What's Up With This Banana Plant

[John Collins]

Can anyone tell me what these white growths are on the edge of the leaf?

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi @John Collins

Do you happen to live in an area with hard water or do you know the water parameters of your tank - specifically pH, dKH, and dGH? 

White discoloration on leaves can be caused by a number of issues:
1) Excess calcium (Ca) in the water
2) Insufficient available potassium (K)
3) Insufficient available iron (Fe) caused by not enough iron being dosed or the wrong type of iron for pH of tank

BTW, the "cupping" of the leaves is typically caused by insufficient available magnesium (Mg) which is a different issue.

Hope this helps! -Roy

[John Collins]

PH 7.8, 6 KH and 8-9 GH. But this is one of five banana plants and none of the others are doing anything like this.

[nabokovfan87]

It looks like something growing on the leaf as opposed to the plant itself.

[Seattle_Aquarist]

On 7/1/2023 at 1:06 PM, John Collins said:

PH 7.8, 6 KH and 8-9 GH. But this is one of five banana plants and none of the others are doing anything like this.

Hi John Collins,

What are you using for fertilizer in your tank?
 -Roy

[John Collins]

On 7/1/2023 at 7:33 PM, Seattle_Aquarist said:

Hi John Collins,

What are you using for fertilizer in your tank?
 -Roy

Easy Green up to about 30-40 ppm of nitrate.

[Seattle_Aquarist]

Hi John Collins,

Try adding Easy Iron or Seachem Iron (per respective directions) in addition to the Easy Green.  They both have forms of iron that are easier for plants to absorb when the pH is above 7.0.

Also add 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salt (use the cheap stuff no scents or additives) per 10 gallons.   When you do a weekly water change add 1/2 teaspoon of Epsom Salt per 10 gallons of water removed from the tank.  This should add about 5 ppm of Mg to your water and reduce / eliminate the 'cupping'. 

Hope this helps! -Roy

Edited July 2, 2023 by Seattle_Aquarist