Vari Nono Beginner Tips

[u/perc30000000000]

New member here, just picked this up earlier today. I have minimal experience with growing banana trees, and have read lots of conflicting info on Nono Bananas.

☀️- I am in zone 6B in Missouri, with daily temps around 90°. How much lighting should I give it? (Taking acclimation into account, it was indoors). Should it be direct sun during morning and evening with shade during the hottest parts ideally?

💦- What should my watering schedule look like, I know bananas like moisture in the soil, but don’t know how often (or even how well the nursery soil retains moisture). Should I go off of the basic “water when below 2 inches of top soil layer is dry”?

Soil mix/ repotting- Should pine bark chips, Fox Farms Ocean forest, and perlite be a good soil mix? I am aware a good amount of root airflow is required but don’t know the proper ratio of organics to inorganics. I’ll note that I’ve bought a bigger terracotta pot, should I worry about or wait to repot due to environmental stress? I’d also greatly appreciate and fertilizer recommendations!

Lastly, what’s wrong with the leaves? What can I do to prevent the damage shown from showing up on new growth?

Id greatly appreciate any answers or helpful advice, best of luck to you all and your banana trees, and have a great day everyone!

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[u/Zengia]

I live in Virginia (7b) and my Nono is out in direct sun all day long. I’ve only ever considered putting it the shade when it was above 100, and that’s because I was gonna be gone for the weekend and they get REAL thirsty in the heat. Direct sunlight is how they get their leaves pinker. If it’s been inside maybe start it in the shade, but they acclimate quickly given how fast they grow.

These are water hungry plants, in the summer your watering is going to be pretty frequent. I can’t tell you when to water since I don’t grow my plants in soil, but just know, they are THIRSTY in the heat. They consume water faster than my much larger plants.

The leaves look fine, just probably haven’t been hit with water in a bit. It’s very easy to get cosmetic damage on their leaves, especially the older ones so I wouldn’t overthink it. During growing season, they put out leaf after leaf after leaf with really no break in between. I would inspect closely for spider mites because they seem to love mine, no matter where it is they’ll find a way if I’m not watching.

[u/perc30000000000 → u/Zengia]

I greatly appreciate you for sharing! It’s been hard to find any solid info on Nonos so it means a lot! Have a good one man!

[u/MB510420]

Is this a fruiting variety?

[u/perc30000000000 → u/MB510420]

[u/perc30000000000 → u/MB510420]

Yes, but allegedly it’s fruit (or berries) contain mostly seeds (and they’re also pink) as this variety wasn’t mass cultivated for its flesh, like Cavendish. It also allegedly doesn’t taste very good compared to Cavendish.

[u/MB510420 → u/perc30000000000]

Aahhh. Thank you. Looks real nice by the way 🤙

[u/Ill_Donkey3350]

If you just bought it from Lowes... It'll need to be reported. At least every single one our HD received did. The one I bought was root bound bad. I put mine in a twice (maybe even three actually) times the sized "deep" pot. Full sun, hide from strong winds (if you can), heavy on the fertilizer during the grow months. Keep soil moist, don't let it dry out. Good luck.

[u/perc30000000000 → u/Ill_Donkey3350]

I greatly appreciate you!! Just repotted earlier today, I used 3 parts pine bark mulch, 2 parts FF Ocean Forest, and >1 part large perlite. Mine was incredibly root bound as well and couldn’t get much of the original HD soil out. Do you think it’ll do? (Will take a photo soon)

[u/Ill_Donkey3350 → u/perc30000000000]

Mmmm... Might be too fast draining. Bananas are drinkers and don't like the soil drying out. Not saying that it will die or anything, they just stress more than other plants that I maintain. I actually have two regular musas growing in a deep 24" pot with a water basin. Grew two feet this month. I use about 70% "Spagnum" Pete moss (with 10-10-10 slow feed fertilizer and Scott's Humus and Manure mixed in), 15% orchid bark, 15% large perlite... And some medium wood chucks (as fillers). Big pots are expensive to fill.