kstmommy

I bought an older Basjoo back in May. I planted this one somewhat mounded. I figured it might help drainage with my clayish soil. Amended hole with a bag of cow manure compost, less clayish soil, and palm potting mix. It had been doing so-so all summer, growing, just not really at a good pace, and somewhat funky looking, pale leaves. I was watering and fertilizing once a week with Miracle Grow singles.

Then, a few weeks ago, like a dummy, I decided to apparently make matters worse. I added more cow poo compost, potting mix, Milorganite, mixed it into base of plant, and covered with more mulch. Then, I proceeded to be even more of a dummy, and watered it all in with like 4 gallons of water mixed with Banana Fuel. Then, I decided to sprinkle some Epsom salt around the base, which did seem to help a little with the paleness from my gigantic overdose of fertilizer.

I am trying to "rinse" out all that mess, by watering heavily, and no fert at all. The last few cigar leaves have been SUPER pale, almost white, get burned while rolled up, then open up with burn spots, and turn a little more green. The leaves are kind of wavy. Like the midrib is wavy, making the whole leaf arc downward, then upward a little.

Last weeks cigar leaf seemed to be stuck and wouldn't open up all the way. I tried helping it, but it kept tearing so I cut it off. Next morning, the remaining part of it fully opened and pushed out another cigar leaf. THIS leaf is the one trying to open fully now. It's almost open, but the entire leaf is upside down. The back of the leaf is showing on top. I can already see another new cigar leaf working it's way up inside of it. UGH.

I was hoping it would work itself out, but seems to be getting worse. I was going to cut it down under all the leaves and start over, but now it's made a new pup. This is it's first pup for me all summer. I don't know what to do.

Another weird thing to me is that her leaves seem way bigger than her pstem. Maybe I planted too deep? 70% sure I planted at correct depth.

jeffaroo

Miracle Grow is far from a perfect fertilizer. I bet the poor lil guy is K starved. Id go get a bag of iron sulfate and see what that does for now. Chicken poop is alot better than cow poop. I dont have near the experience of some of the other folks, but thats where I would start. Also start using microcondrea (Zho) if you aren't all ready, the stuff is awesome for the root system

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Keep shoveling on the potash till the ground bleeds

venturabananas

When I've had similar problems, what fixed it was (1) stop over fertilizing and (2) spray the leaves with a good micronutrient foliar spray. But mostly just stop fertilizing until it sorts itself out.

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