Scorching on Florida variegated banana

[toomanyplants]

Is there anything to be done about the scorching on my ‘Florida variegated’ banana?  I understand z6 is far from its optimal zone, but there must be something besides growing it in the shade where its variegation won’t come out.

[BestDay]

That is normal for them in dryer environments.  If you raise the humidity around the plant it should burn less.  Try watering the plant from above and the area around it once or twice a day.  That should help.

Bill

[toomanyplants]

You mean by hosing it down?  Difficult in my situation , but I can try that.  Notably, only the white portionsof its leaves scorch, and the unvariegated dwarf namwah beside it does not scorch at all.

[Greater Good]

Variegated banana, Variegated banana? We don't need no stinking Variegated bananas ...

[BestDay]

You are a lucky man!

Bill

[DavidBYE]

How long from pup to fruit? From what I have read it should be 12 to 18 months. I push bananas here in 9a, some I can get to fruit in a season but at 18 months may not produce every year for me. The winter will set them back three months and not likely they would not make it through two winters.

[toomanyplants]

Your trees are beautiful.  No scorching at all on the white spots.  Meanwhile my newest leaf’s white spots went half brown in a single day in spite of moist soil.  What is your secret?

[Coconut Cream]

Some of my plants in the Zingiberales order with variegation or more delicate constitution are absolutely suffering right now, even in shade. The brutal UV, high heat, and long days are having an effect. I have scorching on a variegated Canna, on my torch gingers, and a few others. Just make it through to September-ish and hope that next year the plants around it provide a little more protection.

[toomanyplants]

That banana tree is the other plants’ sun protection lol!  Living in a condo, the only plant in my collection (not counting vines) that could possibly grow tall enough to shade it is a muntingia calabura, but it doesn’t have the sheer zeal for vertical growth that bananas do.  Maybe variegated bananas just aren’t for me.

[roblack]

Just rolled back into town and found little fruits on our AeAe. Received August 2023, about 3 feet tall. Lots of leaf scorch.

[toomanyplants]

This plant was mainly for ornamental value, given our short growing seasons and cold winters, but it would be so cool if it produced fruit.  As it stands, the dwarf namwah next to it is far more likely to bear.  I have been researching shorter cycle plants like kokopo or veinte cohol, but those are very difficult to get up here.

[Greater Good]

Your trees are beautiful.  No scorching at all on the white spots.  Meanwhile my newest leaf’s white spots went half brown in a single day in spite of moist soil.  What is your secret?

Humility and Humidity. Lots of compost and arborist wood chips surrounding the base.