kstmommy

Hey everyone, I have a potential problem. This is my first year growing bananas, more specifically, growing anything. A couple of months ago, I purchased a 1-2 yr old musa basjoo online, that was approx 3ft tall. Healthy plant, did my research, etc, etc. Dug my hole approx 12x12, mixed in composted cow manure, pearlite, etc. It's been slow to take off, but nothing alarming, due to shipping and transplanting. Puts out a new leaf about once a week. Not really growing very much taller, however....

Fast forward to today. I read alot about Milorganite and had been using Miracle Grow singles due to the %'s being close to what I read were recommended. Decided to try Milorganite today, raked back my mulch, only to find bare roots. Big, fat, white, roots growing UP and poking out of the ground in the canopy area, all the way around. There's also several teeny tiny white roots as well, but what looks like the main, big roots, are not anchoring down.

As novice as I am, I do know that I prob shouldn't fertilize those bare roots, but I don't know if I should dig the whole thing up and replant it, try to bury the roots I see downward, or really what step to take next. Please advise. I have been faithfully watering and fertilizing all this time and it's still growing, but I know those roots should be deep.

merce3

do you have any pics? maybe you have pups coming up

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kstmommy

I don't have pics, but could take some if needed. I really don't think they're pups coming up because I have a lot of pups elsewhere, so I know what to look for. These are the main roots. I've Googled my eyes off, and can't seem to find any advice. I guess I should just probably dig her up and replace her a tad deeper. I'm in zone 6 and was planning on leaving her in ground for winter with heavy mulch/protection since she's a bigger banana. That will prob end up a failure if she's too shallow as is. I think this is likely why she's not very pretty or producing pups, like my others.

crazy banana

I would just pile up compost and mulch it over several inches.
Similar problem here with some of my mats, but I cannot dig anything up because they are too big. So a trip to the landfill greenery it is to get lots of free compost and mulch.

Dplaza

I agree with this instead of replanting. Also maybe water a little longer to encourage the roots to grow deeper if you really think it's shallow rooted.

Jose263

12x12 - inches- that seems like a small hole - perhaps loosen the soil farther out from the roots and add compost. But piling on compost to the mat should work - the roots are going to take the easiest path.

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Growing: Orinoco, Rajapuri, Dwarf Cav, SDC, TT, Dwarf Red, Dwarf Namwah, Tall Namwah (aka Ice Cream), Dwarf Brazilian, Veinte Cohol, California Gold, Double Mohai, NOT-Goldfinger, Gran Nain, Velutina

NANAMAN

Lateral roots under the canopy is normal and how the plants capture nutrients. The corm that is developing will anchor itself just fine, without any help from you. Just let it grow, and in the future, if and when you decide to remove a corm, you will understand how anchored the corms become.

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pitangadiego

Ditto "Crazy Banana"

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kstmommy

Thanks everyone. I did as suggested and laid more compost and mulch. I've got some deficiencies I think from over fertilizing, but I think with the current rains, all will work out.

Terri

Plants grow into the food that is available: when I make a compost pile I often have tree roots growing upwards to take advantage of the nourishment. It isn't generally a problem: it is natural!

Now, if ALL of your roots are growing into loose compost I would worry about high winds knocking the banana over. That is the only potential problem that I see.