Bananas.org - View Single Post - New to bananas in Colorado! PLEASE HELP!!!!

Marilyn · 04-08-2008, 11:34 AM

I live near Denver Colorado in Zone 6-7. I purchased a dwarf musa from a good retailer in Hawaii. I can't remember the variety name. But it is supposed to do well in containers. This is my first banana plant.

It came in good condition with 2 healthy leaves and about 1 foot long. I potted it in soil that is very well draining and designed for tropical flowers. Lots of sand, charcoal, and gravel. I wasn't sure aboiut the charcoal, but in Colorado, we don't have a lot of choices in ready made soil in packages. I give it tropical flower fertilizer with a balance if ingredients that I found on many banana websites.

I have a few questions. It started growing quickly. I have had it for 3 years now. I have transplanted it to larger pots only twice from the origional container I 1st planted it in. It is now 3 1/2 feet tall. The leaves are 2 feet long. There are only leaves on the top 8" of the plant. It has never been outdoors so it only gets indirect and some direct sunlight in the winter for about 8 hours a day. But the plant seems to be struggling a bit. The leaves are green, but a bit "lifeless." When a new leaf emerges, it looks healthy and opens well. But then I lose the lower most leaf immediatly after the new one emerges. I don't know if this is normal. The lower leaf starts to turn yellow. I cut it off about 2 inches from the main stalk. The remaining piece on the stalk turns brown, but doesn't actually rot or try to come off of the stalk. It gives the salk a "sick" look. But the rest of the plant keeps growing.The stalk is about 9" at the base and 5" at the top. It has never shown signs of flowering. It keeps about 8 leaves on the plant at all times.

I think that it is frail because it has never been outside. But I am fearful of how I am to introduce it to the outdoors. Is it too late for the plant? Did I raise a handicapped plant?

I normally have a green thumb. But growing bananas in zone 6-7 is tricky and I don;t know the tricks.

Is there any hope for me and my banana? What should it look like and when?

04-08-2008, 11:34 AM	#1 (permalink)
Marilyn Location: Denver area, Colorado Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Name: Marilyn Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 1 BananaBucks : 2,759 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	New to bananas in Colorado! PLEASE HELP!!!! I live near Denver Colorado in Zone 6-7. I purchased a dwarf musa from a good retailer in Hawaii. I can't remember the variety name. But it is supposed to do well in containers. This is my first banana plant. It came in good condition with 2 healthy leaves and about 1 foot long. I potted it in soil that is very well draining and designed for tropical flowers. Lots of sand, charcoal, and gravel. I wasn't sure aboiut the charcoal, but in Colorado, we don't have a lot of choices in ready made soil in packages. I give it tropical flower fertilizer with a balance if ingredients that I found on many banana websites. I have a few questions. It started growing quickly. I have had it for 3 years now. I have transplanted it to larger pots only twice from the origional container I 1st planted it in. It is now 3 1/2 feet tall. The leaves are 2 feet long. There are only leaves on the top 8" of the plant. It has never been outdoors so it only gets indirect and some direct sunlight in the winter for about 8 hours a day. But the plant seems to be struggling a bit. The leaves are green, but a bit "lifeless." When a new leaf emerges, it looks healthy and opens well. But then I lose the lower most leaf immediatly after the new one emerges. I don't know if this is normal. The lower leaf starts to turn yellow. I cut it off about 2 inches from the main stalk. The remaining piece on the stalk turns brown, but doesn't actually rot or try to come off of the stalk. It gives the salk a "sick" look. But the rest of the plant keeps growing.The stalk is about 9" at the base and 5" at the top. It has never shown signs of flowering. It keeps about 8 leaves on the plant at all times. I think that it is frail because it has never been outside. But I am fearful of how I am to introduce it to the outdoors. Is it too late for the plant? Did I raise a handicapped plant? I normally have a green thumb. But growing bananas in zone 6-7 is tricky and I don;t know the tricks. Is there any hope for me and my banana? What should it look like and when?