Banana Ensete Maurelii Plant Care Guide
The “Banana” Ensete Maurelii plant may not be a true banana, but it does have gorgeous red leaves with proper care!
Why People Love This Plant
This banana plant originates from Eastern Africa and goes by a few different titles: Red Abyssinian Banana, Ethiopian Banana, Ensete Maurelii, and Red Banana, to name a few. In its natural habitat this plant can reach heights of 30 feet. It has gained popularity in the gardening and house plant world due to its beautiful red (banana shaped) leaves!
Your Guide to Care
Care: Intermediate
Light: Ideally ensete banana plants prefer full sun. Partial sun is also acceptable and depending on your location some shade or filtered sun during the heat of the day could be appreciated. Sunlight is critical for the red color in the leaves to develop and show! Hence, your ensete’s leaves will likely be more colorful in summer.
Water: Water your plant about twice a week during summer and less once it cools down. They prefer consistent moisture, but not to be too wet. Once established, your plant should be able to survive a drought, just keep in mind it won’t look its best. However, do your best to not allow your plant to dry out between waterings.
Temperature: The Banana Ensete Maurelii plant does not care for frost. Its ideal temperature would be around 68F and it should never get below 55F.
Humidity: Medium, you can give this plant a little humidity if you are in a dry area, but it is not critical.
Feeding: This is a hungry plant! Make sure to fertilize regularly during growing season. This could be every two weeks, or four times a year if you chose to use a slow release fertilizer.
Bonus
Pro tip for growing: more water, more light, more fertilizer, more warmth.
Tag us on Instagram @tropicalplantsofflorida with a Banana Ensete Maurelii selfie!
