Kostas

Hello!

I would like to ask you what are the reasons for a pseudostem to start turning mushy and how to stop it. Is it originally a root problem(rot) that makes the leaf bases forming the pseudostem die back and turn mushy like seen in other plants when having serious root rot or is it a topical pathogen affecting them and so removing the affected tissue solves the problem for good?

I have had problems with my potted pups and each time the temperature falls below about 14C,i get progression of the mushy tissue downwards while when the temperatures remain above that and good for growth,the condition remains the same without any worsening and slowly the mush dries up. But the i get rain and lower temperatures again and it progresses again.
I get several types of pseudostem die back. One is the pseudostem has a yellowing one that then turns black. This generally is a slow process and accounts for very little of the necrosis. It doesnt cause much damage.

The second type of necrosis involves the tissues lightening in color and the pseudostem ''cells''/compartments(the macroscopic ones)appearing to get air bubbles in them. As it progresses,this tissue gets mushy and light yellowish. This is of the most aggressive ones and accounts for the most necrosis i get. Many times,when i cut the infected tissue,i see lavender marks at about the point of transition from healthy to tissue with gas.

A third type i see that could well be the same as the above one,causes a stripped appearance on infected tissue,with the compartment walls appear normal color and the in between space appear light lavender at first and then black. It also tends to make the tissue lighter in color than normal or even whitish,like the previous type of necrosis.

The bananas seem to be growing regardless of the above although when they progress,growth slows down some. What do you think is causing the above and what should i do? I removed all affected tissue yesterday except some that is on a relatively new leaf and if i cut it it will be left with a single leaf with no guarantee that it wont progress again....

Thank you very much in advance!

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Kostas

Just in case anyone was wondering or have the same problem,the problem resolved itself when good growing temperatures came. It seemed to have been the combined result of unhardened pseudostem tissue produced while growing inside in humid and warm conditions,and of not high enough for fast growth temperatures and too wet soil conditions due to the frequent rains and water pooling under the pots due to bad ground drainage where the pots where sitting. I raised the pots from the ground a little and it helped some on it's own but couldnt stop the rot till good growing tperatures came. It took the Namwah a good deal of time to recover well and start gaining height again.

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''To try,is to risk failure......To not try,is to guarantee it''

sunfish

Maybe you could add more perlite or pine bark next time around

Kostas

Thanks for your reply and advise Tony!

I am adding double the amount of sand now. I was using cactus soil for the ones above which has some sand in but now I switched to a peat based soil with 30% or a little more,sand added. We will see how that behaves over time...
How does bark mixed in behaves? Never used it intentionally in soil but sometimes it gets mixed in as i use it for top-dressing. At what % do you use it and with what other ingredients?
I only use perlite for establishing easy to rot and precious plants as I don't like the unnatural look the soil takes from it. It is indeed a great medium otherwise though!

Thank you very much in advance!

__________________
''To try,is to risk failure......To not try,is to guarantee it''

sunfish

I don't have any exact %.Just know pine chips added to soil is great for drainage.I am sure you know but I'll say it anyways.Hpoe you are using coarse washed sand,fine sand holds lots of water.I never use sand unless it's the size of pea gravel.Not and expert.

nannerfunboi

great info all !! thanks
i have really good drainage..but i do have a longggggg wait for warmish
weather at the start of summer..
certainly was this yr.. sigh
i have added much more composted bark to my plantings.. both potted
and in gardens..
just to aid in drainage..and fend off possible problems..
thanks all

oakshadows

Don't forget the mulch. It will repay you many fold.

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"What this country needs is dirtier fingernails and cleaner minds."

Kostas

Thank you very much for your replys!

Tony,
I do guess they would help drainage but I am not sure how they will behave over time when used in potting medium. I guess I will have to try and see!
I use river sand which has various grain sizes in it,both coarser and fine and it does help drainage. I also use fine gravel when potting easy to rot plants.


Mulch is indeed very good to use,just don't put a thick layer around small plants as they can rot from that.

__________________
''To try,is to risk failure......To not try,is to guarantee it''