Banana plant dying!!!!

[beanbag]

I was given a banana plant some time ago and I've always for some bizarre reason been quite fond of it.

Unfortunately however in the last two weeks, it's suddenly gone from sprouting massive leaves to dying very rapidly.

The soil looks a little mouldy but it's always really been like that and I keep it regularly watered.

How do I save it!!?!?!!?!?

[jeff m]

Plants usually get killed from overwatering.

You could try repotting it in some better draining soil.

[Simpo Two]

beanbag said:

The soil looks a little mouldy... I keep it regularly watered.

You just answered your own question. So many people think that you just give plants x amount of water every day, like feeding a cat, but forget that water uptake varies massively on conditions - growing season, temperature, light and humidity.

You can rarely tell just by looking whether a plant needs watering, or even by poking the soil surface. By far the best test is to lift the pot and see if it heavy or light.

I suspect you got used to shovelling water on during the hot period, then kept doing it during the recent cool dry spell when the plant wasn't using it up so fast.

As said, repot it and see if you can get the rootball to dry out a little. Roots need air as well as water!

[beanbag]

Cheers for the info....I'll re-pot it this evening with some fresh soil.

I just hope it survives....

[Simpo Two]

beanbag said:

I just hope it survives....

Hopefully you got to it in time (and use potting compost not soil)

If the leaves are yellow and floppy then they'll die and fall off but with luck and some time, you should get new shoots and leaves appearing. Just give it some TLC from now on.

I've found that plants seem to prefer being allowed almost to dry out, then getting a good soak, rather than a dribble on the top every day. A good way to soak a plant that's in dry soil is to stand it in some water in a sink for an hour or two, then allow to drain. That way it'll take up what it wants wihtout being drowned!