These two pups came from the same parent plant. Here on Maui they call this banana "manini". The wind blew over the parent plant so when I replanted it I separated the pups. The white pup was far and away the largest of three then. I thought it wouldn't survive, but now, seven weeks later, it's still putting out pure white leaves.
I love the way the colors compliment each other. I've never seen a white one before, COOL !!!!!
I have a Monstera putting out pure white leaves and wondering how long it can grow without photosynthesis.
I'm wondering that as well. It seems unlikely that my plant could get as large as it is without any photosynthesis at all. It was separated from the parent plant long before any leaves had opened, so the argument that the energy has all come from the parent plant seems weak to me. Certainly the other pups, which were much smaller when separated from the parent, have all outgrown their all-white sibling, but the white plant is not just surviving, but continuing to put out new leaves. There must be more to this equation. Further, I haven't been babying it, either. It seems the biggest threat to the plant at the moment is sunburn. Although it is in a rather shady place the sun does get to it during parts of the day and the leaves burn.
I recently saw a picture posted of a white monstera. Was that yours, homer1958?
I will post another picture to show the plant's progress.
No... Mine is from a friend in Germany. I received it back in Feb.-Mar. The leaves reverted to white from variegated after two leaves in ascending white vs. green/white. Keeps growing white leaves and this will be the third when it opens.
Koa, Do you know of someone that sells the AeAe? Here is a picture of mine;
Lovely tropical garden! Could be a picture of a windward garden in Hawaii. :-) No, I don't know who sells the ae ae banana. I know that they are not easy to come by here on Maui. I bought mine from a sale at the Maui Nui Botanical Garden. I'm guessing they do not export any banana plants from Hawaii due to the bunchy top virus. I do see them advertised for sale from time to time on the mainland. I would try searching for the other names by which it is known, since if you asked for an ae ae banana here few people would know what you wanted. I've also heard them called royal Hawaiian bananas (especially on the mainland), Hawaiian variegated banana, koae, and manini. You will have pups soon, no doubt.
I do now. They are growing soooo slowwwllllly. Thanks for the compliment..Labor of love. This is one of 6 areas I have groups of Aroids Musa and Ensete.
Very nice! Let's see a picture of your white monstera.
Beautiful garden homer..
koa, looking forward to watching the progress of yours
Christine
Not much to see; will get a picture today!
Here is another picture of the white pup taken exactly 8 weeks after the first picture.
You can see how the leaves have sunburned. You can also see sunburn on the white areas of its now much larger sibling.
Here is a picture of the parent plant. I had originally planted it in an area with full sun. The white disappeared from the new leaves. After it blew over I replanted it in a much shadier location and the white returned to the new leaves.
What a major difference, I just love the white variegated, I've got to get me one of those, I have the zebrina blood and I thought that was the eye catcher, but I'm loving the white & green. Here's my zebrina I picked up for $4.00 and it already has a new pup.
Christine
That is a lovely banana, Christine! Are the fruits edible, and are they red?
koa, as far as I know the fruit is not edible and It wont be in my lifetime I'd see any bananas anyway LOL
When I went out this morning to water I notice a brand new pup popped up last night, I'm thrilled :>)
Christine
Kia do you think if you moved the white leaf one to the shade it would do better like the mama?
It is in the shade except for a very short part of the day. I had thought about putting something over it to give it more shade and then I wondered about whether that would hinder its ability to make food. I'm reluctant to dig it up now. You have a good point, though, because the sunburn can't be doing the plant any favors. I will ponder on it. Perhaps I could rig some sort of shade sail over the top.
I think that would work other than if you receive a lot of wind.
Jasmine's mom, my understanding is that ae ae is very delicate and challenging to keep going outside of an ideal environment.
That said, I love the look too. :) Have you ever seen canna "Stuttgart"? http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/37576/ This one we can do in our temperate environment. :)
-Joe
I met a man this past week who has three Ae's in his yard - they are huge. I will get a picture the next time I'm over there. He also has a couple of other variegated Banana plants - forgot what he called them, but I swear they are 15' tall!
joegee , They like it very warm, good drainage, good amount compost, humid and wet. If you offer those 5, it will thrive!
Sorry so late koa!
Drew, that is amazing! Thanks for sharing a picture of this unique plant.
Fascinating! You don't show the other leaf, but if that stays in good shape it could support the rest of the plant of white leaves! Cool. I was at Lowe's today in the garden center, and I came across this caladium. Perhaps you are familiar with it. I've never seen one before. It had the tiniest edge of green, and yet that seems to support the whole plant!
homer. she's a beauty. I really like the white caladium too
Christine
Sure Kay!
With those feathery leaves, just the veins and midrib are enough to keep it alive koa.
Thanks J mom!
If anyone is interested I have a friend that has the following for variegated bananas for sale.
tanee 47.00+ 49.00 s+h
nam hwa 69.00 + 49.00 s+h
aeae 65.00 + 49.00 s+h
black tanee 15.00 +29.00 s/h
Dmail for info.
Would anyone be able to tell that type of banana leaf that is used to wrap and steam food? Southeast Asian use them in a lot of desserts & dumplings. It turns the food green & impart a unique flavor. The leaves are sold frozen in Asian supermarket but I rather grow my own. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
I have no idea so I googled it and this is a link that I found. Hope it helps you.
http://thaifood.about.com/od/glossary/g/bananaleaf.htm
Thanks a bunch. (No pun intended :) ) I end up ordering a type of banana called Grand Nain. It's described as having large dark green leaves. Hope this is the one.
That is so funny!!! I'm glad that you got one. Where did you order it from?
I ordered from Willis Orchard. I also got three varieties of pecan nut. They're really nice and knowledgeable. I've ordered from them before and never had any problems.
I have about 5 pecan trees that my sister planted last year to get put out this year in the ground. They are the big soft shell nuts. I hope we live to see the nuts!!! LOL!!!
If my husband didn't repeatedly mow down my pecan seedlings when we first moved to this property fifteen years ago, I would have knee-high pecan trees by now. They're that slow. These I ordered are grafted so at least my future grandkids will get to harvest my hard work.
That is if they don't cut them down to make room for a parking lot. Of course, out there in Texas that would probably take a while!!! LOL!!!
Happens here a lot. Sad, but true. We're about 30 minutes north of a concrete jungle of Houston. Hope it don't engulf us someday.
You're not that far from me then. I'm just a little north of Baton Rouge.
Small world, and getting smaller.
With the God and the internet anything is possible.
