, and today those parts are brown and soft:




The same is happening to my unknown variety, though it recently did a weirder thing where all the leaves died and a new pstem burst through the side :(



Does anyone know what could be the issue? Thank you for your help!

Re: Leaf mushy then brown
 

Looks like it could be from too much sun/heat - you said you brought it in.....possibly from an outside exposed location?

Re: Leaf mushy then brown
 

Hmm.. that is strange. My only thought is are you possibly giving too much water? I have not seen a healthy leaf develop rot like that before. The only other guess i have is that it has to do with moving the plants inside and outside constantly. If your weather still does not permit the plant to stay outside all the time, maybe it would be best to leave it inside under grow lights. Its possible the plant is coming in and out of dormancy based on temperature changes, which reduces its need for water significantly.
On your other plant, looks like it choked somehow. Ive had several do this, but not at that small. It should sort itself out.. all of mine did. Of note, most of my chokes happen when the plants are coming out of dormancy as the weather warms. This again leads me to think temperature changes are causing your problems. Keep us updated! Other than the brown spots the dwarf red is looking good!

Re: Leaf mushy then brown
 

Yep the overnight temps have been good and they've been out back for a week or so. I brought them in monday night cuz accuweather's real feel dipped to the low 40s. Sunday afternoon was hot but monday's was very cool, so maybe the differences in temp did that?

The back gets southern/eastern exposure, I haven't noticed the sun being intense there but maybe something is focusing the rays? They are in a different spot than where I had the unknown variety last year hmm

Re: Leaf mushy then brown
 

Huh maybe I have been watering them too much. When I water the kiwi I've been giving them a splash when I notice the soil has dried out a little on top rather than waiting til its on the dry side about an inch+ down. I try to stay around 10° difference when I take them inside so they don't have to adjust much, though they were out for a week before monday as the real feel on accuweather stayed in the mid 50s or only dipped low 50s for an hour. When they get too big to handle they'll have to tough it out :ha:

The unknown variety used to be about 2-3 feet and was upstairs for the winter under lights and the sunniest window before choking I guess? The leaves all became droopy and it started to bulge out at the base. I cut into it in March and it was recovering so well before this too :(

When I put them back out I\'ll keep my eye closer on the temp and water. Though like you suggested I\'ll hold out on the unknown til it\'s doing better under lights if it pulls through. The unknown lost one leaf but dwarf red already has another poking out!

Re: Leaf mushy then brown
 

I hosed them down with copper fungicide yesterday just in case. The spots aren\'t mushy today but still soft. I\'m sure they\'ll turn crispy in time.

Re: Leaf mushy then brown
 

Plants grown for long periods indoors and in green houses usually have to harden off to the full brunt of the great outdoors.

Many times stems and petioles will snap, leaves can burn and plant goes into immediate despair.
Plants that are grown under lights will do this too.
Often the plant is given a "good dose" of fertilizer which often does more harm than good .

I noticed white specks on the plant that I suspect is just dust...but your symptoms appear the same as spider mite damage.

You plants will sort themselves out in a month or two:)
Good luck with them

Re: Leaf mushy then brown
 

Hey all, sorry to drag up an old thread but I thought I should give some sort of conclusion to it just in case anyone else searches for an issue like this.

So after reading the replies I decided to leave the Red in the house under lights (a Sansi 36w grow light) till 3 new leaves came out (and were healthy) which took about 3 weeks then put her back outside. The issue didn't pop back up again on her but the pup she made in August had one spot on a later leaf though I just left them alone outside. Right now it's doing fine (no spots like that) upstairs for the winter, leaves maybe a week slower to completely unfurl but still has a new one already ready to come out.

I've had a different banana that I picked up from a nursery (only labeled houseplant but it looks like either a blood banana or a Cavendish) do the same thing in September, though it occurred inside under lights and not outside like on the Red.

So thinking it back over and everyone's comments it probably was just from adjusting to new light and temperature. I do get spider mites inside but with citrus trees, ivys and herbs available they seem to leave the bananas alone, though I try to keep on top of them with neem. And water stress I've noticed gives me black edges not this issue that stays that light leathery brown until the leaf dies off months later.

I guess it's just an occasional blemish I'll live with :D