Darjeeling Banana

Darjeeling Banana Care

Musa Sikkimensis

What is the plant

M. sikkimensis is an upright single-stemed perennial with large, yellow-green, thick leaves that may have redish markings. The Musa genus, a family of bananas and plantains, includes the Musa sikkimenis, a somewhat rare plant also known as the Darjeeling banana or Sikkim banana. Originally from the forests of the northeastern Himalayas, the Musa sikkimensis grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 5 through 9. Although the fruit of this tree isn't the most pleasing to the palate, the thick trunks and deep red leaf backs of the Musa sikkimensis add a striking tropical element to the landscape.

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Humidity

Normal

Lighting

Part Sun

Hardiness zone

5 - 9

Difficulty

Medium

How to Care for the Plant

Water
Keep soil moist but not waterlogged. Because the Musa sikkimensis loves humidity, it's best to water slowly and deeply once every two or three days. Keep the soil moist to about 1 inch deep near the root. Test the soil with your finger; if it is dry down to an inch, the plant requires water.
Pruning
Shuck the Musa sikkimensis about four months after planting by removing all but one of the suckers that have sprouted, cutting them off at ground level. Repeat this process at eight months and harvest the tree's fruits at around 10 months. Remove any dead leaves immediately.
Fertilizer
Apply 10-10-20 fertilizer to the Musa sikkimensis according to the instructions on its label. When the plant matures, switch to 5-12-24 fertilizer.

Disease diagnosis

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Sunlight
Choose an area with full or partial sunlight exposure.
Soil
Banana plants enjoy a well drained, general potting mix easily found at your local box store. Remember try to stay away from arid or wet, mucky soils.
Temperature
Banana plants thrive in humid temperatures between 78 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit, but the Musa sikkimensis is a cold-hardy variety and can tolerate some shade.