Re: Banana tree support
The important point in designing a support it to take the weight off of the pseudostem. Think about removing the whole bunch and hanging it somewhere (by ther stem). That is the affect you want. Your support should carry the weight of the bunch of bananas at the highest point of the stem, so that you are in effect hanging the bunch. With the weight supported there is no stress on the pseudostem. The 45 degree elbow in the top of the support allows you to spread the legs apart at an angle. When they are also angled away from the pseudostem, you end up forming a tripod which will help support the pseudostem, as well, and help it resist the wind. Tying the support to the stem also makes it likely that the support will not fall off even if the wind picks it up.
If you support it anywhere lower, you are only moving the stress point when it is likely to snap off.
The pseudostemn can support itself. It is the leverage of hanging 50-100# of bananas on the end of something long and weak that creates the problem. It is all leverage and physics. Try holding that bunch of bananas with you arm extended straight out to your side. Much harder to do than bearhugging the bunch. The same thing happens when you hang it at the end of a long pseudostem, and putting it in the wind makes it that much worse.
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