I just checked and my velutina has some leaf scorch despite being somewhat shaded by the other bananas. Here's an updated picture of my bananas. The Orinoco is finally producing a pup.

I thought read some where that you take off the lower leafs. Is this correct?

I'm not sure Marie. I've always heard to only remove the leaves if they're brown?

Ok thanks. So far none are brown. They are finally growing real good. Will give them more food this week.

That's good news. I need to feed mine today. I usually give them fertilizer once a week.

My basjoo is doing great and is > 8 feet tall.

My velutina so graciously given to me by a member here bit the dust. Not sure why...RIP. I was sad to see that.

Why would you remove the lower leaves?

I can't believe your basjoo is over 8 ft. tall now. My velutina looks horrible right now and it will probably bite the dust really soon?

My velutinas do not look do great right now either but it is because the poor things are tired after blooming all winter and dealing with the heat/drought now. Everything looks weary in my garden.

Alive were dealing with drought too and I try to water mine there times a week but it hasn't helped the velutina. I have it underneath one of my larger bananas.

So strange and they pop up like weeds here. It is way too hot to ship anything right now or I would happily share. I ave found the edible fruiting bananas need lots of water and food but the decorative ones, at least the velutinas, are not too fussy.

I was giving mine some potassium nitrate but I ran out and now I'm using calcium nitrate mixed with a little Miracle Gro All Purpose. The potassium has helped some with drought tolerance but I've noticed they've slowed down on hot and less humid days.

My Ice Cream banana are growing leaf after leaf. Not very tall but I don't think they are a tall tree to begin with. Just a lot of compact leaves. The one who gets most of the sun and in a pot has grown 10". The one is some shade and in the ground about 6". Every time a new leaf fully opens, there is another leaf ready to shoot out. I think that is fun to see! I think I haven't been feeding often enough? Once a month? ONce a week? Really? What kind of fertilizer??

Cheryl I give mine mainly potassium nitrate because it has the right ratio for fruiting bananas. I usually give them a tablespoon of that and a tablespoon of Epsom salts. Since I'm out of the potassium nitrate, I give them a tablespoon of calcium nitrate. I use the stump remover by Spectricide since it's 100% potassium nitrate. I also pile some compost around both plants every once in a while.

"Stump Remover". I never would have thought to even look at those ingredients! I will now!

I recently learned about the stump remover. Also if you can find saltpeter in the grocery store under the canning or spice aisle, it's the same thing. I think it's used to preserve meat?

Velutinas in 3gal pots with pups.

I water my basjoo and my entire tropical area at least once a day. When we were in the low 100s 2 weeks ago, I watered twice a day. Giving it a bit of Potash. And Fish emulsion. And epsom salts.

Will have to check out using stump remover. I have used it in the past to scarify seeds.

Alice - thanks for the kind offer. Maybe this Fall.

TexasPlumeria87 said:Cheryl I give mine mainly potassium nitrate because it has the right ratio for fruiting bananas. I usually give them a tablespoon of that and a tablespoon of Epsom salts. Since I'm out of the potassium nitrate, I give them a tablespoon of calcium nitrate. I use the stump remover by Spectricide since it's 100% potassium nitrate. I also pile some compost around both plants every once in a while.

Just wondering... when they break down you have potassium and nitrogen. The other calcium and nitrogen. Those are not equivalent. But they serve the same purpose? I do understand the bananas love for potassium.

papa said:Velutinas in 3gal pots with pups.

Wow your velutinas look great Charles!

DavidLMO said:

Just wondering... when they break down you have potassium and nitrogen. The other calcium and nitrogen. Those are not equivalent. But they serve the same purpose? I do understand the bananas love for potassium.

I think I probably need to increase my watering to once a day like you but I worry about my water bill lol. I'm only using the calcium nitrate until I get more stump remover. Before I used a combination of both. I read about calcium in hot climates doesn't reach the roots of plants especially in compacted soil. I was worried about the calcium increasing the ph but I water with Epsom salts to help counteract that issue. One thing I've learned is not to mix calcium nitrate with Epsom salts because it becomes gypsum. I did that and there was a substance that looked like plaster at the bottom of my watering can so I add them separately