How To Grow & Care For Musa AeAe? 100% Successful Guide

Musa species, commonly Bananas, appear with broad green leaves and green or yellow fruits but have you heard about the variegated and mystical Musa AeAe? 

If you want a deeper understanding of the habit and growing guide of this rare Banana hybrid, follow the article for more!

What Is Musa AeAe?

Do you know Musa AeAe was bred selectively for variegated leaves? As a herbaceous and non-woody plant, Musa AeAe is similar in form to other Bananas.

The real name of this Banana species, Musa Paradisiaca ‘AeAe,’ is a result of selective hybridization between Musa Acuminata and Musa Balbisiana.

With that said, Musa Acuminata and Musa Balbisiana are responsible for producing nearly all edible Banana species worldwide.

Therefore, the fruits of Musa AeAe are also edible. But, the variegated green and white fruits of AeAe are seedless, unlike many varieties.

For a better understanding of this plant, look at the table below.

How Do You Care For Variegated Musa AeAe?

As a tropical Banana plant, AeAe has the exact growth requirements as regular Banana varieties.

Although Bananas can grow in all climates, the plant rapidly develops in hot, humid, and warm surroundings.

Hence, let’s briefly look at some of the primary care requirements for the plant.

1. Light & Temperature

Daily Sunlight Requirements 

• 6 hours of direct sunlight (partial shade for the rest of the day)

Optimum Temperature Requirements

• 87-89°F (prevent temperature dips below 50°F)

2. Water & Humidity

Seasonal Watering Needs

• Every 2-3 days during spring and summer (4-6 inches of water per serving) 
• Cut off watering during fall and winter (check the first 1-2 inches of topsoil for dryness before watering again)

Regular Humidity Requirements

• 50-80% of ambient humidity

3. Soil & Fertilizer

Proper Soil Requirements

• Well-draining and porous (equal mix of organic perlite, peat moss, and compost soil)

Seasonal Fertilizer Requirements

• Every once or twice per month (NPK balanced or high nitrogen-based)

4. Pruning & Repotting

Trimming Requirements

• Prune brown or dead foliage after they appear
• Cut back the entire after harvesting the fruits

Repotting Needs

• Every 1-2 years (late winter to early spring)
• Aim for a terracotta planter 1-2 inches wider and deeper than the previous one 

Growth & Flowering of Variegated Musa AeAe

Musa AeAe is a quick-growing Banana hybrid variety taking about 2 years to attain a height of 14-20 feet.

Like all tropical plants, this Banana variety loves warm and sultry climatic conditions to thrive.

Hence, AeAe shows a quick growth rate during spring and summer while exhibiting slow growth in the fall and winter. 

Many cold-tolerant Banana varieties exist worldwide, but they thrive best in tropical conditions.

An evergreen perennial plant, AeAe sheds its leaves by turning yellow, brown, and crispy, replacing them with new ones every 10-20 days.

Additionally, this Banana plant produces fruits within 12-18 months after planting. Before that, it enters a flowering stage.

Unlike other fruits, such as apples, blackberries, raspberries, oranges, etc., with seasonal fruiting periods, AeAe and related Banana varieties can bear fruit year-round.

Furthermore, the flowers are cone-shaped and purplish red in color, which opens once the plant flowers and is ready to set fruits.

Musa AeAe for Sale

You can buy this wonderful variegated hybrid variety of Musa species from any of the following shops.