Hardy Banana Plants

Hi all, I bought 2 Hardy Banana Plants at Lowe's-75% off even, but I think they are going to die. The stalk of one seems to be turning to much, even though it has a new leaf about to unfurl. Any help is greatly appreciated! Thanks, Misty

Hi Misty, these really are good hardy plants and have probably suffered from neglect in the store due to the wrong watering treatment and prob too much at some point, and too dry at others, the new leaf grows from the heart of the growing tip and may have been too wet , but try to make sure no moisture gets into the growing tip while at the same time, dont let the soil dry out, these plants do kind of go into a dormant stage depending on the temp and if too cold, they do turn mushy, but all is not lost, If you have to cut back the foliage this year, it will regrow next, they sometimes send up baby ones at the base every year also so if you do loose this one, keep up the care so it will have off sets for next season. they are also hungry feeders when they are growing, but a plant under stress is not the best time to offer feed till you get it growing a bit better, is there any way you could try gently unfurl some of the mushy leaves and cut them away all together so that it gets air at the moist bit, this might help a bit, you dont say which zone you live in, so maybe indoors protection for this winter could help till it gets over the stress it is under, then put it outside next spring, unless you are in some tropical temp, I cant see it growing too big this year as they have a rest period in cooler temps, where I live, I have to wrap mine in straw or fleece to stop the frost turning them soft and mushy due to frost/too cold weather, they survive all that so it shows how hardy they really are. hope this helps you to save your plants, just cut back the watering if it is cooler in your place. Good Luck, WeeNel.

Thanks WeeNel! I do have these in the house since they were so poor when I got them. The one is VERY mushy at the base, but still yet has a leaf opening from the very top. I have already cut all the other leaves from it because they kept turning brown. I do believe they has some teeny tiny babies on them, but I am just afraid I am going to lose the whole shottin shabang. :( I am in zone 6. I would put that with my name if I knew how to change it. Would it be best to just cut it back altogether so the stalk doesn't continue to get mushy? Then it could spend all its energy on the base of the plant and not taking it for something that is going to keep deteriorating? Thanks! Misty

I had a banana plant last year that died down to a stump and I pretty much gave up on it and forgot it. You can imagine my surprise when I looked into the pot one day and saw several babies poking out of the soil. They are usually pretty determined to grow if given the smallest chance at it.

Well I hope I am that lucky! I didn't give that much for them, about 4 bucks I think, but still. I would have to pay about 13 next spring for them! I have them sitting where they get filtered sun most of the day, without having to keep them outside to freeze in the pots. I have been taking them when it is warm and not too windy, but we have had pretty cold weather and a bit windy here lately. I do hate to cut them back since they each have a new leaf trying to open, but with the worst one being so mushy, it just worries me. Thanks, Misty

In your zone Misty, the plant could have got too cold before you bought it, that's why they sell them off as it cost time and money to the garden store to treat it all winter, also they need to make room for new stock of winter plants, as they do go like that if not in a really warm climate, as for the roots, unless there is a disease on the plant that is causing it to go mushy, then the roots should be fine, the roots are like a huge tuber that sends out new plants as it start to weeken, by this I mean, dying off for winter, too old, wrong growing conditions or whatever, but if all the mushy stuff is only within the growing green bit, then the roots should be fine, maybe you could re pot it into a much larger pot, with new nice rich compost and treat it with T.L.C. indoors, if it were outdoors I would cut it all back so the frost/cold dont turn the foliage to mush, but inside I feel you could treat as still growing unless you have it in a very cool/cold room/garage with no heat at all. I do know some people do cut them back to the base for winter, so really without a picture of the trouble, it is hard to say do this or care for it till it recovers a bit more. maybe someone in your zone can help more and advise you better than I can, but unless water is oozing out, I would wait a bit longer before drastic measures are needed. Good luck. WeeNel.

I did re pot it in a much larger pot when I brought it home. And we didn't have any frost/freezes prior to purchase. The ones I seen there last night looked even worse than mine! They would have had to be free before I would have brought them home! I did purchase, and make, my own potting mix today, but it has a lot of Miracle Grow mixed in it. Would it hurt to give it any type of fertilization at this point? It is a mix of 2 types of MG, regular potting soil, and an organic mix with Humus &? I forget the other. I have only had them a little over a week, and I could take them back for a refund, I would just like to keep them alive and not pay the much higher price next year. All the research I have done shows that this type is extremely hardy for here, so long as they are protected from well below freezing temps. I will see about getting a pic of the worst one, but it is not oozing water, just looking sickly. Thanks for all your help! misty

Hi Misty, you have done everything I would have done, dont add any feed right now as you said you have a mix in your soil and that will have a bit of nutrients added, I honestly would be a bit more patient, these are really large plants and they will take a good few weeks to start showing signs of improvement, they have been neglected in the store, then you carted them home, then re potted them, so they have been through a lot in a short space of time, try stop looking at them every day for a few days, then when you go back to them, you should see no difference, so wait longer, see improvement, so keep going with your T.L.C. OR, the plant has collapsed even more, then take action, but due to the size and growth, I would not expect them to show recovery for a good few weeks, you still have a long while before you need to take drastic actions, Relax, you are trying to save 2 plants that would be dead by now, not win first prize at the plant show, you will enjoy them more next year I bet, especially after all your hard work, it will pay of I'm sure. Good Luck. WeeNel.

Thanks WeeNel. I will have to hide them somewhere so as not to look at them! They are in my sunroom/kitchen, where I have to be every day. LOL It is true that they would prob be dead by now, I just don't want to be the one who kills the poor things! I worry so much because I am afraid that I will revert back to having a black thumb again. :( I am attaching pics so you know what I am talking about. Thanks! Misty

Here is just the stalk itself.

Can't help with the bananas, but if you want to put your zone under your name, go to "My Info", then "Manage my preferences", then "Your location", if you scroll down to the bottom of that screen, you'll see the option to put in your zone.

I just tried that ecrane and I didn't find a place for a zone. It didn't even have where I could put where I lived on there this time?

I'm not sure how far you got, so I'll go through it again with some more details. First, go to "My Info" (You'll find this at the top of this page and pretty much any other one). Then, look in the Actions section, and you'll see "Manage Your Preferences." This page lets you change things like your email address and time zone--I think this may have been where you stopped last time? You need to go one step farther--look on the right or left side of your screen (which one depends on how you have your preferences set), there'll be a navigation box with some other options. Underneath where it says preferences, there's a whole list of options, and one of those is "Your Location". If you go there, you'll see your city/state, and down at the bottom of the page you'll see the place to put in your zone.

WEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAA I got it! LOL I never was sure how you determined if you were A or B, but I just went with what I thought was our closest average in cold. Thanks for all your help, again! Misty

Hi Misty,

I don't think your bananas look all that bad. Keep them inside this winter, water and feed them like you would any house plant, and since they are hardy in your zone you can plant them outside in the Spring. They look to me as if they will be fine.

Karen

Hi Karen, I am so glad to hear that you think they look ok! I was thinking of trying to pull down the rest of the stem where the leaves were and try to get rid of that, but was afraid I would damage it more. Thanks!
ecrane, I sent you and Mary flowers for your birthday! But I will send them here, too. :)

Hi Misty, I agree with everyone else who thinks the plants look not too bad, ofcourse we cant be as close to them as you are, but even so, I think the damage that you see (yellowing soft stems) has been there before you bought the plants, so now they just need time to recover, and with all the T.L.C. you are giving, they will soon start to show improvements, not right away, like us with stress or illness, we dont change our beds and that means we are all healthy again, but in time we start to show better health, so our plants are the same, your doing good and even if the one plant that you are worried about does need a good cut back because the rot on the stems and foliage has been unable to recover, I still have my money on a good plant come back next year,
No you dont have black thumbs, you are doing what we all had to do when we started off with our plants, we had to ask as many questions, reed books or be shown what to do, so your just a stage behind everyone else who has moved on from a beginner, dont worry so much, you paid a couple of dollars for a good type of plant that was almost sure to die IF you had not came along, and because of a few dollars, you have had a great chat and gained advice about your new hobby, GARDENING, so keep going, your doing all the things we would all try and worry about, were all here for you and rooting for your plants (good pun) over the winter, good luck, WeeNel.

That was a GREAT pun WeeNel! I loved it! Ok, I will quit worrying about them so much. And believe it or not, I was in there making chili today and never even looked at them! Imagine that, huh! And you are right, lotsa good chat with lotsa good people! Thanks so much for all the confidence and your assistance! It is greatly appreciated. Misty

Your welcome Misty, everyone here is always keen to help anyone who is a bit worried about their
hard work and sometimes it is just a confidence thing that believe me, will improve as time goes by. Good luck. let us all know how they do for you next spring if your not back before then.
WeeNel.

I will definitely let you know, and I am sure I will be back before Spring! :) Got the stuff for my GH today, so I hope to be able to get them out there to where they will get more sun and hopefully flourish. I appreciate everyone here! Misty

These have started growing like MAD! I am so tickled! I guess they are liking my little green house. I went out one day and nuttin, went out next day and there was like 2 inches of growth, looked today and there is about 4-5 inches of growth! I am soooooooooooo pleased! :)

Misty,

I am so glad to hear your bananas are doing well. Congratulations!!

They will be big and healthy by Spring and can go into the ground then.

Karen

Thanks Karen, I can hardly wait! :)

Hi Misty, so glad all your tender care has paid off and you now see just the amount of growth these plants can put on when growing well, when you plant them outside next spring (when the danger of frost and cold has passed) you can plunge the pots into the ground and mulch around them OR plant direct into the ground, but at the end of the season before frost, then either cut them back or gather and tie all the foliage together and then wrap them in fleece or make a straw jacket to protect them from the frost, either way should be fine in your zone, choose a spot with sun but not direct sun or the really large leaves will scorch, watch out for wind where you plant as the big leaves can get torn by that easily, but generally they are as tough as old boots once they get growing outdoors. so happy for you, good girl, now just enjoy. WeeNel.

Thanks again WeeNel! You are always so helpful with your wonderful information! I haven't checked them yet today, but sure they have grown more! :)