Scijox

Hi, I grew a Musa basjoo last summer with pretty decent success outdoors. However, I grew it in a pot so I realized that I could not let it stay outside in that state. I went off to college unable to care for my M. basjoo and my family simply brought in the plant and put it near a window. This window does not get good sun and buffalo has been known to break records in the winter for most overcast days in a row so lets just say it's not getting a good amount of sun. I should have given them instructions for how to cut and start dormancy by storing in the garage but that isn't what happened.

My basjoo did fine up near the window for quite a few months. Then it stopped growing but still looked fine. This week it has taken a turn for the worse as the leaves are yellowing and the whole plant seems to be drooping. The stem is not as stable as it used to be as I can wiggle it around. Attached is a picture of my poor banana in need.

Anyway, what can I do? Should I try to induce dormancy now or would it never be strong enough to break out? Should I break out some grow lights and try to rescue my banana (this would be complicated and my family is reluctant because they they don't share my passion). Any help would be appreciated.

My Dad insists that I only paid $4 for it so why am I worried but all the time that went into it's growth was worth a lot more than $4 to me and I'd hate to see it die .

Thanks,
James.

Chironex

Have you checked it for mites?

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Scot

Scijox

Just did and not a bug in sight. I'm convinced it's the low light since that window doesn't get much light and my area barely gets any light in the winter anyway. Do you think I should get some supplemental light on it? Water it? Not water it? I'm just worried that it's been living off it's corm for some time and that it may be too weak to even break dormancy if I induce it. So many unknowns. I can probably make room for it in the basement and put it under some fluorescent lights (put em nice and close to the leaves of course) but that may be the best I can do for lighting. it'll certainly be better than what it has now.

Taylor

It looks typical of the average dormant banana to me. Maybe it's a little dry?

Scijox

It just seems to have started to look worse lately. Can Bananas go dormant at room temperature with all their leaves? I haven't been watering that much (I hear it's a bad idea over the winter) but I could give it a nice drink today. It just seems to be a lot more wilted than usual and the stem doesn't seem as rigid which alarmed me. I'll give it some water though since the soil does seem quite dry.

Scijox

OMG I didn't notice until I look REALLY close. THERE'S MITES FRIGGING EVERYWHERE. GAHHHHHHNOOOOOOOOO my baby! I've got a soap spray I am gonna go to town with. Whoever suggested it was mites thanks I forgot to look REALLY close. Man those buggers are small but EVERYwhere. I think I can still save my basjoo but the battle has now begun. Those mites will regret the day they ever attacked my basjoo.

I WILL MAKE THEM PAY FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE!

CookieCows

Keep us informed!!

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Scijox

Round one of my barrage has just taken place. It was as if I could hear the mites screaming for mercy! But none came.

BAUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH


Dont touch my naners.

Chironex

Be prepared to lose a few leave, but once the spider mites are gone, the new growth will emerge and your banana will thrive once again.
Glad you double checked it!

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Scot

Scijox

I hope so I also moved it to the basement under more light it currently has 3 leaves but one is quite borderline. I nuked it pretty heavily but I have done worse to other plants and they all lived. It hasn't send out a leaf in a while though..... If it loses ALL it's leaves is my naner a goner? or can I expect that it will somehow find a way to send out another leaf.

Either way I'll keep you posted.

Seems like all my indoor plants get aphids/mites. It's annoying. I got really hardcore least year because my seedlings got put under attacked and incinerated plants.... However I managed to win last year but not without a few sacrifices.

Chironex

Even if all leaves are gone, it will put out new ones in the spring. Just reduce watering to reflect the loss of leaf surface area. Keep the corm on the dry side if all the leaves yellow. If you got to the spider mites soon enough, some of the leaves might pull through as they did not look too far gone.

As I have heard many times on this forum, never give up on a banana until it's just a hole in the ground. I had an African Red die to the ground. No life, no leaves, not even a pstem. I set the container aside for a month or two. When I went to grab the pot to plant something else in it, BAM! The plant had come back two-fold!

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Scot

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