mekong giant, what's wrong?

nucci60 · 07-22-2012, 09:35 AM

Heard so much about MG. I got one late last summer and potted it up. Overwintered it inside. My problem is, I put it out potted in May and it has been as slow as molasses. It is healthy but oh so slow. I have been growing basjoo and ensete maurelii for years. Two 3inch Maureliis I potted up at the same time are now dwarfing the Mekong Giant. Pot is largee enough and soil was changed in spring.

sunfish · 07-22-2012, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nucci60

Heard so much about MG. I got one late last summer and potted it up. Overwintered it inside. My problem is, I put it out potted in May and it has been as slow as molasses. It is healthy but oh so slow. I have been growing basjoo and ensete maurelii for years. Two 3inch Maureliis I potted up at the same time are now dwarfing the Mekong Giant. Pot is largee enough and soil was changed in spring.

They don't like hot weather ?

nucci60 · 07-22-2012, 06:07 PM

Tony, was that an answer or a question, LOL.

sunfish · 07-22-2012, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nucci60

Tony, was that an answer or a question, LOL.

Question

Yug · 07-22-2012, 11:54 PM

I like the 'schmoo'.

natej740 · 07-23-2012, 01:03 AM

I got one of of Sandy late spring and it was only 8-12 inches tall but just a few months later it's almost as tall as me...I think they like part sun and not full sun maybe that's your problem. I read somewhere they like shade with filtered sun...if I get some pups I'll try it out. Good luck on yours!

sandy0225 · 07-28-2012, 03:43 PM

They don't seem to like quite as much water as a basjoo either.

garymc · 08-23-2012, 01:31 AM

Mekong Midget. I planted one last spring. It has grown about 4 inches. Of course with the drought and extreme heat this year, I've done well to keep it alive. I guess I didn't know where to plant it. I put it in an open area. Fortunately a bunch of castor beans volunteered around it, so it has some shade. But I haven't been able to give it the water it needs. My question is whether to leave it where it is for the winter and move it in the spring or dig it up and try to winter it in the basement. It's about knee high.
p.s. I grow schmoos too.

sandy0225 · 08-28-2012, 02:22 PM

You are in zone 7 and I"m in zone 5. Around here we have to be having some pretty good growth on the bananas to make them pull through winter. But since yours already made it through one winter, I'd probably just mulch it heavily as insurance and take better care of it next year. Of course, it's not too late to start taking better care of it THIS year, either.

JuniPerez · 08-30-2012, 08:02 AM

The Mekong I got from Sandy has been growing in a partially shady spot at what seems to be a faster rate than my basjoos actually... mine are all inground though (clay with added peat & vermiculite)...

jimhardy · 08-30-2012, 10:18 AM

Mine has done so,so in part shade,maybe 4' tall now but really speeding up now.

natej740 · 09-04-2012, 09:38 PM

Figured id share my picture in this thread instead of making a new thread with the same title. Sorry for hijacking your thread.

My Mekong giant's new leaves keep coming out deformed. I don't think I've over fertilized it because I give all my plants the same dose and no problems from any of them. Any idea what could be wrong?

IMAG2285 by natej740, on Flickr

Blake09 · 09-04-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by natej740

Figured id share my picture in this thread instead of making a new thread with the same title. Sorry for hijacking your thread.

My Mekong giant's new leaves keep coming out deformed. I don't think I've over fertilized it because I give all my plants the same dose and no problems from any of them. Any idea what could be wrong?

IMAG2285 by natej740, on Flickr

It could be Caterpillars or bugs crawling in the cigar leaf eating it from inside out.

Insects That Eat Banana Leaves | Home Guides | SF Gate

.

natej740 · 09-04-2012, 10:26 PM

No its growing that way. It's like the leaf isn't all the way developed.

jmoore · 09-05-2012, 01:55 AM

Has it not got enough water? I've had leaves like that after the plant has suffered from drought. I think it's a calcium deficiency.

danb0102 · 09-12-2012, 09:33 AM

Hello, I have MG in zone 5 as well. This year they grew much slower than last. I didn't do anything different from last year. I'm blaming it on the heat. I get leaves like that as well. The leaf coming out is a common problem I have. I found that it is due to a calcium deficiency. Just add a little lawn lime next time you water and the problem will be solved.

sidpook · 09-16-2012, 07:26 PM

When they curl up, do they fry up and not unfurl to their full extent or do they just look deformed without drying up on the edges? There is a reason I am asking his. The two worst heat waves we have had here in Jersey have deformed the leaves that were unfurling at that exact time. Both weeks produced deformed and dry cracky leaves.

stevelau1911 · 09-18-2012, 02:47 AM

I saw something similar to that during the drought earlier in the summer, but after it started raining in late July, all the new leaves looked good. My mekong giant plants are now just getting up above 6ft, and starting to make pups which are around 1ft away from the mother plant.

I expect them to grow another ft or so with the rest of the growing season. These guys might reach the 12ft mark by next year, and maybe 16ft the following year if it is as hardy as basjoo.

When I grew my Musa basjoo, they went from 5.5ft the 1st year, 11ft the 2nd year, and closing in on 14ft for this year even though I've been constantly dividing off all the pups.

I think bananas might top off at around the 20ft mark here in zone 6.

JuniPerez · 09-18-2012, 11:27 AM

Hey Steve... I was visiting a company called McAlpin Industries here in Rochester, and right at the corner of Hollenbeck & Rialto Street there is a house with very tall bamboo shielding the yard from view. Thought it was pretty cool. I looked it up in Google Maps, but the street view shows the bamboo still small compared to what they're at now.

natej740 · 09-18-2012, 12:18 PM

Steve is that measurement to tip of leaf or pstem?

07-22-2012, 09:35 AM	#1 (permalink)
nucci60 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 220 BananaBucks : 86,427 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 39 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	mekong giant, what's wrong? Heard so much about MG. I got one late last summer and potted it up. Overwintered it inside. My problem is, I put it out potted in May and it has been as slow as molasses. It is healthy but oh so slow. I have been growing basjoo and ensete maurelii for years. Two 3inch Maureliis I potted up at the same time are now dwarfing the Mekong Giant. Pot is largee enough and soil was changed in spring.

07-22-2012, 06:07 PM	#3 (permalink)
nucci60 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 220 BananaBucks : 86,427 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 39 Times in 28 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? Tony, was that an answer or a question, LOL.

07-22-2012, 11:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
Yug Yug's Photo Gallery Location: Hawaii Find me on the map! Zone: 10-11 Name: Knobby D. Holme Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,465 BananaBucks : 59,804 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 4,009 Times Was Thanked 1,742 Times in 812 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 463 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? I like the 'schmoo'.

07-23-2012, 01:03 AM	#6 (permalink)
natej740 natej740's Photo Gallery Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 509 BananaBucks : 197,703 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 262 Times Was Thanked 480 Times in 224 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? I got one of of Sandy late spring and it was only 8-12 inches tall but just a few months later it's almost as tall as me...I think they like part sun and not full sun maybe that's your problem. I read somewhere they like shade with filtered sun...if I get some pups I'll try it out. Good luck on yours!

07-28-2012, 03:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 364,310 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? They don't seem to like quite as much water as a basjoo either. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 17, 09-06-2009. No one is currently using the chat.

08-23-2012, 01:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
garymc Location: Sikeston, Missouri Find me on the map! Zone: 7 Name: GaryMc Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 34 BananaBucks : 5,181 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 4 Times Was Thanked 26 Times in 17 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? Mekong Midget. I planted one last spring. It has grown about 4 inches. Of course with the drought and extreme heat this year, I've done well to keep it alive. I guess I didn't know where to plant it. I put it in an open area. Fortunately a bunch of castor beans volunteered around it, so it has some shade. But I haven't been able to give it the water it needs. My question is whether to leave it where it is for the winter and move it in the spring or dig it up and try to winter it in the basement. It's about knee high. p.s. I grow schmoos too. Last edited by garymc : 08-23-2012 at 01:36 AM.

08-28-2012, 02:22 PM	#9 (permalink)
sandy0225 Northern Tropics sandy0225's Photo Gallery Location: Muncie, Indiana zone 5 Find me on the map! Zone: zone 5 Name: Sandy Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 1,718 BananaBucks : 364,310 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? You are in zone 7 and I"m in zone 5. Around here we have to be having some pretty good growth on the bananas to make them pull through winter. But since yours already made it through one winter, I'd probably just mulch it heavily as insurance and take better care of it next year. Of course, it's not too late to start taking better care of it THIS year, either. __________________ Sandy Burrell Northern Tropics Greenhouse 1501 East Fuson Road Muncie, IN 47302 www.northerntropics.com specializing in bananas, heirloom tomatoes and water gardening plants~ check out our new online store at our website!

08-30-2012, 08:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
JuniPerez Puerto Rican Gone Bananas JuniPerez's Photo Gallery Location: Rochester, NY Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Juni Perez Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 313 BananaBucks : 80,429 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 153 Times Was Thanked 202 Times in 117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? The Mekong I got from Sandy has been growing in a partially shady spot at what seems to be a faster rate than my basjoos actually... mine are all inground though (clay with added peat & vermiculite)...

08-30-2012, 10:18 AM	#11 (permalink)
jimhardy Jimhardy Location: Fairfield Iowa Find me on the map! Zone: 52556 Name: Jim Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 131 BananaBucks : 23,439 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 180 Times in 73 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? Mine has done so,so in part shade,maybe 4' tall now but really speeding up now.

09-04-2012, 09:38 PM	#12 (permalink)
natej740 natej740's Photo Gallery Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 509 BananaBucks : 197,703 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 262 Times Was Thanked 480 Times in 224 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? Figured id share my picture in this thread instead of making a new thread with the same title. Sorry for hijacking your thread. My Mekong giant's new leaves keep coming out deformed. I don't think I've over fertilized it because I give all my plants the same dose and no problems from any of them. Any idea what could be wrong? IMAG2285 by natej740, on Flickr

09-04-2012, 10:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
natej740 natej740's Photo Gallery Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 509 BananaBucks : 197,703 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 262 Times Was Thanked 480 Times in 224 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? No its growing that way. It's like the leaf isn't all the way developed.

09-05-2012, 01:55 AM	#15 (permalink)
jmoore jmoore 's Photo Gallery Location: Lowestoft, UK Zone: 8a Name: James Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 766 BananaBucks : 121,776 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 192 Times Was Thanked 799 Times in 373 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 71 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? Has it not got enough water? I've had leaves like that after the plant has suffered from drought. I think it's a calcium deficiency.

09-12-2012, 09:33 AM	#16 (permalink)
danb0102 Zone: 5 Join Date: Apr 2011 Posts: 8 BananaBucks : 4,364 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 1 Times Was Thanked 24 Times in 7 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? Hello, I have MG in zone 5 as well. This year they grew much slower than last. I didn't do anything different from last year. I'm blaming it on the heat. I get leaves like that as well. The leaf coming out is a common problem I have. I found that it is due to a calcium deficiency. Just add a little lawn lime next time you water and the problem will be solved.

09-16-2012, 07:26 PM	#17 (permalink)
sidpook Location: Audubon, NJ Find me on the map! Zone: 7a Name: sidpook Join Date: Aug 2011 Posts: 87 BananaBucks : 16,519 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 38 Times in 29 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 19 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? When they curl up, do they fry up and not unfurl to their full extent or do they just look deformed without drying up on the edges? There is a reason I am asking his. The two worst heat waves we have had here in Jersey have deformed the leaves that were unfurling at that exact time. Both weeks produced deformed and dry cracky leaves. __________________ Mike

09-18-2012, 02:47 AM	#18 (permalink)
stevelau1911 stevelau1911's Photo Gallery Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 458 BananaBucks : 147,421 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 51 Times Was Thanked 561 Times in 258 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 24 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? I saw something similar to that during the drought earlier in the summer, but after it started raining in late July, all the new leaves looked good. My mekong giant plants are now just getting up above 6ft, and starting to make pups which are around 1ft away from the mother plant. I expect them to grow another ft or so with the rest of the growing season. These guys might reach the 12ft mark by next year, and maybe 16ft the following year if it is as hardy as basjoo. When I grew my Musa basjoo, they went from 5.5ft the 1st year, 11ft the 2nd year, and closing in on 14ft for this year even though I've been constantly dividing off all the pups. I think bananas might top off at around the 20ft mark here in zone 6. __________________ I'm in zone 6 upstate NY, specialize in growing temperate cold hardy bamboos(mainly phyllostachys) and starting to get into bananas. my picture website is http://www.flickr.com/photos/31489820@N02/ http://stevespeonygarden.blogspot.com/

09-18-2012, 11:27 AM	#19 (permalink)
JuniPerez Puerto Rican Gone Bananas JuniPerez's Photo Gallery Location: Rochester, NY Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Juni Perez Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 313 BananaBucks : 80,429 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 153 Times Was Thanked 202 Times in 117 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 13 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? Hey Steve... I was visiting a company called McAlpin Industries here in Rochester, and right at the corner of Hollenbeck & Rialto Street there is a house with very tall bamboo shielding the yard from view. Thought it was pretty cool. I looked it up in Google Maps, but the street view shows the bamboo still small compared to what they're at now.

09-18-2012, 12:18 PM	#20 (permalink)
natej740 natej740's Photo Gallery Location: Chillicothe, Ohio Find me on the map! Zone: 6 Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 509 BananaBucks : 197,703 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 262 Times Was Thanked 480 Times in 224 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 49 Times	Re: mekong giant, what's wrong? Steve is that measurement to tip of leaf or pstem?

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Market Flooded with Mekong Giant	floridagrower	Main Banana Discussion	24	06-20-2016 08:45 AM
Growing Musa Mekong Giant	stevelau1911	Cold Hardy Bananas	28	07-03-2012 10:14 AM
Wanted Mekong Giant	Snookie	Banana Plants Wanted	4	07-02-2012 08:01 PM
Mekong Giant	Raymond	Main Banana Discussion	17	05-06-2012 11:17 PM
Mekong Giant	IndianaTim	Main Banana Discussion	7	05-28-2011 04:01 PM