A pix would help. As a general rule. as long at the leaves are green, it doesn't matter what position they are in. Too much water would normally lead to root rot, which leads to an inability to take in water. Usually the first sympton is rapid yellowing of many or all of the leaves, but with structural integrity.

Where are you in SD - maybe I can check it out for you.

I am in the Clairemont area. I do not have an operating system on my computer that allows me to download pix (linux).

The leaves are still green, although only slightly yellowing.

Cheers,

plantRN

pitangadiego

Well, I just clambered up my slope and discovered that the entire core of the plant was seriously funky - black, sodden, stinky (remarkably like tuna fish). I cut it off about 2 inches above soil level. Do I need to dig it out? I suspect it just got waterlogged from these rains (I have had the drip system off for quite a while).

Are you aware of any type of disease this might be or does it just sound like too much water?

Thanks

plantRN

I'd be interested to hear the answer to this. I have an Ensete ventricosum that appeared to be very hard and firm, but rotten in the very middle. I started cutting a couple inches at a time until I could find green, and the cuttings smelled like fish....BADLY. It was nauseating. I'm assuming that the smell is rot, but the plant itself is very firm (but not growing yet).

That doesn't sound good. If it was still rotten in the center, where you cut it off near the ground, then it is probably a goner. I would leave ir. Even if the center rots out, the outer portion with the roots will probably continue to pump energy into the pups.

Haven't seen this happen in a large plant. Sometimes a pup that is removed will have the central growing point die, and the existing leaves will stay green. Even then, it will usually put out pup, even though it will not grow anymore.

well, when I cut it to soil level and it is funk all the way down. I think I have another one doing it now too but will have to wait a week or two to see what happens.

Anyone have any ideas? Overwater? Disease? Bad Kharma?

cheers,

plantrn