Banana plants grow very quickly, although some specimens grown indoors or in the garden can reach heights of up to 3.5 meters. The attractive plants are a real eye-catcher, but depend on correct care. Brown leaves, for example, are usually a clear indication of care errors that must be remedied immediately - otherwise the sensitive container plant is threatened with death.
When to act
If the leaves of the banana plant turn brown or if brown spots develop, this is not always a warning sign. Like the cells in the human body, Musa - the botanical name of the plant genus comprising around 70 species - regularly renews individual leaf parts. Older leaves die off and give way to new shoots. As long as this phenomenon is limited to individual leaves or parts of leaves, occurs only occasionally, and does not spread, you need not worry. This is especially true if only some of the older leaf tips and / or the leaf margins turn brown. Simply cut off the affected leaves and keep a close eye on the new shoots: the young shoots should not develop brown spots.
Brown leaves from the formation of children
Banana plants reproduce through the formation of so-called Kindel, which is practically daughter plants that are genetically identical to the mother plant. These sprout from the earth around the trunk of the mother plant. The offshoots occur mainly in older specimens and rob the mother of nutrients and moisture. As a result, this develops brown discoloration of the leaves due to the deficiency.
You can do that now:
- Remove children from four to six leaves
- Carefully dig up the cuttings and pull them out of the planter together with the roots
- Do not damage the roots if possible
- Then place the young plants in separate pots
- Cut off brown leaves on the mother plant
- provide them with an extra dose of fertilizer
Tip: Like every living being, the banana is not immortal. If older plants suddenly produce a noticeably large number of children, this is sometimes an indication of their imminent death. Remove the Kindel and look after them separately in order to have offspring if the worst comes to the worst.
These care mistakes lead to brown leaves
However, if the brown spots spread over a large area on one or more leaves, something else is often wrong with your banana plant. As a rule, mistakes in care cause the leaf discoloration, which in turn can lead to secondary diseases or pest infestation. After all, the banana indicates that it is not doing well, that it is weakened - and thus more prone to secondary diseases.
Tip: When it comes to brown banana leaves, many a hobby gardener is tempted to use the watering can immediately. Avoid this temptation, as lack of water is just one of the many possible causes. Instead, it is important to carefully find out the specific reason and to remedy it as soon as possible.
Lack of water / waterlogging
Increased watering is actually not always the best solution, but the targeted supply of water to the banana is much more important. In addition to a lack of water, excess moisture can also lead to brown leaves - waterlogging is just as harmful as drought.
Watering banana plants correctly:
- Allow the surface of the substrate to dry between two waterings
- Never let the substrate dry out completely
- The substrate should be moist but not wet after watering
- ensure good drainage, e.g. B. through drainage at the bottom of the pot
- Remove excess water from the planter or saucer as soon as possible
You should check the substrate daily so that you can choose the right time for watering. Some banana plants are also noticeably thirsty: these are often the older specimens with large leaves. As a rule of thumb, the larger the leaves of the banana plant, the more water it needs. This is mainly due to the high evaporation rate, because large leaves naturally also give off more water to the environment. Always water bananas with soft rainwater or well stale tap water, which is also at room temperature at best.
Tip: Repot the banana in fresh substrate every one to two years, because the water storage capacity of the same decreases significantly over time. This also ensures that the moisture is only conducted unevenly and the water flows through faster than the roots can absorb.
Low humidity
As classic rainforest plants, bananas are dependent on a high level of humidity, which, however, is not given, especially during the heating season in the winter months. On average, the humidity in heated rooms is between 20 and 30 percent - far too little for banana plants, which need at least 50 percent, or even better, more.
Dry air occurs mainly in winter
Incidentally, if the moisture content in the heated apartment is too low, even more watering will not help. On the contrary: Increased watering over the substrate not only leads to even more moisture over the leaves is evaporated - waterlogging also develops very easily, which in turn leads to root rot and thus to the death of the plant leads.
Increase humidity
Instead, increase the humidity around the banana plants by spraying the leaves with the help of an atomizer. Use soft, low-lime water such as rainwater or well-stale tap water. Alternatively, simply put the banana in the bathtub and shower off with a fine shower head. This also has the advantage that dust is washed off the leaves and so photosynthesis is improved.
Lack of light / sunburn
Banana plants need a lot of light for optimal growth and healthy thriving. However, it does not necessarily depend on a place in the blazing sun, because this can also discolour the leaves lead - this is especially true when Musa moves out of the living room onto the sunny balcony in the summer without any preparation will.
The right location for the
- bright and sunny
- preferably directly behind a south-facing window
- blazing sun is basically no problem
- but: sudden change of location causes sunburn
- therefore gradually accustom the plants
Especially in the winter months, the light intensity for the banana can be much too low or too low. are too short, which is why installing a plant lamp is a sensible investment.
Tip: A thick layer of dust on the leaves can also lead to brown leaves due to a lack of light, which is why you should shower the banana at regular intervals.
Nutritional deficiency
Banana plants are among the heavy consumers and are therefore dependent on a regular and balanced supply of nutrients. But be careful: Much does not help much in this case either, because over-fertilization is just as harmful as over-supply.
How to properly fertilize the banana plant:
- Repot in fresh substrate every one to two years in spring
- use palm soil for this
- Start fertilizing six to eight weeks after repotting
- Use liquid fertilizer for palm trees
- Fertilizer sticks or other long-term fertilizers are also suitable
- Frequency: once a week between April and September and once a month between October and March
Tip: During the winter months, banana plants take a break from vegetation, during which they should be placed a little cooler and watered and fertilized more sparingly.
Pest infestation
Above all, spider mites - also known as red spiders - as well as mealybugs and scale insects often cause problems for the banana plant. An infestation with these pests leads to discoloration and death of the banana leaves, which is why Check the plant regularly, especially on the underside of the leaves, for unwelcome guests should. Incidentally, such a pest infestation is always an indication of excessively dry air, as spider mites in particular prefer dry and warm locations.
How to treat a pest infestation:
- Keep the air humidity constantly high by spraying
- if the banana infestation is low, shower off regularly
- Wipe mealybugs with a damp cloth
- in stubborn cases, use neem-based insecticides
- cut off discolored leaves
Tip: By the way, simple baby wipes have proven to be effective for wiping leaves that are infected with mealybugs and mealybugs. Under no circumstances should you take oily cloths, as these are not tolerated by the sensitive banana leaves.