JoeS475

I've noticed that on some of my banana plants, each new leaf is coming out smaller! The plants were overwintered in a sunny room, and continued growing slowly throughout the winter.

Once they went outside this spring, they started growing much faster, but with smaller and smaller leaves, which is the opposite to what I had expected. All new leaves are a very healthy green colour.

Could this just be due to shock or stress at going back into the sun? Or does it sound like some other issue or known problem? I have not fertilized them yet, maybe they're looking for a good feeding?

Thanks,

~Joe

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momoese

Are you growing a Super Dwarf Canvendish?

JoeS475

Yes, although that is not a plant this is happening to. My enanao gigante, and regular dc seem to be having smaller leaves, and possibly my zebrina, I'll know for sure in a couple of days when its latest leaf is out.

All the plants this is happening to were pot-bound, and got repotted into much larger containers shortly before going outside. Maybe it's double shock of that plus the sun?

~Joe

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momoese

I think it could be that you just now seeing the smaller leaves that were formed inside the p-stem while they were potted and not getting the same kind of nutrition and water that they can take up once they are planted in the ground. I would think they might grow out of it if they don't choke first.

JoeS475

Thanks Mitchel,

I tend to agree - on closer inspection the two which are most severly affected are the two which were the most pot-bound. There conditions now are great so hopefully they'll grow out of it.

Most amazing to me is one 2' pstem, which at one point had 20" leaves, just put out a 6" leaf followed by a 3" leaf! It had better grow out of it soon, cause it can't get much smaller!

~Joe

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momoese

Are you sure that's not a flag leaf?

JoeS475

If it is I'll be ecstatic, but the plant is supposed to flower at 6', and is a relatively new pup in a clump, and of course a similar trend is happening to other plants.

I guess time will tell!

Thanks for the advice Mitchel,

~Joe

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JoeS475

Well all the leaves have started getting much bigger again, so I guess they will all survive. I think your theory on those leaves already being formed in the pstem was correct, Mitchel!

Interestingly, I'm getting red splotches on some new leaves from adult bananas which had previously outgrown this. Maybe they reset themselves from the stress of overwintering...

Thanks,

~Joe

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momoese

I have heard the red splotches can be from stress so the whole thing is making sense now!