Dwarf Cavendish - Help on Storm Damage

Neukman51 · 05-05-2009, 01:31 PM

Put my three year old Dwarf Cavendish outside too early this spring and it got hit by a very nasty thunderstorm storm with high winds (50+ mph). All existing central stem leaf growth was destroyed so I cut all the leaves off. Several pups were still in good shape.

Now the main stem is starting to go soft at the top, but is still firm at ground level. Should I cut the main stem back to near ground level and hope it sprouts something? Or, simply "write-off" the main stem and concentrate on saving the pups?

Bananaman88 · 05-05-2009, 02:03 PM

I'd suggest taking a saw or large knife and cutting the main pseudostem back about 2" at a time until you see good green growth in the center. If you see brown in the middle, keep cutting until you see green in the center. If the brown area (rot) goes all the way down then you may have no choice but to use your pups as replacements for the mother plant. This happens sometimes.

Patty in Wisc · 05-05-2009, 09:46 PM

Brent is right. Just cut a couple inches at a time till you find all green.
I wouldn't cut any leaves off unless they were brown.

Neukman51 · 05-06-2009, 08:49 AM

Thanks for the advice. I've cut back about 4" to get to a completely green core on the main stem. The only reason I took off the leaves was that the thunderstorm had destoyed them (e.g. the leaf stems were busted up and hanging straight down along side the main stem).

We'll see what sprouts from the trimmed down stem. Good news is that the pups are healthy and starting to grow vigerously... so even if I lose the main stem, I'll still be able tp save the plant.

Neukman51 · 06-11-2009, 09:17 AM

Thanks to all for the advice and counsel... after 3 or 4 surgeries over as many weeks; I finally got to green heart growth and a new leave is beginning to sprout.

Photo attached (I hope)...

Dalmatiansoap · 06-11-2009, 09:23 AM

bravo!!!!

fergus banana · 06-11-2009, 10:12 AM

Nice job!
i have a cavendish battling root rot right now after an unsuccessful soil to hydroponic transition - i have him on life support. i hope mine pulls through. never give up on bananas!

Bananaman88 · 06-11-2009, 11:18 AM

Looks good. It should be fine from this point.

05-05-2009, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
Neukman51 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 18,878 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 18 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Dwarf Cavendish - Help on Storm Damage Put my three year old Dwarf Cavendish outside too early this spring and it got hit by a very nasty thunderstorm storm with high winds (50+ mph). All existing central stem leaf growth was destroyed so I cut all the leaves off. Several pups were still in good shape. Now the main stem is starting to go soft at the top, but is still firm at ground level. Should I cut the main stem back to near ground level and hope it sprouts something? Or, simply "write-off" the main stem and concentrate on saving the pups?

05-05-2009, 02:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 291,927 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish - Help on Storm Damage I'd suggest taking a saw or large knife and cutting the main pseudostem back about 2" at a time until you see good green growth in the center. If you see brown in the middle, keep cutting until you see green in the center. If the brown area (rot) goes all the way down then you may have no choice but to use your pups as replacements for the mother plant. This happens sometimes.

05-05-2009, 09:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Patty in Wisc tropical nut Patty in Wisc's Photo Gallery Zone: 5 Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 3,115 BananaBucks : 401,506 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 2,946 Times Was Thanked 2,510 Times in 1,203 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 69 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish - Help on Storm Damage Brent is right. Just cut a couple inches at a time till you find all green. I wouldn't cut any leaves off unless they were brown. __________________ Got a lite? Patty ____ Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

05-06-2009, 08:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
Neukman51 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 18,878 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 18 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish - Help on Storm Damage Thanks for the advice. I've cut back about 4" to get to a completely green core on the main stem. The only reason I took off the leaves was that the thunderstorm had destoyed them (e.g. the leaf stems were busted up and hanging straight down along side the main stem). We'll see what sprouts from the trimmed down stem. Good news is that the pups are healthy and starting to grow vigerously... so even if I lose the main stem, I'll still be able tp save the plant.

06-11-2009, 09:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Neukman51 Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 14 BananaBucks : 18,878 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 18 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish - Help on Storm Damage Thanks to all for the advice and counsel... after 3 or 4 surgeries over as many weeks; I finally got to green heart growth and a new leave is beginning to sprout. Photo attached (I hope)...

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06-11-2009, 09:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dalmatiansoap Let there be light Dalmatiansoap's Photo Gallery Location: Makarska, Croatia Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Ante Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 9,161 BananaBucks : 694,005 Feedback: 10 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,508 Times Was Thanked 8,384 Times in 3,032 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 720 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish - Help on Storm Damage bravo!!!! __________________ https://abnb.me/AXJty518xib

06-11-2009, 10:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
fergus banana fergus banana's Photo Gallery Location: Iowa City, Iowa Find me on the map! Zone: 5-6 Name: Jon Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 221 BananaBucks : 52,923 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 12 Times Was Thanked 51 Times in 26 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish - Help on Storm Damage Nice job! i have a cavendish battling root rot right now after an unsuccessful soil to hydroponic transition - i have him on life support. i hope mine pulls through. never give up on bananas!

06-11-2009, 11:18 AM	#8 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 291,927 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Dwarf Cavendish - Help on Storm Damage Looks good. It should be fine from this point.

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