If it is without the assistance of wind, maybe, a calcium or boron deficiency. If it is with the assistance of wind, it is probably natural.

A picture would help, aruzinsky is right on, I know the wind wrecks havoc on my banana,, some of the leaves look like a razor was taken to them.

I know the wind isn't an issue so I'm torn between the deficiency. The leaves come on so fast and we just planted them a few weeks ago. They are almost three feet tall and when the leave shot up over night it had a bad spot on it. I thought maybe it was insects? Then it unrolled half way and was already split 3 in. or so in two places. It is out at my campsite. Ill take a picture this weekend. Thank you all for your feedback!

"Every Banana tree I've seen has had splits in the leaves"

That implies that you have never seen a banana plant grown indoors or in a greenhouse. You must lead a very sheltered life, or is it unsheltered?

I SPRAYED ALL OF MY TROPICAL PLANTS FOR BUGS AFTER THIS AND FERTILIZED THE ROOTS AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED.

Glad to hear!

What did you spray and fertilize with? I am having issues with my red banana trees. I put sevin dust on them and fertilized them with a simple organic all purpose plant food 5-5-5 and they seem to be getting worse.

Here's a fun fact. Nothing in the banana family has split leaves more than heliconia chartacea 'sexy pink'. See

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z_4U6yc8xe4/UfUyYkFrkBI/AAAAAAAAByU/A0-oFAJWWg8/s1600/Sassy+pink+ls.jpg

aruzinsky, I had a Heliconia rostrada once that I adored. I put it into the most sheltered location I had, and every year, the wind ripped the leaves to shreds, but it boomed beautifully. My banana just got ripped to shreds by a hurricane and is now blooming, so go figure.

i also have a banana plant that seems to be not shooting up fast enough for the cigar leaf to open so the bottom part of the leaf is cut in half. anyway to help and or avoid that?

?