pseudostem widening/separating apart ... ?

dchsueh · 08-25-2014, 12:42 PM

Hello everyone,

I have two banana plants, each about 1.5ft high.

The pseudostems were looking normal until a few days ago, when I gave them a drenching with a pyrethrin-based insecticide then a shower (leaf tops and bottoms) with a garden hose; this was done to address a spider mite problem. The next day I noticed that the leaf sheaths are spreading outwards, and the plant is resembling a bromeliad (e.g. pineapple) more than a banana with its typical tightly-bound stem:

The sheaths are already curling so I cannot simply press the sheaths together to reform the solid stem; they'll crack as if I'm flattening some celery stalks.

Is this normal behavior, or have I abused my plants?

(The mites seem mostly gone, and the plant looks fine two days afterwards.)

Thanks!

Olafhenny · 08-25-2014, 04:28 PM

I find that interesting and I am posting this just to be notified, when solutions to your
problem come in.

Good luck in resolving this,
Olaf

cincinnana · 08-25-2014, 06:04 PM

I also have no idea why this plant did this....Also
But I did take it out of a well protected spot to take a photo for another post.
The leaves were tight when I took it out of its spot
After 12 hours the leaves spread out.
I know that there is nothing wrong with the plant health wise .
Heat index is 105 degrees.
The plant in question is on the far right of the row of plants.....note how tight the leaves were.

Photo was taken to demonstrate the progression to larger containers when up potting your plants to be used in another post.

Truly Tiney on far left.

.

Untitled
by Hostafarian, on Flickr

.
Maurelli with leaves spread.
But I did not hesitate to hack them off.
I think by taking it out of a well protected spot caused the leaves to loose their support and droop and fall.

Of course this is only my Opinion.

.
by Hostafarian, on Flickr.

Untitled

by Hostafarian, on Flickr

Abnshrek · 08-25-2014, 06:38 PM

I have seen this in several I've grown, where it transitioning to being a bigger Banana..

Olafhenny · 08-25-2014, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

I also have no idea why this plant did this....Also
But I did take it out of a well protected spot to take a photo for another post.
The leaves were tight when I took it out of its spot
After 12 hours the leaves spread out.
I know that there is nothing wrong with the plant health wise .
Heat index is 105 degrees.
The plant in question is on the far right of the row of plants.....note how tight the leaves were.

Photo was taken to demonstrate the progression to larger containers when up potting your plants to be used in another post.

.
Maurelli with leaves spread.
But I did not hesitate to hack them off.
I think by taking it out of a well protected spot caused the leaves to loose their support and droop and fall.

Of course this is only my Opinion.

.
by Hostafarian, on Flickr.

Untitled

by Hostafarian, on Flickr

In my limited experience with E. Maurelii, their leaves flare out anyway, once the get to
about the size of yours. They do not stay as compact as musa. That makes me wonder,
if the banana plant of dchsueh is not also some sort of an ensete and the flare out of
the leaves may be completely unrelated to the treatment it received, but just a
coincidence of timing? It is difficult to identify the plant from dchsueh's photos.

As I said, my experience with ensetes is limited to one attempt to grow and winter it
outdoors in HZ 6, but I know there are other growers of ensetes in this forum. Maybe
it is possible to get their attention by starting a new thread with "ensete" in the
Headline.

dchsueh · 08-26-2014, 09:03 AM

my plant in these photos (yellow pot barely visible) was labeled as a super dwarf; it does have some slight light maroon splotches on the leaves though

cincinnana · 08-26-2014, 09:06 AM

I totally misread( did not see all of it) the opening post.....

I have had plants go crispy turgid like yours also but I cannot recall the circumstances.
And had happened to my dwarfs also
In your case the two variables that have changed are the introduction of pyetherin and the additional water drench that was given.
So it is one or the other perhaps.
Are these indoors or outdoors at the moment.

dchsueh · 08-26-2014, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincinnana

Are these indoors or outdoors at the moment.

indoors

(I took them outdoors for the water bath, but that was only for a few minutes; the water was quite cold)

08-25-2014, 12:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
dchsueh Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Zone: 5 Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 7 BananaBucks : 5,514 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	pseudostem widening/separating apart ... ? Hello everyone, I have two banana plants, each about 1.5ft high. The pseudostems were looking normal until a few days ago, when I gave them a drenching with a pyrethrin-based insecticide then a shower (leaf tops and bottoms) with a garden hose; this was done to address a spider mite problem. The next day I noticed that the leaf sheaths are spreading outwards, and the plant is resembling a bromeliad (e.g. pineapple) more than a banana with its typical tightly-bound stem: The sheaths are already curling so I cannot simply press the sheaths together to reform the solid stem; they'll crack as if I'm flattening some celery stalks. Is this normal behavior, or have I abused my plants? (The mites seem mostly gone, and the plant looks fine two days afterwards.) Thanks!

08-25-2014, 04:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 297,528 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: pseudostem widening/separating apart ... ? I find that interesting and I am posting this just to be notified, when solutions to your problem come in. Good luck in resolving this, Olaf __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

08-25-2014, 06:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,884 BananaBucks : 5 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,919 Times Was Thanked 11,798 Times in 4,918 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,959 Times	Re: pseudostem widening/separating apart ... ? I also have no idea why this plant did this....Also But I did take it out of a well protected spot to take a photo for another post. The leaves were tight when I took it out of its spot After 12 hours the leaves spread out. I know that there is nothing wrong with the plant health wise . Heat index is 105 degrees. The plant in question is on the far right of the row of plants.....note how tight the leaves were. Photo was taken to demonstrate the progression to larger containers when up potting your plants to be used in another post. Truly Tiney on far left. .Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr . Maurelli with leaves spread. But I did not hesitate to hack them off. I think by taking it out of a well protected spot caused the leaves to loose their support and droop and fall. Of course this is only my Opinion. . by Hostafarian, on Flickr. Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 08-25-2014 at 06:21 PM.

08-25-2014, 06:38 PM	#4 (permalink)
Abnshrek Happy Growing Abnshrek's Photo Gallery Location: Beaumont Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b, but 9b weather.. Name: Migael / Michael Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9,493 BananaBucks : 349,039 Feedback: 45 / 100% Said "Thanks" 10,447 Times Was Thanked 16,443 Times in 5,238 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,318 Times	Re: pseudostem widening/separating apart ... ? I have seen this in several I've grown, where it transitioning to being a bigger Banana.. __________________ I'm a Nannerhead :^)

08-26-2014, 09:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
dchsueh Location: Toronto, ON, Canada Zone: 5 Join Date: Aug 2014 Posts: 7 BananaBucks : 5,514 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 8 Times in 3 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: pseudostem widening/separating apart ... ? my plant in these photos (yellow pot barely visible) was labeled as a super dwarf; it does have some slight light maroon splotches on the leaves though

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08-26-2014, 09:06 AM	#7 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,884 BananaBucks : 5 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,919 Times Was Thanked 11,798 Times in 4,918 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,959 Times	Re: pseudostem widening/separating apart ... ? I totally misread( did not see all of it) the opening post..... I have had plants go crispy turgid like yours also but I cannot recall the circumstances. And had happened to my dwarfs also In your case the two variables that have changed are the introduction of pyetherin and the additional water drench that was given. So it is one or the other perhaps. Are these indoors or outdoors at the moment. __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 08-26-2014 at 10:18 AM.

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