need help on ensete maurelii

v1rtu0s1ty · 02-03-2009, 10:49 PM

I bought 2 of these about 2 or 3 months ago. They're in a pot. One is in the living room and the other is in the kitchen. There's more sunlight in the kitchen after 1pm. The banana in the living room only gets 10 to 15 mins of sunlight.

However, I'm having so much difficulties trying to figure out why the banana in the kitchen is not doing well. She is thin and with 2 leaves that doesn't look good. A new leaf is also coming out but it's very very slow.

I mist the leaves once a week.

What should I do so that it recovers?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

Neil

xavierdlc61887 · 02-04-2009, 12:51 AM

i would say put them in the ground but seeing your zone....hmmm :P i live in zone 10 so dont have that problem as i grow all my plants in ground year-round

um i would say maybe the container size....might want a bigger size?!?! just my 2 pennies

v1rtu0s1ty · 02-04-2009, 01:04 AM

I'll change the container tomorrow. Is it ok to use potting mix for this plant?

Here are the pics.

Thanks.

xyzzy · 02-04-2009, 04:26 AM

Looks like the leaves are drying out to me. Too low humidity. Would like a bigger pot too - they have BIG! roots.

xavierdlc61887 · 02-04-2009, 07:49 AM

there ya go....its like if u are a size 10 shoe and your using a size 8....its gonna cramp up your feet and mess u uppppppppppppppp :P ahhha i dont know i just felt like being silly....but yeah just change containers and see what happens

v1rtu0s1ty · 02-04-2009, 10:23 AM

I recall when I lifted them up about a month ago, there were few roots. I will try it again today. If you notice, I put a string so it doesn't fall.

How many times should I water them? I read somewhere on gardenweb not to water them a lot during winter or else the roots will rot.

sandy0225 · 02-04-2009, 12:12 PM

I wouldn't change the pot right now. If it doesn't have too many roots, it has plenty of room anyway.
It looks to me like the humidity is too low. Have you checked for spider mites? Spider mites love ensetes! If the plant doesn't have spider mites, then overall it looks pretty good for Feb in Chicago. The stem and main sections of the leaves look healthy, so the edge damage is just cosmetic basically. What is the plastic wrap for?

xyzzy · 02-04-2009, 03:17 PM

I think too low humidity and too high expectations during winter. Get through winter and plant it out and it will thrive.

v1rtu0s1ty · 02-04-2009, 04:59 PM

I put the plastic about 3 weeks ago. I read somewhere that if we don't want our soil medium to dry out too quickly, a plastic wrap should slow down the drying. Before I put the plastic, she already looked like that.

I'm very worried that if it loses all the leaves, it might die.

Also, why is it so wably?

How do I increase humidity? Or is it always going to be like this during winter? My setting is at 67F.

sandy0225 · 02-04-2009, 05:17 PM

Overall, it looks very healthy. just a little edge drying to the leaves. If that's the worst that happens to it, you'll be able to carry it through winter just fine. If it's still wobbly in the pot, it just hasn't rooted in fully most likely. 2-3 months during the winter isn't very long to root in when it's really wanting to go dormant instead of active growth. I think your expectations may just be too high on the one plant.
Why does one look better than the other? Who knows...why don't twins always look the same? just as people don't always turn out the same when they get the same care, so are plants.

v1rtu0s1ty · 02-04-2009, 07:10 PM

If assuming it goes dormant, would that mean that when I plant them out around May, it should bounce back after few weeks?

Taylor · 02-04-2009, 09:47 PM

Water! Water! Your plants looks wilty!!!!

Lagniappe · 02-04-2009, 09:53 PM

And a lil' more light. I think you should take the plastic off. They're in glazed pots already and there may not be a lot goin' on in the way of oxygen. Just my opinion .

Taylor · 02-04-2009, 09:55 PM

Agreed. I didn't even see that. Good eye, Pete. All that will do is prevent exchange of necessary gasses, or cause mold when they are watered. No need...

v1rtu0s1ty · 02-04-2009, 10:42 PM

Ok, will do. But I read somewhere that giving them a lot of drink will cause the roots or corms to rot. Is it true? If false, is twice a week of deep watering good?

Taylor · 02-04-2009, 10:47 PM

Once a week deep watering in winter should be fine...if that. Just make sure it's not bone dry for more than a week in the winter.

By deep watering, I do not mean water coming out of the drain holes....just what you would think a plant hat size could handle. Maybe 2 cups of water per week, or less.

r3tic · 02-04-2009, 10:52 PM

Are you letting the leaves touch the window? The cold could be causing the leaves to die where they touch if you are. Just a thought.

v1rtu0s1ty · 02-05-2009, 12:30 AM

Ok, here is an update. I lifted the pot. At the bottom, I saw roots coming out of the pot about 4 inches long. I'm sure they were really roots! However, there was something attached to it that was disgusting. There were dark gray to almost black tiny circles attached to the roots. TONS! Maybe, the diameter of the circle is like 2mm. I grabbed a stick to break them but it was hard. Or maybe, the stick was bending. What could be it?

xyzzy · 02-05-2009, 04:37 AM

circles or spheres? Could they be black slug eggs?

v1rtu0s1ty · 02-05-2009, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xyzzy

circles or spheres? Could they be black slug eggs?

Yeah, I was thinking that they could be eggs. So looks like I may need to transfer it to a new soil medium.

02-03-2009, 10:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
v1rtu0s1ty Location: Chicago Area, IL Zone: 5a Name: Neil Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 133 BananaBucks : 69,733 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	need help on ensete maurelii I bought 2 of these about 2 or 3 months ago. They're in a pot. One is in the living room and the other is in the kitchen. There's more sunlight in the kitchen after 1pm. The banana in the living room only gets 10 to 15 mins of sunlight. However, I'm having so much difficulties trying to figure out why the banana in the kitchen is not doing well. She is thin and with 2 leaves that doesn't look good. A new leaf is also coming out but it's very very slow. I mist the leaves once a week. What should I do so that it recovers? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks. Neil Last edited by v1rtu0s1ty : 02-03-2009 at 11:04 PM.

02-04-2009, 12:51 AM	#2 (permalink)
xavierdlc61887 xavierdlc61887's Photo Gallery Zone: 9b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 870 BananaBucks : 9,472 Feedback: 19 / 100% Said "Thanks" 379 Times Was Thanked 343 Times in 183 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 107 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii i would say put them in the ground but seeing your zone....hmmm :P i live in zone 10 so dont have that problem as i grow all my plants in ground year-round um i would say maybe the container size....might want a bigger size?!?! just my 2 pennies

02-04-2009, 01:04 AM	#3 (permalink)
v1rtu0s1ty Location: Chicago Area, IL Zone: 5a Name: Neil Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 133 BananaBucks : 69,733 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii I'll change the container tomorrow. Is it ok to use potting mix for this plant? Here are the pics. Thanks. Last edited by v1rtu0s1ty : 02-04-2009 at 01:16 AM.

02-04-2009, 04:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
xyzzy Tropically Bonkers Location: Devon, UK. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b, but UK so no sun, always raining and infested with slugs. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 BananaBucks : 25,056 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii Looks like the leaves are drying out to me. Too low humidity. Would like a bigger pot too - they have BIG! roots. __________________ There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

02-04-2009, 07:49 AM	#5 (permalink)
xavierdlc61887 xavierdlc61887's Photo Gallery Zone: 9b Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 870 BananaBucks : 9,472 Feedback: 19 / 100% Said "Thanks" 379 Times Was Thanked 343 Times in 183 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 107 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii there ya go....its like if u are a size 10 shoe and your using a size 8....its gonna cramp up your feet and mess u uppppppppppppppp :P ahhha i dont know i just felt like being silly....but yeah just change containers and see what happens

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.

02-04-2009, 10:23 AM	#6 (permalink)
v1rtu0s1ty Location: Chicago Area, IL Zone: 5a Name: Neil Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 133 BananaBucks : 69,733 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii I recall when I lifted them up about a month ago, there were few roots. I will try it again today. If you notice, I put a string so it doesn't fall. How many times should I water them? I read somewhere on gardenweb not to water them a lot during winter or else the roots will rot.

02-04-2009, 12:12 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 : 362,604 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii I wouldn't change the pot right now. If it doesn't have too many roots, it has plenty of room anyway. It looks to me like the humidity is too low. Have you checked for spider mites? Spider mites love ensetes! If the plant doesn't have spider mites, then overall it looks pretty good for Feb in Chicago. The stem and main sections of the leaves look healthy, so the edge damage is just cosmetic basically. What is the plastic wrap for? __________________ 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!

02-04-2009, 03:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
xyzzy Tropically Bonkers Location: Devon, UK. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b, but UK so no sun, always raining and infested with slugs. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 BananaBucks : 25,056 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii I think too low humidity and too high expectations during winter. Get through winter and plant it out and it will thrive. __________________ There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

02-04-2009, 04:59 PM	#9 (permalink)
v1rtu0s1ty Location: Chicago Area, IL Zone: 5a Name: Neil Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 133 BananaBucks : 69,733 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii I put the plastic about 3 weeks ago. I read somewhere that if we don't want our soil medium to dry out too quickly, a plastic wrap should slow down the drying. Before I put the plastic, she already looked like that. I'm very worried that if it loses all the leaves, it might die. Also, why is it so wably? How do I increase humidity? Or is it always going to be like this during winter? My setting is at 67F.

02-04-2009, 05:17 PM	#10 (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 : 362,604 Feedback: 31 / 97% Said "Thanks" 38 Times Was Thanked 1,801 Times in 682 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 9 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii Overall, it looks very healthy. just a little edge drying to the leaves. If that's the worst that happens to it, you'll be able to carry it through winter just fine. If it's still wobbly in the pot, it just hasn't rooted in fully most likely. 2-3 months during the winter isn't very long to root in when it's really wanting to go dormant instead of active growth. I think your expectations may just be too high on the one plant. Why does one look better than the other? Who knows...why don't twins always look the same? just as people don't always turn out the same when they get the same care, so are plants. __________________ 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!

02-04-2009, 07:10 PM	#11 (permalink)
v1rtu0s1ty Location: Chicago Area, IL Zone: 5a Name: Neil Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 133 BananaBucks : 69,733 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii If assuming it goes dormant, would that mean that when I plant them out around May, it should bounce back after few weeks?

02-04-2009, 09:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
Taylor Taylor 's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,084 BananaBucks : 215,826 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 355 Times Was Thanked 662 Times in 334 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 283 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii Water! Water! Your plants looks wilty!!!!

02-04-2009, 09:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
Lagniappe Lagniappe's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2,111 BananaBucks : 249,847 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,378 Times Was Thanked 1,402 Times in 558 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 535 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii And a lil' more light. I think you should take the plastic off. They're in glazed pots already and there may not be a lot goin' on in the way of oxygen. Just my opinion .

02-04-2009, 09:55 PM	#14 (permalink)
Taylor Taylor 's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,084 BananaBucks : 215,826 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 355 Times Was Thanked 662 Times in 334 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 283 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii Agreed. I didn't even see that. Good eye, Pete. All that will do is prevent exchange of necessary gasses, or cause mold when they are watered. No need...

02-04-2009, 10:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
v1rtu0s1ty Location: Chicago Area, IL Zone: 5a Name: Neil Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 133 BananaBucks : 69,733 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii Ok, will do. But I read somewhere that giving them a lot of drink will cause the roots or corms to rot. Is it true? If false, is twice a week of deep watering good?

02-04-2009, 10:47 PM	#16 (permalink)
Taylor Taylor 's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,084 BananaBucks : 215,826 Feedback: 15 / 100% Said "Thanks" 355 Times Was Thanked 662 Times in 334 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 283 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii Once a week deep watering in winter should be fine...if that. Just make sure it's not bone dry for more than a week in the winter. By deep watering, I do not mean water coming out of the drain holes....just what you would think a plant hat size could handle. Maybe 2 cups of water per week, or less.

02-04-2009, 10:52 PM	#17 (permalink)
r3tic r3tic's Photo Gallery Location: Drexel Hill, PA Find me on the map! Zone: 7-8 Name: Dave Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 216 BananaBucks : 46,099 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 531 Times Was Thanked 123 Times in 71 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 306 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii Are you letting the leaves touch the window? The cold could be causing the leaves to die where they touch if you are. Just a thought. __________________

02-05-2009, 12:30 AM	#18 (permalink)
v1rtu0s1ty Location: Chicago Area, IL Zone: 5a Name: Neil Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 133 BananaBucks : 69,733 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 6 Times Was Thanked 32 Times in 24 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii Ok, here is an update. I lifted the pot. At the bottom, I saw roots coming out of the pot about 4 inches long. I'm sure they were really roots! However, there was something attached to it that was disgusting. There were dark gray to almost black tiny circles attached to the roots. TONS! Maybe, the diameter of the circle is like 2mm. I grabbed a stick to break them but it was hard. Or maybe, the stick was bending. What could be it?

02-05-2009, 04:37 AM	#19 (permalink)
xyzzy Tropically Bonkers Location: Devon, UK. Find me on the map! Zone: 9b, but UK so no sun, always raining and infested with slugs. Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 120 BananaBucks : 25,056 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 0 Times Was Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: need help on ensete maurelii circles or spheres? Could they be black slug eggs? __________________ There is no such thing as can't grow it - but the determination required may lose you your partner, family and friends - but does that matter?.

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