Marilyn

I live near Denver Colorado in Zone 6-7. I purchased a dwarf musa from a good retailer in Hawaii. I can't remember the variety name. But it is supposed to do well in containers. This is my first banana plant.

It came in good condition with 2 healthy leaves and about 1 foot long. I potted it in soil that is very well draining and designed for tropical flowers. Lots of sand, charcoal, and gravel. I wasn't sure aboiut the charcoal, but in Colorado, we don't have a lot of choices in ready made soil in packages. I give it tropical flower fertilizer with a balance if ingredients that I found on many banana websites.

I have a few questions. It started growing quickly. I have had it for 3 years now. I have transplanted it to larger pots only twice from the origional container I 1st planted it in. It is now 3 1/2 feet tall. The leaves are 2 feet long. There are only leaves on the top 8" of the plant. It has never been outdoors so it only gets indirect and some direct sunlight in the winter for about 8 hours a day. But the plant seems to be struggling a bit. The leaves are green, but a bit "lifeless." When a new leaf emerges, it looks healthy and opens well. But then I lose the lower most leaf immediatly after the new one emerges. I don't know if this is normal. The lower leaf starts to turn yellow. I cut it off about 2 inches from the main stalk. The remaining piece on the stalk turns brown, but doesn't actually rot or try to come off of the stalk. It gives the salk a "sick" look. But the rest of the plant keeps growing.The stalk is about 9" at the base and 5" at the top. It has never shown signs of flowering. It keeps about 8 leaves on the plant at all times.

I think that it is frail because it has never been outside. But I am fearful of how I am to introduce it to the outdoors. Is it too late for the plant? Did I raise a handicapped plant?

I normally have a green thumb. But growing bananas in zone 6-7 is tricky and I don;t know the tricks.

Is there any hope for me and my banana? What should it look like and when?

Bananaman88

Marilyn,

Hello! Never fear! There is hope for your plant! It most likely looks "lifeless", in your words, due to the fact that it would much rather be outside. Bananas are meant to be outdoors. You can certainly do this with a few precautions.

First, I'd repot it in something a little less free-draining. You don't want a soggy soil mix, but bananas enjoy moisture, so I don't feel that the gravel and charcoal are necessary; at least not in large amounts.

Secondly, try to put it outside somewhere where it doesn't even really get any direct sunlight at first. A covered patio, in the shade of a large tree, or the north side of your house would be a good place to start. The reason for this is that even in these areas, the light is brighter than it is indoors. Leave it in this location for about a week.

Third, slowly move it to where it will get a little direct light. By a little I mean maybe 1/2 an hour at first. Do this for several days. If you can gradually expose it to more and more light it should be OK with 6-8 hours or more a day within a month.

The reason you have to do this is that the leaves that emerged indoors will not be able to withstand the sun and will burn severely. Leaves that emerge outdoors will be accustomed to the sun with no problem. Also, be aware that if you have much wind that the indoor leaves will probably not survive the wind, but all new leaves will be much stronger.

As for the leaves turning brown, I wouldn't worry too much as it sounds like the natural process bananas go through to me. Let the remaining leaf sheath turn brown then pull down and either cut it off near the base or tear it diagonally and it should pull right off. You can do this for all the old leaf sheaths if you'd like and it will eventually expose the fresh green pseudostem. You do have to be careful not to remove too much if the pseudostem is very skinny as that can cause it to snap in the wind too. You have to find a happy medium. However, if you have a dwarf variety (like Cavendish, Orinoco, or Brazilian) they have fairly stout trunks and you shouldn't have this problem. Good luck!

island cassie

Welcome to the forum Marilyn - Brent gives good advice - nothing to add there.

Cassie

D_&_T

Welcome to the forum Marilyn

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cactus6103

Follow the instructions above and it will do great. Good luck. Red

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