I moved my banana plant outside, and now the leaves are yellowing!

Terri · 04-01-2015, 10:44 AM

I wintered a Mekong Giant banana pup inside in a 2 gallon pot. It was placed in a cool basement, under a light bulb, and only fertilized lightly.

It looked healthy and happy, though it only put out 2 new leaves. The plant was a good shade of green.

One week ago I moved the banana plant outside on the South side of the house. Yesterday I noticed the older leaves were starting to yellow and so I put some Job's plant spikes in it (13-4-5), and I watered them in with 2 quarts of water, but today the leaves are more yellow than they were. And, when I looked closely at the 2 leaves the plant produced this winter I can tell that they are slightly faded around the edge.

The weather has been from the upper 30's to 80, but MOSTLY it has been in the 40's to 60's.

Can you folks give me advice on what my plant needs? In 1 months time I would like to plant it in the ground, but there is still a risk of frost where I live.

cincinnana · 04-01-2015, 11:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terri

I wintered a Mekong Giant banana pup inside in a 2 gallon pot. It was placed in a cool basement, under a light bulb, and only fertilized lightly.

It looked healthy and happy, though it only put out 2 new leaves. The plant was a good shade of green.

One week ago I moved the banana plant outside on the South side of the house. Yesterday I noticed the older leaves were starting to yellow and so I put some Job's plant spikes in it (13-4-5), and I watered them in with 2 quarts of water, but today the leaves are more yellow than they were. And, when I looked closely at the 2 leaves the plant produced this winter I can tell that they are slightly faded around the edge.

The weather has been from the upper 30's to 80, but MOSTLY it has been in the 40's to 60's.

Can you folks give me advice on what my plant needs? In 1 months time I would like to plant it in the ground, but there is still a risk of frost where I live.

Your plant is fine.
The yellowing of the oldest leaves just means they will soon be replaced by new ones. This is a normal occurrence in fall(lack of light) and early spring growth. They will continue to turn yellow just cut them off when they become too unsightly. In a few weeks or more a new leaf will eventually brighten your day.

Right now keep your water and fertilizer in check.....your plant is not in rapid growth mode yet, still a little cool. Now is the likely time you can overwater and damage/kill your plant.
I took some of mine outside also and they look beat.

Olafhenny · 04-01-2015, 05:18 PM

I concur with all Mike said, but would like to add, that bananas often react quite temperamental
to a change of their environment - and sometimes not at all. It could also be, that with the sudden
increase of light, some of the chlorophyll is surplus until the metabolism of the rest of the plant
has caught up and therefore is being shed. The plant knows, what its needs are, but won't
always tell you

siege2050 · 04-01-2015, 11:16 PM

Almost all my bananas of a number of species and cultivars look pretty rough when first taken outside after winter, sunburn can be an issue. Especially Super Dwarf Cavendish, looks terrible and needs gradual acclimation for like 2 weeks or it gets toasted.

Snarkie · 04-03-2015, 08:22 PM

Your plant just got a little shocked, is all. From indoors to outdoor sun must be done in stages. I brought mine outside on sunny days as it warmed, and at first, the leaves were a little droopy after several hours. After a few times of doing this, they got used to it and they have been in the ground (in full sun) for almost a month now; no wilting, no yellowing of the leaves or anything.

cincinnana · 04-04-2015, 08:12 PM

Here is a photo of what to expect in early spring.....
As summer progresses your plants will thrive.....
And your plants will show yellow leaves as your plants mature.

Trainwreck by Hostafarian, on Flickr
.Mid summer photo..

Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr

04-01-2015, 10:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
Terri Find me on the map! Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 45 BananaBucks : 30,234 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 23 Times Was Thanked 36 Times in 17 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 4 Times	I moved my banana plant outside, and now the leaves are yellowing! I wintered a Mekong Giant banana pup inside in a 2 gallon pot. It was placed in a cool basement, under a light bulb, and only fertilized lightly. It looked healthy and happy, though it only put out 2 new leaves. The plant was a good shade of green. One week ago I moved the banana plant outside on the South side of the house. Yesterday I noticed the older leaves were starting to yellow and so I put some Job's plant spikes in it (13-4-5), and I watered them in with 2 quarts of water, but today the leaves are more yellow than they were. And, when I looked closely at the 2 leaves the plant produced this winter I can tell that they are slightly faded around the edge. The weather has been from the upper 30's to 80, but MOSTLY it has been in the 40's to 60's. Can you folks give me advice on what my plant needs? In 1 months time I would like to plant it in the ground, but there is still a risk of frost where I live. Last edited by Terri : 04-01-2015 at 10:46 AM.

04-01-2015, 05:18 PM	#3 (permalink)
Olafhenny Olafhenny's Photo Gallery Location: Penticton, BC, Okanagan Valley, Canada Find me on the map! Zone: Hardiness Zone 6 Name: Olaf Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,705 BananaBucks : 251,959 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 2,050 Times Was Thanked 2,012 Times in 876 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 77 Times	Re: I moved my banana plant outside, and now the leaves are yellowing! I concur with all Mike said, but would like to add, that bananas often react quite temperamental to a change of their environment - and sometimes not at all. It could also be, that with the sudden increase of light, some of the chlorophyll is surplus until the metabolism of the rest of the plant has caught up and therefore is being shed. The plant knows, what its needs are, but won't always tell you __________________ The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences, my own and those of others and to learn from them.

04-01-2015, 11:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
siege2050 Hobby obsessor maximus Location: Oklahoma Find me on the map! Zone: zone 7 Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 1,092 BananaBucks : 374,988 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 854 Times Was Thanked 1,295 Times in 614 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 85 Times	Re: I moved my banana plant outside, and now the leaves are yellowing! Almost all my bananas of a number of species and cultivars look pretty rough when first taken outside after winter, sunburn can be an issue. Especially Super Dwarf Cavendish, looks terrible and needs gradual acclimation for like 2 weeks or it gets toasted. __________________ If you don't eat yer meat, you can't have any Banana pudding! How can you have any Banana pudding if you don't eat yer meat?! Click for weather forecast

04-03-2015, 08:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b, pushing 9a Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,119 BananaBucks : 161,056 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,218 Times Was Thanked 1,976 Times in 1,145 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,049 Times	Re: I moved my banana plant outside, and now the leaves are yellowing! Your plant just got a little shocked, is all. From indoors to outdoor sun must be done in stages. I brought mine outside on sunny days as it warmed, and at first, the leaves were a little droopy after several hours. After a few times of doing this, they got used to it and they have been in the ground (in full sun) for almost a month now; no wilting, no yellowing of the leaves or anything. __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

04-04-2015, 08:12 PM	#6 (permalink)
cincinnana container grower Location: Southwest Ohio U.S.A.🇺🇸 Find me on the map! Zone: HZ 6/5 Microclimate - Elevation 750 feet- 228.60 meters Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 8,851 BananaBucks : 127 Feedback: 7 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,897 Times Was Thanked 11,762 Times in 4,906 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,949 Times	Re: I moved my banana plant outside, and now the leaves are yellowing! Here is a photo of what to expect in early spring..... As summer progresses your plants will thrive..... And your plants will show yellow leaves as your plants mature. Trainwreck by Hostafarian, on Flickr .Mid summer photo.. Untitled by Hostafarian, on Flickr __________________ Cincinnana/Hostafarians Photo Gallery 🌴 Last edited by cincinnana : 04-04-2015 at 08:31 PM.

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