Dwarf Cavendish banana

Dwarf Cavendish banana Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish'

What is the plant

The Dwarf Cavendish banana is a widely grown and commercially important Cavendish cultivar. The name "Dwarf Cavendish" is in reference to the height of the pseudostem, not the fruit. Young plants have maroon or purple blotches on their leaves.

Dwarf Cavendish leaves are broad with short petioles. Its shortness makes it stable, wind-resistant, and easier to manage. This, in addition to its fast growth rate, makes it ideal for plantation cultivation. An easily recognizable characteristic of this cultivar is that the male bracts and flowers are not shed. The fruits of the Dwarf Cavendish cultivar range from about 15 to 25 cm in length, and are thin skinned. Each plant can bear up to 90 fingers. Cavendish bananas were named after William Cavendish, 6th Duke of Devonshire. Though not the first known banana specimens in Europe, around 1834 Cavendish received a shipment of bananas courtesy of the chaplain of Alton Towers. His gardener, Sir Joseph Paxton cultivated them in the greenhouses of Chatsworth House.

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Lighting

Full Sun

Difficulty

Medium

Water
Water your dwarf banana tree when a first 5-10 cm (2-4 in.) of soil is dry. Just stick your finger in soil and if it’s dry by a length of your finger – it’s time to water it! water it thoroughly so that a water reaches all a roots and let a excess water drain from a drainage holes.
Sunlight
Needs at least 6-12 hours of diffused sunlight.
Fertilizer
Use a fertilizer formulated specifically for your plant. Avoid over-fertilizing and follow the instruction on the label.

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Soil
The ideal blend of soil for plant growth is called loam. Often referred to as topsoil or black dirt by landscape companies, loam is a mixture of sand, clay, and silt.
Pruning
Dead or dying sections of the plant can encourage pest infestation or disease. Removing these not only makes your houseplant look better, but reduces the risk of further problems down the line.
Temperature
Average to warm temperatures from 18-27°C but can cope with as low as 10°C. Avoid draughts.

Disease diagnosis: ill emoji

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Container
When choosing a pot, choose a pot that is 2.5-5 cm (1-2”) larger than the current size. Ceramic pots are porous which means your plants are less likely to experience root rot from overwatering. It also means you'll have to water more often. Plastic pots are lighter, less likely to break, and easier to clean.
Popularity
3,913 people already have this plant 816 people have added this plant to their wishlists