Musa, Musella, Ensete: The Hardy Banana Tree - History and Background

The Banana Tree is a tropical herbaceous perennial (and not actually a real tree) in the family Musaceae. They are native to Southeast Asia, China, Madagascar and Africa. Forty million years ago, bananas were also native to North America as far north as Oregon. There are 3 genera of bananas; Ensete, Musa, and Musella. These genera are widely cultivated in hot, wet regions between the equator and 30N/S. The cold tolerant taxa come from high altitude locations in the tropics. The family Musaceae is closely related to other well known ornamental tropicals such as Bird-of-Paradise (Strelitziaceae), Canna Lily (Cannaceae), the tropical gingers (Zingiberaceae) and Heliconia (Heliconaceae).

Bananas have been cultivated as a food for 4,000-10,000 years in tropical areas. However, Europeans were not aware of the fruit until they started exploring the world during the Age of Discovery in the 1500's. Edible bananas were not introduced to America until 1876 during the Philadelphia World Exposition. Today there are several hundred cultivars of edible bananas grown around the world. However, since the 1960's, only one cultivar has been used to produce the yellow dessert bananas eaten in the U.S. and Europe; Musa acuminata 'Cavendish'. The 'Cavendish' banana is a sterile triploid. It produces fruit in the absence of pollination (parthenocarpy) and therefore does not have any seeds. Most edible bananas belong to Musa acuminata or to Musa balbisiana (or are hybrids between). Hybrids are given the species name Musa paradisiaca. In addition to the sweet dessert varieties, there are starchy, unsweet cooking bananas that are used in a manner similar to how Americans use potatoes. These cooking bananas are sometimes known as plantains and are commonly boiled, baked, or fried. In America, we generally call the sweet fruits (that are eaten raw) bananas, and the starchy fruits (that must be cooked) plantains. Musa and Ensete may be eaten in other ways too. The Chinese eat the immature male flower and many cultures use the rhizomes and the stem as food or fodder. Bananas may also be dried and eaten as a chip or ground into flour. Bananas are the 4th largest fruit crop in the world behind apples, citrus, and grapes and are a staple food in some parts of the world.

The era of the 'Cavendish' banana may be coming to an end. Over the last few years a fungal pathogen called Panama disease (Fusarum oxysporum f. sp. cubense) Tropical Race 4 has evolved that attacks and kills 'Cavendish' plants. It has wiped out 'Cavendish' in almost all of Asia. There is no known preventative or cure for it and it spreads extremely quickly. If the fungus ever reaches Central America, the monoculture 'Cavendish' farms that supply the U.S. will be decimated. Ironically it was a different race of the same disease that allowed the 'Cavendish' to become so popular in the first place. 'Cavendish' replaced the sweeter and larger 'Gros Michael' banana in the 1950's which was also wiped out by a race of Panama disease. There is currently no replacement for the 'Cavendish' banana that is tolerant of Panama disease and has the all the traits that American consumers demand. The next best choice is a cultivar called 'Goldfinger' which is not as sweet and has a slight tart-apple flavor. However, the best long term solution is not to replace a single monoculture crop with another monoculture crop, but rather to adopt the sustainable practice of growing and eating multiple cultivars of banana.

Bananas also have non-food uses. Ensete and Musa banana stems and leaves are used for their fibers. The course fibers are called manilla hemp and are used to make paper and rope. The fine fibers are used to make high quality cloth called banana cloth. Banana leaves are waterproof and are often used to wrap food for storage or cooking. The Fehi group of bananas. grown in Polynesia are used to make a red dye (that will also turn your urine red if you eat them). Bananas are used by certain cultures to treat medical disorders such as bronchitis, ulcers, diabetes, hemorrhoids (don't ask me how!), and diarrhea among other things. Central Americans collect the sap of the red banana and take it as an aphrodisiac (although this may be a fallacy...or is it 'phallacy') while the Hindus regard the plant as a symbol of fertility and place the leaves and fruits on the doorstep of newlyweds. In the 60's it was popular to smoke banana peel for its alleged hallucinogenic affects (what didn't they smoke back then?) but the original newspaper story (The Berkeley Barb, March 1967) that reported this fad was a hoax that fooled the nation.

Bananas are such an important and profitable food crop that the companies that produce them (primarily United Fruit Company, known today as Chiquita and the Standard Fruit Company, known today as Dole) have grown extremely powerful. Their influence on Central American politics has lead to the term 'Banana Republic' (coined by the author O'Henry in his 1904 book Cabbages and Kings) which is a pejorative term for a small, unstable, country run by wealthy, corrupt elites who support the exploitation of people and land for cheap banana production by taking bribes and kickbacks from the banana companies. Hmmm...Large companies influencing public policy. Good thing that could never happen in the U.S.

Tony Avent 

About Cold Hardy Palm Trees

A cold hardy palm tree is determined by many factors, three of which are discussed in this article: The way the palm acclimates or responds to the cold weather. The mid-winter hardiness of the palm. And lastly, the way the palm de-acclimates when the weather starts to warm up. The acclimation process is activated as the temperature starts to decrease. These environmental changes trigger physiological and biochemical changes in the palm tree that result in greater cold tolerance. After the acclimation process the palm tree will be in a stage of mid-winter hardiness, where it has reached its maximum hardiness level with out injury. Lastly the De-acclimation process is exactly the opposite of the acclimating process. It refers to the response to warming temperatures in late winter and early spring.

The solution to the success of a cold hardy palm or tropical palm relies on many factors, some of which are: the overall health of the palm tree, the maturity, when it was transplanted, how long has it been stationary, the environment in which it has been grown in, and the species of palm.

Overall Health

The overall health of palm trees plays an important role on how well the palm will survive. A much healthier palm is proven to survive with minimal damages to the fronds and trunk. Making sure the palm has adequate nutrients in the soil is key for the well being of the palm. Studies show that adding fertilizer and other nutrients during winter will have no affect on the survival of the palm tree. When the palm tree starts the acclimation phase, it will start to enter a phase of hibernation. Biochemical changes occur, photosynthesis process decreases, therefore, less sunlight is needed and less nutrients is required. The palm tree stops absorbing nutrients and stores the nutrients it previously absorbed in late summer, early fall. Thus, making it very important to keep a healthy palm tree, all year round. However, there are preventative measures that may ensure the survival of your cold hardy or tropical palm; please refer to our winter protection article.

One solution is to fertilize your palm in mid-summer. This will to help the palm tree during the de-acclimation phase as well as during winter months. This will give the palm tree ample time to gather the nutrients provided and boost their health as winter arrives and will also provide the nutrients it will need to start its growth when spring comes.

The Maturity of The Palm

The maturity of the palm is also another key factor in determining the survival of the palm. When an immature palm tree is introduced to cold weather the chances of survival with out damage is much less of that of a mature palm tree. A mature palm will have extra leaves to give off heat to protect the inner bud or the new arising spear. This spear is more or less the life line of any palm tree.

A mature palms will also have more of an extensive root system which will allow the palm tree to recover faster by absorbing the water and other nutrients needed when damaged. As for an immature root system, the roots may freeze or may not tolerate cold weather and start to rot or decay.

The maturity of the trunk can also help with the protection of the palm tree. Some cold hardy palms have developed a husk to protect the trunk from frost or other unseen events given them an advantage when the natural elements come forth. The husk acts as an outer layer of protection, some examples of palms that have a outer fiber husk are the European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis), Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei), Miniature Chusan Palm (Trachycarpus wagnerianus), Stone Gate Palm (Trachycarpus princeps), and other related species of the Trachycarpus family. Some examples of cold hardy palms with out the fiber husk are the Bismarck Palm (Bismarckia nobilis), Cabbage Palm (Sabal palmetto), Blue Hesper Palm Tree (Brahea armata), Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum hystrix) and the Pindo Palm (Butia Capitata). Many of these palm trees can with stand freezing temperatures for days or even weeks with out any damage.

One solution to assist in the survival of a palm tree during the duration of cold months, is to only plant mature palm trees outside and keep the little ones indoors and inside containers. Once, the weather starts to warm up in spring and the palm tree is mature, than transplant outside. You can refer to our transplanting article.

When The Palm Was Planted?

When the palm tree was planted is important, because this will indicate how long the palm had to establish its root system. If the palm tree was planted close to winter, this might lower the chances of survival because sufficient time was not given for the palm tree to pass the transplant shock and to establish its roots. All palm trees go through a transplant shock, some for a few days and some for a month or two. Deciding to plant around winter could prove to be a challenge.

One solution to planting a palm tree, is to plant it during spring or when the weather is warming up. For other tips and preventative measure please refer to our winter protection article.

How Long The Palm Has Been Stationary?

How long the palm has been stationary plays an important role in the palm trees survival. The time the palm tree is planted in a specific area without being disturbed is critical, not only to cold hardy palms, but to plants in general. Cold hardy palms, as well as tropical palms, also have a high tendency to die slowly, because they were transplanted to many times. Palm trees in general, do well when they are transplanted once; from a container to the ground. When a palm tree has been stationary for a long period of time, their root system will be more extensive. This will help during times of drought, cold, or lack of nutrition in the surrounding soil. By having more time to settle, the palm tree can be ready for winter season.

One solution is, once the palm is safely transplanted in the ground, the palm tree must not be disturbed for at least 2 to 3 years. During these years the location of the palm should not be relocated for any reason. This is the rule of thumb for most palm species, including cold hardy palms.

The Environment The Palm Has Been Grown in

The environment the palm tree has been grown in, is some times overlooked by many people. Many commercial growers will have hundreds if not thousands of palm trees growing all different species at one time. Most in green houses and some outside in fields. Most of which are in the south, where weather will hardly ever reach below freezing. A palm tree that has never experienced weather of its natural habitat will be affected by the cold more so than a palm that has been winterized or has been growing in their natural habitat. Winterizing is another word for acclimating palm trees.

Some nurseries will acclimate the palm before selling them to northern customers to ensure their survival when the harsh winters arrive. Some nurseries will refer to this as either, winterizing a palm or acclimating a palm. The reason for choosing palm trees which have been acclimated to the weather is because the palm trees will better resist cold temperatures. Many palm trees even cold hardy palm trees when introduced to the cold weather will go into a state of shock because it is not adapted. This process may also be done first hand. It is not necessary to do this, but the reward is much greater. This is especially true if it is during the coldest part of the year. Do not test the limitations of the palm, acclimate it slowly into the cold or full sun.

The altitude of the environment the palm tree is grown is just one more environmental factor which influences cold hardy palms. For instance, queen palm trees are found growing naturally throughout Florida which is completely flat and of low altitude levels. But, they are also found growing naturally throughout South America, which consist of many altitude variances with many lusciuos and colorful landscapes; unforgiving mountains, monster rivers, wet swamps, and many more of mother nature's lab experiments. Some, queen palms which grow in these regions are considered to be coldly hardy, and winterized by mother nature with her harsh climates consisting of gail winds, fat hail, merciless snow, and many more natural occurrences.

The safe and stable solution to winterizing a palm tree, is to winterize only palm trees which have already stood the test of time with mother nature, i.e. cold hardy palms. You don't want to winterize a Fiji Fan Palm, because it would take many decades, if not centuries to shape the biological structure. It's also, important to note that hybrids made of cold hardy and tropical flavors, have successfully endured cold months and have been winterized, but the results all vary with each species. So, mixing species is not a stable solution, but nevertheless it is stilled considered a solution.

The Species of Palm

The species of palm is the most important in determining the cold hardiness of a palm. Over the years many palm tree botanist and palm tree enthusiasts have studied the hardiness of many plants and palms. The hardiness of palm trees is due to hundreds, thousands even millions of years of the same natural reoccurring weather. This is called their natural habitat. The natural habitat of a palm will usually indicate the lowest temperature the palm tree can withstand. Every species of palm has a country of origin or a location where they grow naturally with out human intervention. Those thousands and millions of years have let certain species adapt to their environment. Some examples are a European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) from the cold chilly Mediterranean, Windmill Palm (Trachycarpus fortunei) from the foot hills of the Himalayas, and the Blue Hesper Palm (Brahea armata) from the desert canyons of northwestern Mexico. These species of palm tree will inevitably be more cold tolerant than those of such places as Fiji, Philippines, or the Amazon.

To compare locality of a palm to its cold hardiness, is as follows A European Fan Palm (Chamaerops humilis) native to the Mediterranean is more of cold hardy palm then to a Canary Island Date Palm (Phoenix canariensis) from the Canary Islands. As a Needle Palm (Rhapidophyllum Hystrix) from Central United States is more cold hardy then to a European Fan Palm. Studies have indicated leaf damage to the European Fan Palm at temperatures below that of 13 degrees F, on the other hand, the Needle Palm have shown little to no damage at temperatures of 5 degrees F and below.

This is why it is most important when choosing a palm, to not only look at the zone temperature it may be tolerant, but also the minimum temperature it can tolerate and also it's natural habitat.

Summary

A cold hardy palm tree is determined by many factors, three of which factors are: The way the palm acclimates or responds to the cold weather. The mid-winter hardiness of the palm and the way the palm de-acclimates when the weather starts to warm up. Which is also contingent on the following: the over all health of the palm tree, the maturity, when it was transplanted, how long has it been stationary, the environment in which it has been grown in and most importantly the species of palm tree.

Joey G

Colorful Tropical Foliage Plants - Croton Plants And Caladium Plants

Codiaeum variegatum called also "Garden Croton" or "Variegated Croton," it is a sort of plants of the genus Codiaeum, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family.

These colorful plants tropical plants look great when grown in pots and along with other tropical plants including dwarf bananas, bromeliads, ginger, gardenias, small heliconias, hibiscus, jasmine, orchids and plumeria plants summarized.

Croton plants are known for their colorful foliage turned a waxy texture with vertical growth and bulges outward. Get The more sun or bright light, more colorful Croton plant foliage.

Crotons should be well watered with the remaining soil moist. They prefer to be grown to high humidity and benefit from daily misting when the humidity is low.

When fertilizing plants Croton each fertilizer rich in nitrogen, is recommended as 9-3-6.

Crotons belong to the family of the Spurge family and therefore are classified as toxic. The sap can cause skin and eczema is also toxic.

Popular varieties of colorful tropical greenery include Codiaeum variegatum 'Golden Moon', Codiaeum variegatum 'Gold Sun', Codiaeum variegatum "Goldfinger" Codiaeum variegatum 'Grubell' Codiaeum variegatum 'Petra' and Codiaeum variegatum 'Excellent'.

Croton plants when grown outdoors should be protected or placed indoors if the temperature falls below 50 degrees Fahrenheit or 10 degrees Celsius. Otherwise, the falling leaves.

Another large group of colorful tropical plants plants Caladium plant is a genus in the family Araceae.

Currently, there are over 1,000 varieties of Caladium bicolor, which is considered the original Caladium from South America.

Caladium plants cultivated in Europe since the eighteenth century.

Popular varieties of colorful tropical greenery include Candidum White, red cardinal, Carolyn Wharton Rosa, Rosa Fannie Munson, Frieda Hemple Postman Joyner Red Light Red Rose Rose, White and Red Red Queen, to name a few.

Croton and Caladium plants can be grown in the warmer months of the year outside and indoors as houseplants than the rest of the year.

Caladium plants are hardy in Zone 9 and 10 must be dug in autumn in colder regions. They also make great houseplants all year.

While actively growing plants Caladium high humidity and should not need to be dry.

As with Croton plants, it is best to make a fertilizer rich in nitrogen use 9-3-6 and mist the leaves every day, when humidity is low.

All parts of the Caladium plant are considered toxic and can cause skin irritation in susceptible persons.

I hope you're enjoying your plants and Croton and Caladium. If not, they give them a try and clear his plant foot inside or add the required color in your garden outdoors.

Tropical Plants - Grow Your Own Tropical Garden

Love at first sight. You hear the stories of two people meeting for the first time, and they "fall in love at first sight". It's a very magical experience, and it is happening over and over again with more and more frequency all over the world involving more and more people.

People from all over the world are seeing tropical plants in their natural habitat, and they are falling in love with them. More people are travelling to the tropical and subtropical regions of our world discovering for themselves the myriad of tropical flowers. They travel to various Caribbean Islands in the West Indies, to Hawaii and the Polynesian Islands such as Tahiti, Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Bali, and the jungles of Central and South America.

The modern international travelers, like the explorers centuries before them, discover the precious gems called tropical plants and flowers, often for the first time. Their bright exquisite colors, rich intoxicating fragrances are like gold in the senses of the modern day explorers.

Like their predecessors, they, too, want to bring these newly found treasures home with them. These treasures include heliconias, gingers, bananas, costus, bromeliads, hibiscus, bird of paradise and other tropical plants with variegated foliage.

With love and for love they want to create a bit of the tropics and a bouquet of tropical blossoms right in their own backyard gardens, green houses, porches, and in every room and window available in their homes savoring the very sensuous experience of the tropical paradise they just visited.

Many of these international travelers live in temperate zones that would prevent these subtropical and tropical plant species from surviving and/or growing. In the past this would have been the end of the story. Like a disappointed teary-eyed child, they would have returned home and lived with a broken heart for the rest of their lives.

But over the years with new modern day equipment of indoor lighting, better techniques and improved growing methods, the dream of creating one's own tropical garden of visual beauty and intoxicating fragrances can become a part of their reality.

More and more books are being written for the passionate tropical plant lover. More and more nurseries and garden centers each year are introducing and offering more and more varieties from more and more destinations around the world.

Both locally and on the internet interest in tropical plants is growing by leaps and bounds every year. With more and more books being written on the subject describing in details how to grow your own tropical garden and how to care for your tropical plants, more and more tropical plant lovers can live out their dreams.

Even if you live outside the subtropical and tropical hardiness zones of 9, 10, or 11 hope springs eternal for tropical plant lovers worldwide. You, too, equipped with the right book with good solid information and a good and reputable nursery or plant store, can create your own tropical garden both indoors and outdoors, in greenhouses, garden rooms, and on window sills throughout the house.

Even if you can't afford to travel to a tropical paradise every year, you will have a bit right there in your own home with all of the beauty and fragrances of these exotic flowers.

Bob A Walsh

How to Grow and Look After Tropical Ferns

Tropical ferns are absolutely beautiful addition to your garden or in the house itself. You can have a complementary color of green and lush, which give each area to brighten bored at home and outdoors. They are excellent when used for ground vegetation.

You can grow with only a medium amount indoor successful ferns tropical sun light. It is best if placed in front of an east-facing window, but if that is not possible to carry your remote control just a few feet away, either a west or south-facing window and prosper. In the winter months, but you must move the remote closer to the west or south window, so the plant, an increase in the amount of light needed to get to do good for the plant. You also want to make sure that your fern get plenty of air circulation around it so give it space.

Tropical ferns need high humidity, but the constant watering is the way to do it, and never let the plant completely dry before refilling their water supply. Simply point to the ground around constantly moist, without relying on irrigation. If possible, use unsoftened water as added salts in water accumulate in the soil and eventually damage away. Water at room temperature is best, such as water that is too cold can damage the roots of the fern is, just out of a tank full of water in the night before you intend to use it.

It is well understood by saying that the outdoor cultivation is much easier and better better in warmer climates, and therefore is the most popular region in the United States for these ferns is Florida. Although warmer nights this state is not a natural habitat for tropical ferns have adapted well and prosper. This is a good thing, because many of the native habitats of ferns that are rapidly disappearing due to deforestation. When the treetops ferns cover is removed, then the remote control will not survive and thrive, you need the shade protection.

Tropical Ferns normally can not flourish, however, and not, add an immediate appeal, either to the area in front of your house or deck by planting in a large bowl. It may well grow in that position for as long as you make sure they get adequate watering and add a fertilizer into the soil in the spring. Even an occasional spray with a liquid fertilizer foliage help look away and do their best credit.

Finally, if you wish, your tropical fern plant directly in the ground, can bring a shady spot under a big tree is perfect. If you want to cover a larger area, you can easily shaded spurs a fern you have and, finally, to transplant in the desired location. To harvest the fronds encourages an existing plant and shake gently onto a piece of paper or a paper bag. Then start out spores in sterilized soil, planting the spores just below the surface. If new fronds have become two or three inches them transplanted into larger containers. Keep them. In a skillet until they are large enough, and the timing of information technology products to be placed in the correct position in the garden of a beautiful floors are made known to put you on the monitor of his birth great joy.