maurelli burning up!
 

This is the third year that I have had my potted Maurelli out doors for the spring/summer/fall. I have moved it up in size every season,but this year the leaves are really burning. It has been hot, but it only gets sun until about 1 p.m. I use a moisture meter, so it is getting adequate water. Anyone else withe same problem? I don't want to plant it in the ground because they get too large and hard to move in the fall.:waving:

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

Mine isn't large by any means, but I have mine in a pot in full sun and it does just fine pushing up leaves. I think the next set of leaves won't burn unless you stick it in full sun. I lost 3 leaves in my transition. :^)

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

I assume you slowly got it from shade to sun; the transition to bright sun can definitely cause burning of the leaves. I have been having a problem with my leaves yellowing as opposed to burning, and its only in sun half a day and was slowly acclimated before being planted in the ground. Good luck.

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

It has been outdoors since may 7. I thought that I would burn up about five leaves while it got accustomed to the outdoors, but it is still happening eight weeks later.:waving:

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

I agree with you; the new leaves should have acclimated. So we have to go on to other causes. How deep into the pot does your meter go; if only to the first couple of inches it will give erroneous readings. Seven inches is good.

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

the probes go down to about 11 inches. I have two potted raja puris near by, and a smaller Maurelli I got from Sandy a short time ago that are fine and in near full sun. the weather has been hot though. 90s.

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

Can you give it some shade and see what happens

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

I have three in full sun its been around 108 the last few days mine are lovin it !

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

I will have to try it. Thanks:waving:

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

Are they potted? Mine seemed to have loved the sun last summer.

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

There all in the ground

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

does it have spider mites? have you fertilized it? It really sounds like it might not be getting enough water, but if you starve them they yellow up too.

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

sandy,I was worried that I may have been overwatering. The small one Igot from you is growing fast and doing fine inthe same conditions. I sprinkled a little 12-12 12 at the beginning of the season and have been using miracle gro .I don't see mites. Are they prevelent outdoors in summer? Thanks

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

speaking of moisture meters, now I'm confused. I've having problems too with my container banana here in El Centro CA where it is 110 degrees. I water when the soil is dry like an inch down according to the meter. But now I read that it's not accurate if I do it that way? What's the right way to do it? Let's say for any given banana that's in the correct pot size, what should the meter read at 7 inches when it's time to water again? Also, I would think the number of leaves the banana has a lot to do with how often to water no? Thanks!

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

I know people in Florida have a lot of trouble with spider mites on e. maurelii in the summer.
But if you don't see any, then that must not be the problem. How tall is your plant, what size pot is it in? What color/material is your pot made of? And how much water are you giving it? Is it going to dry each afternoon between waterings, but not to the point where it wilts or the pseudostem feels spongy? Ensete do seem to take a little less water than a dwarf cavendish, or regular banana. How much miracle grow are you using? My injector at 200 ppm is roughly equivalent to a teaspoon of miracle grow per gallon, and we use that at each watering. Ours are growing in the greenhouse at roughly 100 degrees each day under a 30 percent shadecloth right now. Our outdoor planted ones are doing ok with natural rainfall most of this summer but if we don't get at least 1.5" of rain a week, I water them. And I've watered them a few times so far.

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

My situation may be of some use for you. I have 3 of 'em, all in ground. The only one that has burned leaves is planted next to a west-facing stucco wall. In the afternoon, the reflected heat feels pretty intense, I suspect that's the cause in my case. All 3 get the same care. So, is your potted banana positioned near any type of reflective surface?

Re: maurelli burning up!
 

thanks for all your help folks. I am down to about 4 leaves now. The plant has about 4 ft. of thick stem and is in a 14" stone (plaster like) pot. It is growing about 3 feet from my house wall that is wood clapboard painted cream. I have not changed out any soil this season and I am going to try that next. It really only gets sun 'till about 1pm. I am using my moisture meter more and monitoring water and miracle gro. It is now a quest. :waving: