Question
Dwarf Cavendish Banana
I just received my tree at the beging of July, and already my poor little tree is not doing well the one leaf has started to curl and turn yellow, I've been keeping the soil moist and had the plant in a very sunny window and I do half strength miracle grow once a week. I had ordered it from ebay and thought that the plant was supposed to already been rooted so I didn't cheack that when I got it I just went ahead and potted it and I discovered when I repotted that it doesn't acctually have any roots it's just pretty much a stem. What do I need to do to help my tree to root and survive?
AnswerHi Amanda, Often Bananas are shipped without any attached Corm, or root system, and they will eventually grow, but it isn't a proper method for inexperienced growers to attempt to get one to set itself; in any event, you got it , so now you need to try to save it, and keeping the soil moist isn't the way to go, it will just rot it. You need to set it in a well drained soil and water it only when it is almost dry to the bottom of the pot. It may be too late, if rot has set in, but you really have no alternative now, but to try. Keep it in a window where it gets the light it needs however, and hope for the best. Don't waste your time with Miracle-grow at this time, for it isn't taking in any nutrients in its present state, right now you need to get it to develop a root system, which is called a Corm or Rhizome. Nick
