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Struggling Musa basjoo

Discussion in 'Tropical Gardening' started by Sirius, Jul 2, 2015.

  1. Sirius

    Sirius Total Gardener

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    So my Musa basjoo seems to be struggling.
    Stem is about 5ft and survived the winter.
    But every leaf that unfurls seems to disintegrate.
    And no real growth so far this summer.

    Any ideas?
     
  2. wiseowl

    wiseowl FRIENDLY ADMIN Staff Member

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    Hi @Sirius I am not an expert but @pete will be able to advise you much more my friend,this might help for now:smile:

    Leaves will naturally shred in exposed situations. This is an adaptation to tropical storms and does no harm, but foliage is more attractive in sheltered positions. Limp and hanging leaves may result from under- or over-watering. Check the roots and increase or decrease watering as necessary. Brown edges suggest a lack of water or humidity. Cold, sun scorch and hail also damage foliage.
     
  3. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Hi Sirius, mine has been very slow and yellow this year. I've been giving them a feed with straight Nitrogen to darken them and give them a boost.

    When you say disintegrate, do you think it's the wind that has shredded them or are slugs getting at them?
     
  4. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Firstly mine is only just making entire leaves, its been a cold windy spring in my experience.
    I think yellowish leaves are fairly common early in the season, my thoughts are, that as with a lot of overwintered stuff, the top starts growing before the roots.
    Mine recently, not particularly ornamental at the moment.

    DSC_0131.JPG
     
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    • Sirius

      Sirius Total Gardener

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      The leaves go yellow and literally fall apart as they unfurl.
      It's a sheltered spot, so I doubt is wind damage. Certainly doesn't look like it.
       
    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      It will grow out of it, soon I would think.
       
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      • PeterS

        PeterS Total Gardener

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        I suspect Pete is right. I have a couple but know nothing about them.

        Because its cold up here in Yorkshire I overwintered mine in a conservatory, where they were looking very happy. Then I put them outside and they were totally shredded - I know that isn't your problem. Mine had become very soft inside where there is no wind, and couldn't stand up in the real world outside. But they are slowly recovering.
         
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        • Sirius

          Sirius Total Gardener

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          It's going slowly backward.
          Each leaf that comes out seems smaller and weaker than the previous one.

          Not really sure what's going on with it :scratch:
           
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          OK, that dont sound good.
          Sounds like the roots are not moving.
          Could it be rotting off at the base?
           
        • JWK

          JWK Gardener Staff Member

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          I suspect something at the base/roots too. Maybe dig it out and put it in a container until it recovers.
           
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