Seattle area coolness?
 

Hey all,

My potted bananas were doing well on my condo balcony up till now where I notice that subtly, the bottom leaves are turning yellow. I assume it is cuz in Seattle we have dipped into the low mid 40s at night. I was gonna wait until Oct or Nov before bringing in a couple of the dwarf cavs but maybe by then all the leaves will be gone???
Also, is variagation of different shades of green indicative of cold's effect on a banana leaf? One of my leafs came out very variegated and I don't think it's normal.

Zach

Re: Seattle area coolness?
 

If you're speaking about the red splashing on the leaves on a Cavendish, that's normal. If you have white variegation, that's different. Give it a little more warmth and less sunlight and see it regains it's color.

Re: Seattle area coolness?
 

I'm talking about variegation of the color green.

Re: Seattle area coolness?
 

So, you're saying varying shades of green? And not green and white, or red and green? If it's the former, it's due to the varying degrees of exposure to sunlight.

I know that in the last 4 to 5 days, my bananas have really slowed down in their growth because of the cool temperatures. Three days of continuous rain in Seatlle last week didn't help, either. Good thing, I put a plastic cover over my ailing M. Tomoc after it was almost rotten down below the soil line. I soaked that sucker (no pun intended) with fungicide, and now it's a green shoot through the balck sheath. But it went from a 2-ft sword pup to a 6-inch black cone. The other Tomoc has grown a foot since I got them from Pitangadiego.

Re: Seattle area coolness?
 

My DCs and Raja Puris have spotted differences in green color on the leaves. I have had some very cool nights through out the summer as well.

Allen

Re: Seattle area coolness?
 

yeah I wonder if the green variegations does have to do with temp fluctuations. I am gonna bring the DC inside probably in October while I leave the Ensete and Basjoo outside.
Thanks all for your ideas.

Re: Seattle area coolness?
 

Cool temps and wet soil can also cause what looks like variegation in the leaves. Sometimes I think when soil temps drop that the roots don't take up nutrients like they should and that can cause a variegated look. I've noticed this in the spring with both bananas and cannas but when the weather warms, the leaves start appearing normal again.