Plant Care Ensete Ventricosum

Ensete Ventricosum

3.8 out of 5 (4 experiences)

Ensete Ventricosum has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves
Ensete Ventricosum has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

About Ensete Ventricosum

Maurelii is a perennial cultivar in the Musaceae (banana) family. It is named for J. Maurel who drew attention from the French in Ethiopia to the native red-leaved 'banana' looking plant. It's best grown in full sun with some shade in the hotter portion of the day. Courtyards, atriums, and walled gardens are ideal.

Taxonomy

Ensete ventricosum
Ensete
Musaceae
Zingiberales

Also known as

Abyssinian Banana, Abyssinian Banana, Enset, Ensete, Ethiopian banana and False banana

How to care for Ensete Ventricosum

💦 Water

How often to water your Ensete Ventricosum

Water needs for Ensete Ventricosum
0.5 cups
every 9

Ensete Ventricosum needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Ensete Ventricosum

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Abyssinian Banana in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Ensete Ventricosum: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Ensete Ventricosum love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Ensete Ventricosum does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Ensete Ventricosum in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Ensete Ventricosum

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Ensete Ventricosum: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Ensete Ventricosum after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #AbyssinianBanana
💡 FAQs
⭐ Difficulty Level

Ensete Ventricosum can be challenging to care for, according to some plant parents. Check out the reviews down below to learn from their experiences!

How to Grow Abyssinian Banana →

Benefits of Growing Abyssinian Banana →

Common Abyssinian Banana Problems →

Outdoor Care Guide for Abyssinian Banana →


💦 Water Needs

Ensete Ventricosum prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Abyssinian Banana Water Frequency →

Abyssinian Banana Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Ensete Ventricosum requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Abyssinian Banana Light Requirements →

Abyssinian Banana Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Ensete Ventricosum is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Abyssinian Banana Edible? →

Abyssinian Banana Toxicity to Cats →

Abyssinian Banana Toxicity to Dogs →

Abyssinian Banana Toxicity to Humans →


🪴 Soil

Ensete Ventricosum does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Abyssinian Banana →

Best Pots for Abyssinian Banana →

When and How to Successfully Repot Abyssinian Banana →

What Are Healthy Abyssinian Banana Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Ensete Ventricosum is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Abyssinian Banana →


⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Ensete Ventricosum grows vertically and new growth will emerge from the top of the plant.

Abyssinian Banana Lifecycle →

Abyssinian Banana Size Guide →

How and When to Prune Abyssinian Banana →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Ensete Ventricosum can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

How to Propagate Abyssinian Banana →


🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Ensete Ventricosum, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Ensete Ventricosum

Ensete Ventricosum

Ensete Ventricosum


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Ensete Ventricosum has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 3
Ensete Ventricosum has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 1
Ensete Ventricosum has a Browns easily plant personality Browns easily 1
Marina avatar
@Marina
leaf-1 20 Plants
xp 505 XP
globe Enfield, England
09/05/2021

Beautiful plant with amazing leaves but had one die on my rather quickly and this is my second on.
Got burned during a recent house move and it’s recovered a bit but I’m not holding my breath with this one!

Large, lush leaves Large, lush leaves
Browns easily Browns easily
Trin avatar
@Trin
leaf-1 3 Plants
xp 70 XP
globe Lancaster, OH
08/04/2021

they need to grow 44 leaves before they can grow bananas!!

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