Cut off leaves of pups?

austinl01 · 07-08-2008, 08:40 AM

Hi, everyone. I just planted many musella lasiocarpas at school for a small project. They have very small corms with just a few roots, but they are rather large pups at an overall height of 3 feet. The plants are growing in full sun, and it's very hot outside right now (90-95F).

The musellas have many leaves, but I don't think they can sustain all the leaves given their small root systems and the hot weather. I was thinking about cutting off some leaves and leaving just a couple, but then again I'm thinking the plant needs those leaves for photosynthesis to make new roots. Could you experts please weigh in on this? What would you do?

bencelest · 07-08-2008, 09:00 AM

I am not an expert but if I were you I'd go for your feeling. I'd cut some of the leaves because roots and leaves must be proportional for the photosynthesis to take place right. I'd rather have more roots than leaves.
I've been doing that for years on my other plants when I transfer and I've been very successful.
If roots can not supply the water the leaves need it will lose its turgidity and will droop and wither.

dablo93 · 07-08-2008, 10:11 AM

I also dont know what you have to do but I should cut all the leaves off, exept the 2/3 newest ones.
the p-stem is also green for the photosynthesis

Bananaman88 · 07-08-2008, 12:05 PM

I too think you should remove most of the leaves. If they were growing well prior to their move, they should root-in and start producing new leaves before long. Leaving only one or two leaves will certainly aid the plant in not losing too much water-a big factor if they have limited root capacity right now.

harveyc · 07-08-2008, 12:18 PM

It would probably have been better to pot them up and put them in an area without full sun until they established a better root system. Planted in the ground as you have done it is best to remove leaves as you proposed. Once I also put a shadecloth over a new pup and that seemed to help.

austinl01 · 07-08-2008, 03:57 PM

Thanks again, everyone. I went ahead and cut off all leaves except one and the emerging leaf from the peudostem. They already look better! The site has some irrigation, but I'll be sure they are watered a few times each week until they are settled into their new home. I'll keep you guys updated.

bencelest · 07-08-2008, 04:27 PM

No. Don't water too much. You are inviting root rut.
Water once when you plant it and stop watering until you see some new sprouts. But soak the soil thoroughly the first time.

austinl01 · 07-08-2008, 05:31 PM

Thanks for the post, bencelest. I'll stop watering them until they send up new growth. I guess sometimes you can baby a plant too much! LOL. I'm sure they are much hardier than I think. Again, I appreciate you responding. This forum is great!!! I'm going to try to post a lot more often here.

bencelest · 07-08-2008, 07:06 PM

You are welcome. I learned it the hard way.

harveyc · 07-08-2008, 11:23 PM

I'll confess: I rotted several of my indoor potted bananas late in the winter. As the grew taller in my heated shop under grow lights it got crowded and it was hard to check each pot for moisture so I just watered them.

bencelest · 07-09-2008, 12:01 AM

At least I was not alone.

harveyc · 07-09-2008, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bencelest

At least I was not alone.

I only confessed after you admitted it first! LOL

bencelest · 07-09-2008, 08:56 AM

I guess even the "Experts" (Yay!)(who?) make mistakes! (LOL)

sandy0225 · 07-09-2008, 10:07 AM

Everybody loses a few now and then.
Try cutting all the leaves in 1/2 next time when you transplant one. That seems to help but it leaves part so that they can do a little photosynthesis too. It makes them look ugly but it helps them take off quicker.

bencelest · 07-09-2008, 10:35 AM

personally a newly transplanted plant that were trimmed to size to proportion the roots and the tops to me looks CUTE!. And as you said new shoots will come out faster.

austinl01 · 07-09-2008, 11:01 AM

It seems that rot commonly occurs when temps are cool. Is rot less of an issue during these hot summer days?

bencelest · 07-10-2008, 02:47 AM

I think so. Because bananas grow like crazy during the summertime they need a lot of water to sustain their system likewise more fertilizers are needed for normal speedy growth so the roots will be so busy taking the water from the soil.

07-08-2008, 08:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 168,009 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 907 Times in 397 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Cut off leaves of pups? Hi, everyone. I just planted many musella lasiocarpas at school for a small project. They have very small corms with just a few roots, but they are rather large pups at an overall height of 3 feet. The plants are growing in full sun, and it's very hot outside right now (90-95F). The musellas have many leaves, but I don't think they can sustain all the leaves given their small root systems and the hot weather. I was thinking about cutting off some leaves and leaving just a couple, but then again I'm thinking the plant needs those leaves for photosynthesis to make new roots. Could you experts please weigh in on this? What would you do? __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

07-08-2008, 09:00 AM	#2 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,755 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? I am not an expert but if I were you I'd go for your feeling. I'd cut some of the leaves because roots and leaves must be proportional for the photosynthesis to take place right. I'd rather have more roots than leaves. I've been doing that for years on my other plants when I transfer and I've been very successful. If roots can not supply the water the leaves need it will lose its turgidity and will droop and wither. __________________ Banana Nut

07-08-2008, 10:11 AM	#3 (permalink)
dablo93 dablo93 's Photo Gallery Location: Randstad North Find me on the map! Zone: Z8b-Z9a, wet cold winters and mild summers Name: daen Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 909 BananaBucks : 97,212 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 122 Times Was Thanked 262 Times in 166 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 159 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? I also dont know what you have to do but I should cut all the leaves off, exept the 2/3 newest ones. the p-stem is also green for the photosynthesis __________________ -=

07-08-2008, 12:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 222,346 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? I too think you should remove most of the leaves. If they were growing well prior to their move, they should root-in and start producing new leaves before long. Leaving only one or two leaves will certainly aid the plant in not losing too much water-a big factor if they have limited root capacity right now.

07-08-2008, 12:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,119 BananaBucks : 275,692 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,025 Times Was Thanked 4,460 Times in 1,896 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? It would probably have been better to pot them up and put them in an area without full sun until they established a better root system. Planted in the ground as you have done it is best to remove leaves as you proposed. Once I also put a shadecloth over a new pup and that seemed to help. __________________

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07-08-2008, 03:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 168,009 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 907 Times in 397 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? Thanks again, everyone. I went ahead and cut off all leaves except one and the emerging leaf from the peudostem. They already look better! The site has some irrigation, but I'll be sure they are watered a few times each week until they are settled into their new home. I'll keep you guys updated. __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

07-08-2008, 04:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,755 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? No. Don't water too much. You are inviting root rut. Water once when you plant it and stop watering until you see some new sprouts. But soak the soil thoroughly the first time. __________________ Banana Nut

07-08-2008, 05:31 PM	#8 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 168,009 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 907 Times in 397 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? Thanks for the post, bencelest. I'll stop watering them until they send up new growth. I guess sometimes you can baby a plant too much! LOL. I'm sure they are much hardier than I think. Again, I appreciate you responding. This forum is great!!! I'm going to try to post a lot more often here. __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

07-08-2008, 07:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,755 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? You are welcome. I learned it the hard way. __________________ Banana Nut

07-08-2008, 11:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
harveyc Been nuts, gone bananas harveyc's Photo Gallery Location: Isleton, Calif Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Harvey Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 5,119 BananaBucks : 275,692 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6,025 Times Was Thanked 4,460 Times in 1,896 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,785 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? I'll confess: I rotted several of my indoor potted bananas late in the winter. As the grew taller in my heated shop under grow lights it got crowded and it was hard to check each pot for moisture so I just watered them. __________________

07-09-2008, 12:01 AM	#11 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,755 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? At least I was not alone. __________________ Banana Nut

07-09-2008, 08:56 AM	#13 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,755 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? I guess even the "Experts" (Yay!)(who?) make mistakes! (LOL) __________________ Banana Nut

07-09-2008, 10:07 AM	#14 (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 : 364,007 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? Everybody loses a few now and then. Try cutting all the leaves in 1/2 next time when you transplant one. That seems to help but it leaves part so that they can do a little photosynthesis too. It makes them look ugly but it helps them take off quicker. __________________ 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!

07-09-2008, 10:35 AM	#15 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,755 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? personally a newly transplanted plant that were trimmed to size to proportion the roots and the tops to me looks CUTE!. And as you said new shoots will come out faster. __________________ Banana Nut

07-09-2008, 11:01 AM	#16 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 7b/8a Line Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 1,288 BananaBucks : 168,009 Feedback: 13 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,590 Times Was Thanked 907 Times in 397 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 507 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? It seems that rot commonly occurs when temps are cool. Is rot less of an issue during these hot summer days? __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Extreme Winter Lows: 5-15°F, Extreme Summer Highs: 100-112°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

07-10-2008, 02:47 AM	#17 (permalink)
bencelest Banana Nut bencelest's Photo Gallery Location: California Zone 9 Zone: 9 Name: Benny Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 3,058 BananaBucks : 192,755 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 15 Times Was Thanked 1,415 Times in 653 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Cut off leaves of pups? I think so. Because bananas grow like crazy during the summertime they need a lot of water to sustain their system likewise more fertilizers are needed for normal speedy growth so the roots will be so busy taking the water from the soil. __________________ Banana Nut

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