SPERLI Zwergbanane Coco

A banana for tubs and conservatories that bears pink, velvety fruits – grown from seed, a project with real wow factor.

The story

Origins & history

Musa velutina comes from north-east India at the foot of the Himalayas. Bananas are among humanity’s oldest crops; in New Guinea they were cultivated around 7,000 years ago. The epithet “velutina” means velvety – after the skin of its small fruits.

Uses

A decorative tub plant with large leaves for a bright, warm spot out of the harsh midday sun. Outdoors in summer if you like, frost-free and bright in winter. The fruits are ornamental; they contain many hard seeds.

Meaning

In India, banana plants adorn entrances at weddings and festivals – as a sign of good fortune, abundance and hospitality.

A thought for giving

Anyone growing a banana from seed needs patience above all – for two to three months nothing seems to happen, then the first leaf unfurls. A gift for people who know that the most beautiful things take time.

At a glance

• Contents: 1 packet for approx. 4 plants
• Botanical name: Musa velutina
• Life cycle: perennial
• Height: 150–200 cm
• Position: shade
• Suitable for containers: yes
• Sow indoors: all year round
• Sowing depth: 0.5–1 cm
• Germination temperature: 25–30 °C
• Germination time: 60–80 days
• Seed type: loose seed

How to sow

1. Sow indoors all year round, ideally in Kokohum (coir substrate) in the Anzuchthaus PRO24 propagator.
2. Place seeds 0.5–1 cm deep and keep evenly moist.
3. At 25–30 °C the seeds germinate in 60–80 days; the propagator keeps warmth and humidity steady.
4. Pot young plants into a tub with Bananen- & Strelitzienerde (banana and strelitzia compost) and keep them bright and warm, out of the harsh midday sun.

Delivery time: 1–2 weeks. Manufacturer: SPERLI GmbH. Seeds, not a plant – the image shows the original packet.

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