Re: Banana growers question

I have two banana plants (just successfully nursed one through an  
almost fatal spider mite infestation), and I usually wait until an  
aging leaf has mostly turned brown before cutting it off as far down  
the stem as I can get without ripping still green tissue from the  
stem. I have found that it is important to create as thick a stem as  
possible, ever since DH took one outside just before a windstorm hit  
and I had to stake a bent banana!

Cathy, west central IL, z5b

On Jul 17, 2006, at 8:34 PM, Theresa W. wrote:

> Donna- the wind does tatter my banana leaves regularly, they just  
> sort of rip, but keep living here anyway.  I haven't ever cut of  
> leave during the summer, only in winter do I chop the whole plant  
> down to about a foot above the ground.  I would assume you would  
> prune the leaf stem off down near the trunk.  I'm sure it will  
> bleed some (they are very juicy plants), but should scar over and  
> be fine.  Not the banana expert though- that would be Dave F. and  
> he's busy raising his hibs, so not on the list right now. Sorry.
>
> Theresa
>
> Donna wrote:
>> On impulse, I bought that darn banana tree (is it considered a  
>> tree?).
>> With the storms of late, lost a few leaves. Well they are there but
>> tattered and turning brown. Thinking about pruning, but not sure how.
>> how close do you cut the stem to the trunk? at the base of the  
>> leaf or
>> the base of the trunk?
>>
>>  Sorry, midwesterner here and haven't a clue of the proper way to  
>> do it - or what each area is really called on the plant.
>>  Donna
>>
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