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Help with Pisang Raja,Please.
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Posted by bananers (My Page) on Mon, May 1, 06 at 2:40
Hi,
I have a Musa Belle (Pisang Raja) that I planted on April 27th.
I cant seem to find to much info about these trees.
It was/is about 3 feet high when I planted it in full sun in semi decent draining soil with a little bit of potting soil added to the dirt.
I live in Northern California near Eureka.
I have read that I should maybe mulch it and use some kind of tropical fertilizer and maybe some Epsom salt? but I don't know what I should use or how much or when.
Can somebody tell me some pointers on what I should do,how to feed it and water it and anything else that is important to know?
I don't have a green thumb(?) so any info would be greatly appreciated.
Sorry for what may seem like simple questions to you all but I really want this tree to do well.
Thank you,
Bananers |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Help with Pisang Raja,Please.
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| I have Belle, and it is a very nice banana. There are pix at http://webebananas.com/ You want to add as much organics (compost, etc) as you can. I routinely add 12" per year to mine. Just use 16-16-16 cheap fertilizer from Home Depot, and when it is actively growing, dump it on, along with plenty of water. |
RE: Help with Pisang Raja,Please.
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Hi pitangadiego,
Thank you for the link.
Lets see if I have this correct...
All I need to do is mix as much compost/mulch and fertilizer as I can and just cover the top of the ground around the tree then water it?
I read somewhere that to much water will rot the root system? but this could have been for a different type of tree. What about the Epsom salt? Thank you |
RE: Help with Pisang Raja,Please.
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| Don't know about the e salt and can't see why it would be needed. Add 4-6" of compost in a 5' dia circle completely around the plant and make a small berm around the edge. And water through it to the plant. When you see active growth (new leaves) you can add fertilizer from now till the end of September, right on top of the mulch. As the mulch degrades (and "disappears") keep adding more on top - maybe as much as 12" over the course of the year. In Late Fall and Winter, when growth slows, stop fertilizing and water just enough to keep damp. Gradually make the compost cover larger in diameter to about 8-10'. Yes, water rots the roots, but only when they are standing in it for longer periods of time, which is mostly a problem when they are "dormant" (not actively growing, when temps are cooler). In warm weather, when the are actively growing, they suck up large quantities of water, and it isn't much of an issue. |
RE: Help with Pisang Raja,Please.
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Hi pitangadiego,
Great,I will do the compost as soon as I can.
I will also pick up some fertilizer as well.
Thanks for explaining how you do it so well.
I will also water it often...I have been watering when the ground was dry to about a half inch below the surface,so maybe I will water about once a day? You agree that water will rot the roots which worries me as our winters are extremely wet and our tempts are between 20-30 degrees. I really appreciate your help
Thank you |
RE: Help with Pisang Raja,Please.
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Hi,
Well,My plant finally got a new leaf which is great as all the other ones were turning brown.
I bought some 16-16-16 fertilizer and gave it about two tablespoons the other day. I have also been feeding it with All Purpose Miracle Grow about once a week. I also water it once every evening with about two gallons of water. I have a couple of questions I am still unclear about....
How often and how much do I need to fertilize it and can I also continue my Miracle grow feeding routine? I have read so many different ways to go about this my head is spinning... Thank you |
RE: Help with Pisang Raja,Please.
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| In winter, when the plant is dormant, there is no point in fertilizing because the plant is not using it, and you want the soil just damp, not wet or soggy because there is low use of water by the plant, and low evaporation from the soil. When it is actively growing, it is consuming lots of water and nutrients, and that also means it is warmer, and thus evaporation from the soil has also increased. They are not unlike children. You can tell when children are having a growth spurt because they start eating everything in sight. Bananas are the opposite, when you see them actively growing, you know it is time to give them everything in sight to eat and drink. |
RE: Help with Pisang Raja,Please.
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Hi,
Winter time is going to be my biggest problem with the Banana as we get a huge amount of rain that saturates the ground. Thank you for your help |
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