Las Palmas Norte

A rather sudden and unexplained decline of a Dwarf Cavendish remains a mystery. I bought a pair of them, the other is fine. Both have been treated the same but one shows a serious wilting and then browning of the leaves. No new growth at this point to replace the damaged leaves as the center growth seems at jeopardy now.

Cheers, LPN (Barrie)

Richard

I would suspect root rot or roots munched by an insect, vole, squirrel, etc.

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lorax

Hey, LPN, didn't realize you were here too!

I'm in agreement with Richard - it really sounds like something chewed on it.

Las Palmas Norte

These are potted examples in my greenhouse so "chewing" is not likely a problem. Rot however is the only alternative suggested.
What would cause this problem? There isn't a poor drainage problem after checking the root system.

Lorax ... yes I'm here, very infrequently. I don't have enough Banana questions or advise to keep me active.

Cheers, Barrie.

lorax

Check for fungus.

Las Palmas Norte

Which would involve washing the potting mix off the roots?
Cheers, Barrie.

Richard

When the contents of the pot are firm enough, attempt to pull or dump out the contents whole - like removing a loaf of bread from a baking pan. Check the empty pot for signs of green fungal growth on the inside surface. Check the outer surface of the whole ball of soil: it might be abnormally dark, and smell it from an inch away to see if it smells like soil or something more putrid. Gently remove some of the soil from the side of the root ball in an attempt to view some roots. Do not wash them off. The roots should not be limp or coated with anything except soil. There should not be any grubs living in the soil. Replace the dirt you removed.

If any of these negatives were found, wrap the root ball in newspaper or something for now and place the plant in the shade. Use a dish-cleaning brush to scrub the pot with a solution of "Physan 20" or a chlorine bleach product (2 oz. per gallon of water). Rinse it off and dry with a blow dryer or in a hot, dry place before re-use. Place the plant back in the pot. Prepare a bucket with 1.5 to 2 gallons of clean water. If there were grubs, add 1/2 ounce of a liquid insecticide: a pyrethrin or the synthetic Cyfluthrin in "Bayer Garden" products will be fine. Also add 1/2 ounce of a liquid fungicide (not the Safer brand), my choice would be the Spectracide brand "Immunox" but others will work as well. Put the plant in filtered (speckled) sunlight -- outdoors if it is warm enough. Pour the mixture slowly into the soil and let it drain for at least 2 days.

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