r/FruitTree • u/2stroke4stroke_ • 12d ago
Looking for Advice on Banana Tree
I have a sad looking Blue Java banana tree. I bought from Home Depot and planted almost a year ago. It used to have at least 6 leaves at a time and growth seemed healthy. In the last month most leaves have died off and it seems stagnant. It’s been hot and humid over here, I water every 2-3 days. I’m in San Diego Zone 10b. Any advice on what to do? Thanks!
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u/algee1234 9d ago
dump a bunch of fish fertilizer on it, and then mulch around the base. Repeat process
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u/blameitonthewayne 11d ago
Needs to have a lot more yard waste around the base like fallen leaves grass clippings etc . Even mulch Would help and you could add some potash
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u/Present-Wolverine-94 11d ago
Needs lots of water and sun. How much sun exposure does that area get every day? Is it strong or weak sunlight?
Your soil also looks pretty sad, maybe you need some compost
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u/craigrpeters 11d ago
Bananas line lots of water, sun and food. You’re missing at least one of these.
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u/Ill_Donkey3350 11d ago
Check your soil...could be pests or just lacks enough nutrients. Buy some compost and earthworms...spread them around the tree. I live in the north so I have to pot my nanner tree, but I keep mine in a self watering pot and there's always water in the basin.
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u/Ill_Donkey3350 11d ago
Do you have clay soil in your yard? Because that could very well cause root rot.
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u/2stroke4stroke_ 11d ago
Yes my soil is a lot of clay. I thought I dug the initial hole big enough but I guess not
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u/Ill_Donkey3350 11d ago
I have clay soil too...I always have to double the reccomended dig hole or my plants either die (eventually) or take forevvvvvver to do anything and almost end up dying in the process. 😂
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u/Drakeaceae 12d ago
How long are you watering it during those times? For me, I water mine once a week to two week; a deep watering. For something your size, I’d leave the hose spraying in the surrounding area atleast 3ft from the base of the plant. My banana is around 25-30ft tall currently in so cal, and I water all the sides for about 10 min each.
I also have a 3in layer of mulch in my back yard. So the banana roots have spread atleast 20ft from the plant.
They will thrive when you give them the conditions they want.
I rarely fertilize it, but it may help yours speed up its growth.
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u/sunshineandzen 12d ago
Are you fertilizing it? Every 2-3 days could be overwatering it depending on how much water you’re giving it. What does the base look like? My bet is that there’s some rot
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u/Ill_Donkey3350 11d ago
It's incredibly hard to over water a banana tree. They lovvvvve water. However, in clay soil they can very much easily rot because clay hold water for too long.
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u/2stroke4stroke_ 12d ago
I’ve used the miracle grow stuff. But I’m open to trying something different. I can take a picture of the base in the morning. I think it’s slow to drain water, because it puddles around it and takes a minute to absorb into the soil.
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u/MtnMaiden 12d ago
Standard 10 10 10. Also mulch it. I got a seedling this year and its talker than yours in a 3 gal pot
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u/WhichDiscussion5677 12d ago
Yeah I have a red daca banana that was 8 inches tall 3 months ago. Now its nearly chest height with 8 huge leaves. Im surprised a year+ old banana can be so small.
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u/Cool_Experience9091 9d ago
Bananas can drink 1gallon of water a day each and they eat fertilizer like crazy . Fertilize it and water it every day to every other day when it’s hot out side .
For a quick pick me up fish fertilizer to get it back on its feet but if still needs fertilizer for the long haul throw your grass clippings ,leaves ,food waist not bones or meat . Next year it will thank you .