why do my banana's always die?

Hyperfalls · Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 101

I have had around five banana trees, all of them grow slowely, I fertilize them, give them extra water, set up shade structures, but they always grow slow and then get killed in the summer. Why?

myamberdog · Posted: Sat Jul 28, 2012 8:08 pm Post subject:

Doesn't make sense - they LOVE the heat at my house. Do you mulch them heavily??? Of all the plants that appreciate mulch, these tropical island beauties seem to the most....how about a picture or two ???

myamberwoofie

Amadioranch · Joined: 07 Jan 2012 Posts: 88

Could have everything to do with the varieties you are trying. Ive tried many many different cultivars and only a select few can take the heat of the Arizona summer. Ice Cream (blue java) is about the best choice.

Hyperfalls · Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 101

I can't post any more photos because I have reached my upload limit. I mulch all of my bananas heavily. My current varieties are ice cream, goldfinger, and whatever the variety at the extension garden is. One of my extension garden bananas seemed to have lots of rot at the top of the plant so I cut it off. My goldfinger has been transplanted to a full shade pot, and my ice cream is totally fried.

myamberdog · Posted: Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:40 pm Post subject:

Do they happen to be planted next to a wall?

The only other thing I can think of and which happened to me when
I was landscaping my front yard - there was one spot near the house
where I do believe, that painters had rinsed out their buckets and dumped it - poisoning the soil. And since then nothing has grown in
that spot....just a thought.....I guess you can soak it slowly for a 4-5 hours or so and maybe it will dillute the toxicity. I didn't do that but probably should have - just gave up on that spot...

myamberdawg

MKIVRYAN · Joined: 07 Dec 2010 Posts: 154 Location: Phoenix/Scottsdale

If it makes you feel any better mine always die in August as well. They grow great April-June then slow down in July and die in August and September. I'm enjoying the last few weeks of my current few. I have tried them in different places with different water amounts and different levels of shade but nothing has worked with the exception of ones in pots for some reason, no problem with all the ones in pots.

phoenixtropicals · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2012 9:04 pm Post subject:

Boy that is a mystery why your bananas are having such a tough time. Maybe check the bananas article on the website and see if that doesn't help. Do they look like they are just sunburning to death? Too much water and fertilizer maybe? I'm just guessing. My banana is one of my easiest plants to grow.

Hyperfalls · Joined: 19 Aug 2011 Posts: 101

They aren't next to a wall... good news though! One of my bananas is doing well now, the others not so much. Hopefully the pups off the good one can suffice for my lost bananas.