Need Help ASAP please

Rexxin · 08-28-2010, 12:54 PM

First let me say sorry if this is in the wrong section.

Hi all my first post here as I just signed up recently. I just received a plant yesterday that I ordered. It's about one foot tall and I potted it right away.
I walk outside to check out in today and it found a caterpillar has made a nice hole right above the soil line. I can see clean into the plant the hole is is about 75% the diameter of a dime. What do i do the save this little guy the leaves are drooping and I'm not sure of the best course of action.

Any help at all is greatly appreciated. Thank You

LilRaverBoi · 08-28-2010, 01:04 PM

*Thread moved to banana health forum*

Wow, that's an interesting problem. I'd say you have two options: 1) keep it in shade and water sparingly (as you already should for a newly transplanted plant) and wait it out to see how things go. 2) cut the plant off just below (or at) the caterpillar hole and the plant will regrow from that point. Being small, it shouldn't take too long to regrow to its current size, depending on the health/size of the root system. Again, keep in shade and water sparingly.

ron_mcb · 08-28-2010, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rexxin

First let me say sorry if this is in the wrong section.

Hi all my first post here as I just signed up recently. I just received a plant yesterday that I ordered. It's about one foot tall and I potted it right away.
I walk outside to check out in today and it found a caterpillar has made a nice hole right above the soil line. I can see clean into the plant the hole is is about 75% the diameter of a dime. What do i do the save this little guy the leaves are drooping and I'm not sure of the best course of action.

Any help at all is greatly appreciated. Thank You

you really should first post pictures before we advise....this happened to the zebrina i bought.. sounds like you will just have to clip it and i think it will have to grow from where the caterpillar made the hole.

coast crab · 08-28-2010, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron_mcb

... sounds like you will just have to clip it and i think it will have to grow from where the caterpillar made the hole.

That's what I'd do too.

Russell

Rexxin · 08-28-2010, 01:28 PM

Thank you for the fast replies and it seems cutting it is the option everyone thinks I should go with. As much as i would hate to, I will to save it. Let me just ask what about filling it with honey and maybe some grafting tape or grafting compound on top? Would that have a chance of success? Again if i have to cut it I will and thank you.

island cassie · 08-28-2010, 02:39 PM

Well Rexxin - it could be a caterpillar or it could be a slug or snail - so I would scatter some slug-bait around the plant asap! Perhaps staking what is left of the stem would help the remaining leaves put some energy into the corm. If the leaves then die you have lost nothing, rather than cut the plant down straightaway as it is so new. Good luck! Bananas are herbs so I wouldn't think that grafting tape or compound would help.

Rexxin · 08-28-2010, 04:05 PM

I found a second hole about 1 inch up from the first. It was a caterpillar for sure I found the lil bastig still eating. I sucked it up and cut it just below the first hole I hope it comes back. I trimmed off the upper part scraped the outer bottom inch dipped in rooting gel and we will see if it roots.

LilRaverBoi · 08-28-2010, 06:08 PM

I highly doubt the portion you cut off the top will root (I can almost guarantee it won't), but the bottom part should grow back just fine as long as you water carefully and don't let rot set in. Best of luck! Sorry to hear about what a crappy situation you're in here.

The Hollyberry Lady · 08-28-2010, 07:24 PM

A complete circle of eggshells around the base of your plant can also help in deterring caterpillars...because they don't like to crawl over the sharp shells to get on the plant.

The eggshells will provide a source of slow-release calcium over time as well.

: )

Nicolas Naranja · 08-29-2010, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Hollyberry Lady

A complete circle of eggshells around the base of your plant can also help in deterring caterpillars...because they don't like to crawl over the sharp shells to get on the plant.

The eggshells will provide a source of slow-release calcium over time as well.

: )

Those eggshells won't help if the caterpillar is laying its eggs in the plant, which is what armyworms typically do.

Rexxin · 09-01-2010, 02:26 PM

Thank you all, the bottom half is growing back well it would seem. I know the upper part is a long shot but I figured why not if I'm going to lose it anyway. Thanks for all the help and things are looking good.

Plant saved! thanks to you guys.

08-28-2010, 12:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Rexxin Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 3,808 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Need Help ASAP please First let me say sorry if this is in the wrong section. Hi all my first post here as I just signed up recently. I just received a plant yesterday that I ordered. It's about one foot tall and I potted it right away. I walk outside to check out in today and it found a caterpillar has made a nice hole right above the soil line. I can see clean into the plant the hole is is about 75% the diameter of a dime. What do i do the save this little guy the leaves are drooping and I'm not sure of the best course of action. Any help at all is greatly appreciated. Thank You

08-28-2010, 01:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 160,325 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: Need Help ASAP please Thread moved to banana health forum Wow, that's an interesting problem. I'd say you have two options: 1) keep it in shade and water sparingly (as you already should for a newly transplanted plant) and wait it out to see how things go. 2) cut the plant off just below (or at) the caterpillar hole and the plant will regrow from that point. Being small, it shouldn't take too long to regrow to its current size, depending on the health/size of the root system. Again, keep in shade and water sparingly. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

08-28-2010, 01:28 PM	#5 (permalink)
Rexxin Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 3,808 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need Help ASAP please Thank you for the fast replies and it seems cutting it is the option everyone thinks I should go with. As much as i would hate to, I will to save it. Let me just ask what about filling it with honey and maybe some grafting tape or grafting compound on top? Would that have a chance of success? Again if i have to cut it I will and thank you.

08-28-2010, 02:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
island cassie island cassie's Photo Gallery Location: Dominican Republic Find me on the map! Zone: 11+ I guess Name: Island Cassie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,170 BananaBucks : 569,651 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,708 Times Was Thanked 2,079 Times in 874 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 416 Times	Re: Need Help ASAP please Well Rexxin - it could be a caterpillar or it could be a slug or snail - so I would scatter some slug-bait around the plant asap! Perhaps staking what is left of the stem would help the remaining leaves put some energy into the corm. If the leaves then die you have lost nothing, rather than cut the plant down straightaway as it is so new. Good luck! Bananas are herbs so I wouldn't think that grafting tape or compound would help.

08-28-2010, 04:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rexxin Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 3,808 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need Help ASAP please I found a second hole about 1 inch up from the first. It was a caterpillar for sure I found the lil bastig still eating. I sucked it up and cut it just below the first hole I hope it comes back. I trimmed off the upper part scraped the outer bottom inch dipped in rooting gel and we will see if it roots.

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08-28-2010, 06:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
LilRaverBoi Nanner Time! LilRaverBoi's Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Find me on the map! Zone: 5 Name: Bryan Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,937 BananaBucks : 160,325 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 534 Times Was Thanked 2,243 Times in 1,245 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 855 Times	Re: Need Help ASAP please I highly doubt the portion you cut off the top will root (I can almost guarantee it won't), but the bottom part should grow back just fine as long as you water carefully and don't let rot set in. Best of luck! Sorry to hear about what a crappy situation you're in here. __________________ BANANA RAVE! Feel the beat from start to stop, dancin' and movin' from bottom to top! lilraverboi@genxglow.com RIP Tog Tan. We love you and will always remember you! I'm Bryan with a Y! There is no 'I' in BRYAN!

08-28-2010, 07:24 PM	#9 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,456,759 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Need Help ASAP please A complete circle of eggshells around the base of your plant can also help in deterring caterpillars...because they don't like to crawl over the sharp shells to get on the plant. The eggshells will provide a source of slow-release calcium over time as well. : )

09-01-2010, 02:26 PM	#11 (permalink)
Rexxin Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4 BananaBucks : 3,808 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need Help ASAP please Thank you all, the bottom half is growing back well it would seem. I know the upper part is a long shot but I figured why not if I'm going to lose it anyway. Thanks for all the help and things are looking good. Plant saved! thanks to you guys.

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