Tips for Growing Musa Coccinea Plants
The Musaceae family of plants includes over 50 types of Musa species including Musa coccinea plants. The family Musaceae contains the plants that grow bananas and plantains as well as many different decorative plants. While these types of plants can grow extremely tall, they are not considered to be woody plants, but instead are really giant herbs. Decorative plants from the Musa species are considered to be difficult to cultivate and grow, and are a favorite among experienced horticulturists. Most of the Musa plants that you will encounter will be found in tropical environments or well controlled indoor botanical gardens. Their wide, attractive leaves, tall appearance and bright colors make them a favorite decorative plant for hotels, hospitals and office buildings.
Musa coccinea is a decorative banana species; it does not produce edible fruits. It is planted as decoration because it does display bright red flowers and interesting wide evergreen or blue-green leaves with smooth textures. They are also referred to as the Scarlet banana or the Red Flowering Thai banana plants, and the name Musa coccinea is the proper name for plants in the Musa uranoscopos category. These plants originate from Vietnam.
Found in the tropical or tender perennial categories of most garden reference books, the musa coccinea can be relatively difficult to grow for someone who is not experienced with tropical plants. They are considered to be tropical plants and grow best in indoor or greenhouse settings. In fact, frost damage can occur in these plants at 40 degrees F and any temperature below 32 degree F will result in the loss of the plant entirely. These plants require a temperature of 60-85 degrees F and an environment high in humidity. Best growth is obtained in bright, direct sunlight. Coccinea plants should be housed in well draining soil; a multipurpose soil can work well if humus or peat is added to it. The soil must drain well as they are susceptible to rot. If planted in pots, the bottom of the pot should contain draining rocks and a drain hole to prevent excess moisture. Fertilize coccinea plants weekly, but allow them some time just after being planted before fertilizing. Water regularly until the soil is completely saturated, although the soil can dry completely before being watered again. Mist daily and keep the conditions surrounding the plant damp for best results. These are sensitive plants, so it is best to water with warm water low in acidic content.
Musa coccinea plants can grow to be about 3-5 feet in height. These types of plants grow from sympodial rhizomes, meaning they have horizontally growing stem like roots that grow from a new auxiliary bud each year. They also have a pseudostem or a stem like growth of the leaves in a way where they roll around one another. The leaves can be up to 3 feet in length and are rounded at the tips. These leaves grow from a rounded base, one side of the plant’s leaves usually being longer than the other, and have a single center line that both halves of the leaf grow from. The flowers of the coccinea are in a group arrangement and grow upright from the stalk. The red bracts that surround the flowers are actually what give the plant its bright colors. They can be started as seeds or propagated from a split root or by cutting suckers at the base and potting them. There is no need to cut back or prune your Musa coccinea plants, and by doing so you may damage them. These warm tropical plants are also susceptible to scale and spider mites, so it is always a good idea to quarantine new plants briefly and to thoroughly inspect them before introducing them to your garden.
When grown properly in a tropical environment and well cared for under the appropriate watering and sunlight conditions, Musa coccinea plants make an excellent and colorful addition to a tropical garden.