Plant Care Ethiopian Banana

Ethiopian Banana

3.8 out of 5 (4 experiences)

Ethiopian Banana has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves
Ethiopian Banana has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower

About Ethiopian Banana

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 Ethiopian Banana

šŸ’¦ Water

How often to water your Ethiopian Banana

Water needs for Ethiopian Banana
0.5 cups
every 9

Ethiopian Banana needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesnā€™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 Ethiopian Banana

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
ā˜€ļø Light

Finding light for Abyssinian Banana in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Ethiopian Banana: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Ethiopian Banana love being close to bright, sunny windows šŸ˜Ž.

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

Ethiopian Banana does not tolerate low-light šŸš«.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Ethiopian Banana in your home šŸ”.

šŸŖ“ Nutrients

How to fertilize Ethiopian Banana

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Ethiopian Banana: 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 itā€™s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Ethiopian Banana after it doubles in size or once a yearā€”whichever comes first.

Browse #AbyssinianBanana
šŸ’” FAQs
ā­ Difficulty Level

Ethiopian Banana 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 →


šŸ’¦ Water Needs

Ethiopian Banana 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 →


ā˜€ļø Sunlight Needs

Ethiopian Banana requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive šŸ’Ŗ. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home šŸ”.

Abyssinian Banana Light Requirements →

Abyssinian Banana Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


šŸ¶ šŸˆ šŸ‘¶ Toxicity

Ethiopian Banana 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 →


šŸŖ“ Soil

Ethiopian Banana 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 →


šŸ’© Fertilizer

Ethiopian Banana 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 →


ā¬†ļø ā¬‡ļø Growth Pattern

Ethiopian Banana 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 →


šŸŒ¦ļø Growing Outdoors
šŸŒ± Propagation

The seeds of Ethiopian Banana 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 →


šŸ‚ Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves arenā€™t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plantā€™s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, itā€™s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Ethiopian Banana, 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!


šŸ§ 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 Ethiopian Banana

Ethiopian Banana

Ethiopian Banana


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4ā€ pot your plant is in, and that it doesnā€™t get direct sunlight.

What other plant parents say

Ethiopian Banana has a Large, lush leaves plant personality Large, lush leaves 3
Ethiopian Banana has a Fast grower plant personality Fast grower 1
Ethiopian Banana 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 itā€™s recovered a bit but Iā€™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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