Bananers

Hi,
I have an Orinoco here that I got from a fellow forum member that has been growing great. It is on its fourth leaf.
The Fifth leaf started about 2 weeks or so ago but the plants growth seems to have stopped as the leaf is only protruding maybe an inch.
The banana is in a pot right now as I haven't been able to get soil yet so that I can put it into the half wine barrel that I plan to permanently grow it in.
It has plenty of warmth,sunlight,water and fertilizer so I am stumped as to why the growth seems to have stopped.
The only thing I can come up with is that the pot it is in right now(a 2 maybe 3 gallon)is stunting the growth.

Anybody have any ideas as to what's going on.

Also while I'm at it the leaves on warm days like to fold in half along the spine. I'm assuming this is a natural way to help prevent water evaporation? as when it starts to cool down the leaves will open back up.

Your help is as always most Appreciated.
Thank You

momoese

Not sure why the sudden stop in growth, possible over watering or too small of a container. The leaves will close during the hottest part of the day and open later on when it cools down.

just j

it could be root bound

pitangadiego

If the weather had been warm, and cooled off again, it may be dormant again, and will pick up where it left off when it warms up again.

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Bananers

Hi momoese,just j and pitangadiego
Well,I don't think its an over watering issue as I transplanted it into its permanent home(half Barrel)and the soil was damp but not wet. I also thought it could have been root bound but that wasn't the case either after seeing the root mass yesterday.
As for the leaves folding over I thought it was the heat as well but noticed this morning they were folded in half and the temp was cool.
So it must be as pitangadiego said and it is dormant again...we have been having cooler weather but there were a couple days with 100 degree temps that I thought would have shown some growth...
I guess only time will tell and since it still looks extremely healthy I don't think there is anything to worry about.

I Appreciate reply's everyone
Thank You

momoese

100 degrees is the same as too cold. The plants stop growing either way.

lt_eggbeater

Mine don't stop growing even in the hottest temps here, wihch can reach 120f in the shade.

proletariatcsp

Hi bananers, I had the exact same problem with my super-dwarf cav. that miraculously over-wintered here in zone 9-10. We got down to 32F trice!

This is a pot bound super-dwarf 3ft. tall. All of the leaves died except the newest four. As spring approached and temps climbed back into 70's during the day, it took a wopping 3 months to push out a leaf!!!

The leaf would grow than stop, grow than stop (cold evening temps of course). Finally, it spit out a pup that began growing rapidly, but the new leaf on the main psuedo never emerged more than 90%. After freeing the soil and fert (repot) still nothing.

Finally I put my nuclear-dirt-thermo-pH-thingy and whoa! 8.5 on the richter. No wonder, that much akalinity was preventing any nutrient uptake. Well I sprinkled in a little "organic sulfur pellets (90% slow) and a little "pH-Down" (instant)--and BAM--she's off and running again at 6.0pH.

P.S. check real good for spider mites, give it a little-little shade, check your chloramine/chlorine levels in the water, and set me up with-a dwarf jamaican friend.

Anyways, hope this helps and good luck.
Chris in FL.