Will chemical fertilizers burn bananas? Is something organic, like blood and bone meal better for them?
Banana Fert.?
I am not sure. All we do it put the grass clipping around them when we mow. It help to hold moisture and gives it nitrogen. They thrive. Ask anyone that has seen mine.
Hi CaptMicha! I don't know the answer to your question but, last year when I needed to move a Musella lasiocarpa to a larger pot, I took 2 Jobes Tree & Shrub fertilizer spikes and broke them in two and put them in the pot. The plant got huge, and we've had more than enough pups from it.
That's interesting, I'll have to look for those and try them.
One more nana question, is it normal for part of a banana plant (like the outside) to be a little blackish? I got one from ebay, it looked okay only the leaves were cut off and parts where they were removed was a little black.
I planted it outside in indirect light and I've yet to see any leaves. It's been two weeks. The skin has also turned a little blackish in spots. The seller said that this was normal.
Goodness, I surely don't know an answer. I've never seen blackish spots on my nana before. Someone will be along soon to help you.
I think it depends on what kind of nana it is, Capt. My plain ole green nanas just get some 8-8-8 sprinkled around them and also gets the run off from the Miracle Grow that I put on the other flowers. I don't think it is unusual for the cut off leaf stubs to turn black; new ones should come out. The abysiannian nana loses the leaf all the way to the base of the plant, but others do not.
Hi Capt.-
Our nanas get 10-5-40, chemical fert. which is used by all the nana growers here. They really like a lot of potassium. They LOVE fire ashes .... and old leaves and trunks chopped up (their own) at their feet to decompose.
Carol
ive used palm fertilizer on everything ive ever had in florida as long as it has all the micro nutrients, not necessarily the expensive brands, they often dont . everything has done really well, esp. nanas.
Dog poopoo works great with a lot of water...
ely
I got a couple from a DG member in Florida that came by mail and then car across the border and one had black spots etc from rough travelling. I found it dried up in those areas and the new leaves couldn't come out. I stripped back all the black and damaged growth down to just before the top of the roots, one layer at a time, until I found the new leaf trapped inside. It was like peeling onion skin.
This is what they look like this year.....after spending 9 months inside. They were small pups when I received them and the damaged one lost 2/3rds of it's growth.
They are hidding behind the Tropicana Canna. And no I'm not expecting nanas or even a bloom this year. ;)
This message was edited Jun 23, 2005 7:16 PM
come on over Ely you have all my dog poop lol
It looks pretty good, a lot better than my nanner. I dug it up and potted it, I'm hoping that'll force some leaves or something.
What made me strip mine is the basjoo kept popping out leaves but the Blood Banana, which had the black spots, didn't have any new growth coming......the Musa basjoo died back (went into dormancy in my very cool bedroom window) or it would be three times the size it is now. If you can't see a new leaf coming CaptMicha I'd start wondering if it hasn't been damaged inside somewhat.
LOL we have english mastives so they make all and more of what we need... but you should have seen the size of the brugs I grew from cuttings there.... it was awsome...... all the ely ears were huge.....full
=)
When I dug it up, I saw new white roots, they weren't as healthy or as numerous as I'd have liked but at least it wasn't dead.
If it doesn't make it, I'm just going to return it. I'm not paying for a bad nana!
My neighbor has a horse, think she'll let me have some manure?
I mixed in blood and bone meal and kelp with the bananas I planted today. Same with the paw paws. I hope they'll take off!
Horsey poop is good...but remember it is the potassium that builds them UP.
Is the last number potassium? #-#-# I mean, I don't know what they call this thing.
I came home and the nana hasn't done anything but declined, I contacted the seller about it. I hope they're one of those easy to work with people... Some sellers get down right defensive.
As the fruit is very high in potassium....................................
I don't know why I hadn't connected that the fert should be........................Duh! lol
Thanks AlohaHoya.
Ric
We use 10-5-40...also let all the leaves dry up on the plant as they give back nutrients they have used growing....when you chop them down, cut up the trunks and let them decompose around the live plant....
Nanners are so neat!!!
10-5-40 got it.
Hey if you can't get 'nana tips from HI where ya gonna get 'em!
Ric