Patty in Wisc

I have a potted I. C. banana plant that sprung a large leaf & now the leaf is falling down. The other ones aren't, but this one is.
The potting soil is not wet - but not dry. Do you think it's because it's not getting enough light? It's in south facing windows (big one at bottom & one at top) for about 3 hrs per day. Is it not getting enough light?
We put a halogen at the bottom today - shining up. The ceiling is about 20ft tall & no place to hook a lite to - to shine down onto it.
Will it absorb the light from under the leaves - with light shining upward? Or, should I arrange it so it shines downward onto the leaves? (If that's the problem).
Thanks much

__________________
Got a lite?
Patty




____
Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

Bob

Interesting problem, especially since you say the soil's not wet. light could be it but, you say all the other leaves are fine. Can you post a picture of the room?

__________________

Patty in Wisc

Thanks Bob, I have my camera w/ me & I'll take a pic now but won't be able to load it here till at least tomorrow (when I get to my house - on my puter).
This plant is at my fiance's house & I'm living in 2 houses now.

I keep a stick in the pot & pull it out to check the moisture on it for watering. The top 3 inches is dry, but the rest seems OK...semi moist but not wet.
Last spring, I potted it from its winter sleep & soon after, it shot a new leaf but it fell too. I found out later (when I planted it inground) that the pot was not draining good & it was getting root rot. It was OK after I planted it. That doesn't seem to be the case here - I think. The other 7 leaves are staying same. Maybe I'm over reacting(?), but I don't want to lose it now after 2 1/2 yrs.
This new leaf is also bigger than rest so maybe it's the weight of it(?).
I'm going to take a chance & water it w/ a little 'banana fuel' & see what happens.

__________________
Got a lite?
Patty




____
Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

pitangadiego

As long as it is green, it doesn't matter what "position" it is in, it is still working.

__________________
Encanto Farms Nursery
http://encantofarms.com
We Be Bananas
http://webebananas.com

MediaHound

Yea, don't overreact. If you can prop the leaf somehow, go for it, if not its not a big deal. The plant has been moved around so much apparently, its gonna go through different levels of its ability to keep up with itself.

__________________
Apologies in advance if I am slow to reply to your PM. I suggest posting in the forums for support if you need something urgent.

Patty in Wisc

Thanks guys, I propped the leaf up & when I looked up at the top of it, it has a new leaf coming - about 2 inches out! I guess I won't worry anymore.
Yahooo! 2nd leaf since being inside. I figure if I can get 1 leaf a month, that's good.

__________________
Got a lite?
Patty




____
Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.

saltydad

Agree with the above that it's no worry. Bananas don't need Viagra!

__________________
Men In Nursing- "A Few Good Men"

"Gardening is the purest of human pleasures." - Francis Bacon





"If by a liberal, they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind; someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions; someone who cares about the welfare of the people, their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights, their civil liberties; someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicion that grips us; that is what they meant by a liberal, I am proud to be a liberal."
John F. Kennedy, September, 1960


http://flickr.com/photos/saltydad/ and
http://community.webshots.com/user/saltydad
http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx151/saltydad/

Patty in Wisc

I said I'd post a pic, so here it is. It gets light at bottom from south facing window & some light from upper window.

That leaf is about 4 ft long - see tip on top of tv. I marked it w/ red line (below).
I since put a halogen lite at bottom (no place to put it to shine down) & propped the leaf up.
That 2 inch high new leaf is now over 2 ft in just a couple days! I also gave it some banana fuel. Extra lite, lots of water & fert must've done it. Thanks again.

__________________
Got a lite?
Patty




____
Patty in Wisc has sadly passed away 9/05/11. We will miss you Patty.