timmko

My banana's were 9ft or more when I had to bring them inside. I cut them down to about 5 ft to allow for the 9ft ceiling I have. 2 of the 4 have come back just fine but the other 2 have some issues with the leaves. The leaf stem doesn't fully emerge from the main stem before the next leaf comes out. It makes the leaves bunch up and tear and then the stem of the leaf quits emerging. See the pics below. Is there something I can do about this or is this a problem that will solve itself once they go back outside? All of the plants are in 24" pots misted daily with a pump sprayer, temp is 72 with about 60% humidity. They get natural light from a window with supplemental light from a 6 bulb t-5 unit (6500k), a 200 watt compact florescent (6500k) and a 400 watt metal Halide (10,000k).

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varig8

This also happens occasionally when growing outside after wind damage or being cut. What you have to do is take a sharp knife, carefully cut through the outermost leaves stalks, one by one, vertically down the stem, and peel them away until you reach the inside layer where the newest leaf is emerging. Cut and remove everything off from that point down. You are 'clearing' the way down the stalk past the point where the leaves will then unfurl intact.

Blake09

May I add a question to this?

After I brought my siam ruby in for the winter the stems would fall over. I cut below where they are falling over. Now the pups are falling over, what am I doing?!? Could my 2 CFL 100 wat lights be affecting them?

They are in a big pot, I keep the soil moist, I mist there leaves. The stems are big like 2 1/2in in diameter. The stems are getting smaller and smaller and now the 2 main stems are 1in in diameter. I only have one pup that is left that hasent fallen over, its about 17in tall.

HELP!

.

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A banana plant in the autumn gale -
I listen to the dripping of rain
Into a basin at night.
~ Basho Matsuo (1644- 1694)

varig8

You know I have the same problem with those stupid things whether they are in the ground or in a pot. Im not sure if it is because they are just weak TC plants, or they are just so much more delicate than other types. I can't figure it out either-Ive stooped to tying the stalks to bamboo stakes. So many people I know have had them just melt like that. The first corm I brought in from Thailand 8 years ago seemed sturdier and the Thai grower told me to make sure I planted it in FULL sun and was easy on the water. So, maybe, if you give it the most intense light possible, keep it warm as possible, and go easy on the water especially during the winter months, you might be able to save it. Hey, if not, they are now available for like $10............

CookieCows

Overwintering in the house is tough at times. I had the same thing happen to me last year. I started yanking those outter leaves down and you should have seen the water pour out. The inner leaves that were choking were pale green and weak but once they were freed they turned a healthy green quickly. I used a rotating fan to help strengthen them. I cut back on my humidity to around 45% and held my breath that they'd make it until summer when they go back in the ground. Once back in the ground everything straightened out. Good luck!!

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timmko

So I cut down the P-stem until I see the start of the new leaf then from there up I cut the rest off? Why would the first leaf fully emerge and then the following ones not?

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CookieCows

I didn't cut my p-stem.. I peeled back the outer leaf portions until I got to the leaves that were emerging and unless I read varig8's post wrong.. I think that is what he was meaning also. Sometimes you have to use a knife to help get it peeled off.

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Annie6078OH

I've run into this myself. In fact, I have photos in my album of a freakish situation where a DC did not send up a flag before I hacked off the top to fit inside for winter ... the top got choked up from the drying out process after cutting (like yours), so the bloom I didn't know was inside ended up doing an "Alien" and splitting the side of p-stem once back out in spring since it couldn't come out the top.

Definitely follow the advice to remove the portions of the previous leaves that are impeding the shoots from coming out. If you cut across the p-stem again, you will probably be in the same boat when THAT cut dries and starts to shrink and choke the new leaves.

Ahh, maybe ONE day I'll live in a clime warm enough to not have to even bring them in for winter ...... (insert chorus of "I Can Dream, Can't I?" here).

Best of luck,
Annie

scottu

amen to that warm thought!

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Viva La Banana

dsicily

I'm having the same problem with my ensete,basjoo, and my jamaican red.

CookieCows

Some of mine that I brought inside are already showing the beginning signs of choking already and it isn't even January! I don't know what to do except experiment with what I haven't done yet. I have held back on the fertilizer during winter before so I'm thinking about treating them normally and give them some .. heavier on the nitrogen and maybe it'll push the leaves out quicker and more normal before it gets beyond the point of of no return. Just grasping at things off the top of my head.

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saltydad

This is a problem that frequently occurs with potted bananas. Cutting out is the recommended remedy, but you should also check to see if the plant is potbound, as that is a common cause of choking. Good luck. And my Siam Ruby plants ALWAYS flop over indoors. Indeed, the mom plant frequently dies on me at the end of the winter, but the pups soldier on.

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sandy0225

try a light foliar feed of 20-20-20 mixed 1 teaspoon in a 1/2 gallon of water. stir it up real well and mist it on the leaves. I'm playing with foliar feed this winter for something to do now that Christmas is over and I'm no longer making wreaths.

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