Michelia figo – Port Wine Magnolia Flower Prepare for planting in a slightly acid soil, humus rich and well drained. Full sun to afternoon shade in warmer areas. Humus rich moist soil with good drainage. Mulch to maintain a cool root run. Use a slow release general purpose fertiliser in spring. Top dress with a little blood and bone in late winter.
How to propagate Michelia figo?
Not tolerant to dryness and barrenness, but also afraid of stagnant water, it requires good drainage, fertile slightly acidic loam, and neutral soil can also adapt. Michelia Figo can be propagated by cutting, circle branch propagation and grafting methods.
What does Michelia figo look like?
Michelia figo, commonly called banana shrub, an evergreen member of the magnolia family, produces shiny, leathery leaves year-round. Creamy yellow, cup-shaped flowers with purplish-brown edges appear in spring and continue to make sporadic appearances throughout the summer.
How do you propagate Michelia banana trees?
Propagation is through stem cuttings using a rooting hormone. The flowers do turn into small hard fruits with multiple tiny seeds but the seeds are generally not viable. Michelia banana shrubs are low maintenance trees with no root invasiveness. Once established they are remarkably resistant to most pest and disease problems.
Can I grow Michelia banana shrubs in a container?
Michelia banana shrubs tend to grow straighter in one central leader in lower light situations but in full sun they require more pruning maintenance. You can even keep the trees trimmed in a low habit so you can grow them in a container. Did you find this helpful? Share it with your friends!
How do you plant a banana bush?
2:376:17How to Plant a Banana Tree - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipRoots out so they can grow and they can spread up to 10 feet in each direction. So you really wantMoreRoots out so they can grow and they can spread up to 10 feet in each direction. So you really want to give them room to grow not all balled up a little circle where they come in those pots.
What kind of fertilizer do banana bushes need?
A banana plant's rapid growth rate makes it a heavy feeder. Young plants may need as much as ¼ to ½ pound of fertilizer per month. A balanced fertilizer of 8-10-8 (NPK) is recommended.
How do you transplant a banana bush?
How to Transplant a Banana PlantFill the banana plant's container with water 24 hours before transplanting. ... Wash the new plant pot and sharp scissors with soapy water. ... Mix one part potting soil, one part perlite and two parts peat moss. ... Remove the banana plant from its plant pot.More items...
Can banana shrub grow in pots?
The banana shrub grows in a container or in the landscape in sun or partial shade. It needs minimal care with routine water and light. It is a tough, nondescript plant until it noticeably blooms small magnolia-like flowers with an elusive, banana fragrance.
Can you use Miracle Grow on banana plants?
Using Miracle-Gro can promote growth for your banana trees, but follow the instructions carefully to not over-fertilize because the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are quite high. Miracle-Gro's All Purpose Plant Food is a 24-8-16 (NPK) blend intended for broad coverage areas and quick results.
Is Epsom salt good for banana trees?
Is Epsom salt good for banana trees? Epsom salts, or magnesium sulfate, is very beneficial to the growth and of healthy banana plants. It helps promote green, plentiful leaves and more abundant fruit yields.
How deep do you plant a banana tree?
When planting a banana plant, dig a hole that is twice the size of the root system. Make it a depth of one-and-a-half feet. You can put organic composted manure in the bottom of the hole before adding a base of a couple of inches of the appropriate soil.
What is the best fertilizer for banana trees?
Soil and Fertilizer for Banana Trees During the summer, fertilize your Banana Trees once a month with a well-balanced organic fertilizer. Formula 10-10-10 is an excellent choice.
Can you grow michelia in pots?
Michelia Gracipes Fuzzy brown flower buds which open to beautifully scented cream flowers in early spring. Will grow well in a container. Evergreen.
What type of soil do banana plants like?
Banana trees prefer a slightly acid soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Due to the amount and size of their foliage, banana trees are very heavy feeders.
When should I repot my banana plant?
Re-potting Bananas are vigorous plants and should be moved into a larger container either every spring or every other spring. This will help them to keep growing strongly.
How do you take care of a banana plant outside?
Grow banana plants in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moist but well-drained soil, in a sheltered spot. Mulch the roots and protect the stem with horticultural fleece or a thick layer of straw in autumn so it doesn't succumb to winter frosts.
When should I fertilize my bananas?
During the summer, fertilize your Banana Trees once a month with a well-balanced organic fertilizer. Formula 10-10-10 is an excellent choice. After your banana harvest, cut your tree back to about 30 inches and let the stem dry out for two weeks before removing it.
Can 10-10-10 fertilizer be used on all plants?
10-10-10 is considered an all-purpose, balanced fertilizer that you can use for all kinds of plants and situations. The numbers 10-10-10 represent the amounts of Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus(P) and Potassium(K) - or as they're commonly known, NPK.
Is coffee grounds good for banana trees?
Coffee grounds happen to be a great source of nitrogen for banana trees. To use this natural method, take used grounds and add them directly into the soil. Next, spread your coffee grounds evenly around the base of your plants, then water your banana tree regularly.
How do you fertilize a banana plant?
Apply the fertilizer 60-75 cm around the plant in two equal split doses; the first, two months after planting and the second, four months after planting. For ratoon crop, the entire fertilizers have to be applied in a single dose immediately after the harvest of the preceding crop. Irrigate immediately after manuring.
How big are Michelia figo leaves?
Foliage, Flowers, and Fruit. The glossy green leaves of Michelia figo are oblong and 3 to 5 inches long. They persist throughout the year. The banana-scented, creamy yellow blossoms are up to 1 1/2 inches across. They have a purple margin and are similar to those of other magnolias.
What is Magnolia Figo?
In addition to banana shrub, Magnolia figo is also known as port wine magnolia, banana magnolia, Chinese tulip tree, and brown-stalked magnolia.
What is a Michelia banana shrub?
Michelia banana shrubs are members of the Magnolia family , which is evident in the shape and form of their large blooms. The tree has glossy evergreen leaves and an attractive, rounded habit. The 3-inch (7.5 cm.) long leaves are slightly fuzzy, and buds and new leaves are covered in rusty toned fuzz. But these aren’t its most spectacular attributes.
How to prevent transferring diseases from a plant to another plant?
Always use sharp, clean cutting implements to prevent transferring diseases from plant to plant. Cut just after a bud node and remove any branch back to the branch collar where it sprung from the parent wood. Remove any dead or broken plant material and continue training young plants.
What is the best soil for planting a banana shrub?
Choose a sunny location when planting a banana shrub, with well draining soil and adequate organic matter. Acidic soils create the best medium for planting a banana shrub.
Can you grow Michelia bananas in containers?
Michelia banana shrubs tend to grow straighter in one central leader in lower light situations but in full sun they require more pruning maintenance. You can even keep the trees trimmed in a low habit so you can grow them in a container. Printer Friendly Version. This article was last updated on 02/01/21.
Is Michelia a low maintenance tree?
Michelia banana shrubs are low maintenance trees with no root invasiveness. Once established they are remarkably resistant to most pest and disease problems. Scale insects, however, are of particular concern and can cause severe defoliation but are easily managed with organic horticultural oil.
Michelia Figo Characteristics
Evergreen shrub, 2-3 meters high, gray-brown bark, densely branched; buds, tender branches. Petioles and pedicels are densely covered with yellowish brown hairs.
Michelia Figo growing environment
Michelia Figo was born in a mixed forest on a shady slope, especially along the valley. michelia Figo likes fat and half-shade. It grows best in weak shade. Avoid strong direct sunlight. Pay attention to shade in summer. Move to the greenhouse before the frost at the end of autumn and live through the winter at a temperature of about 10°C.
Michelia Figo Propagation
Michelia Figo can be propagated by cutting, circle branch propagation and grafting methods.
Michelia Figo Care
Always keep the pot soil moist, but never too wet. Because the roots of Michelia Figo are very fleshy, they will become rotten roots if watered too much or after the rain is flooded. Therefore, the humidity should be controlled during the rainy season.
Michelia Figo Disease Control
Common diseases of Michelia Figo include leaf blight, anthracnose, algae spot, and coal pollution. These diseases all harm the leaves and are not conducive to the growth of Michelia Figo. When a disease occurs, the diseased leaves should be removed and burned immediately, and then the corresponding agent should be sprayed to prevent spread.
Common Name (s)
This lovely evergreen shrub in the Magnolia family grows up to 15' tall and is upright oval to rounded. This plant blooms in mid to late spring and has fragrant flowers that smell like ripe cantaloupe or banana. Some cultivars have up to 4" flowers. This plant must be planted in a protected location.
Previously known as
This lovely evergreen shrub in the Magnolia family grows up to 15' tall and is upright oval to rounded. This plant blooms in mid to late spring and has fragrant flowers that smell like ripe cantaloupe or banana. Some cultivars have up to 4" flowers. This plant must be planted in a protected location.
Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years
I am seeking advice from people who have experience growing Michelia figo either indoors or outdoors, especially from those located in my immediate geographical area.
Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years
Hi, Paul. It's encouraging to know someone is having success with the plant in this part of the world. Perhaps your plant is cooler and getting more humidity being on the ground floor. I'll have to think of other ways to increase the level here and see if it will change anything.
Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years
Thanks for your input, mr.shep. The combination of indoor cultivation and perhaps cooler weather in these parts appears to keep infestations to a minimum. No problems to date, knock on wood.
Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years
Interesting. I've not heard of plants in containers suffering from soil breakdown, soil exhaustion perhaps; worth remembering. Perhaps I'll hold off on giving M. x alba a try until I solve the problem with this plant. It would be a lot more heartbreaking, not to mention costly, to lose one of those.
Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years
Hi, Jim. The selection and availability of Michelia is rather limited here, likely because of the relative obscurity of the genus and the climate zone we're in. The heat lovers like M. x alba and M. champaca are only grown in greenhouses and M. figo is marginal outdoors (and apparently indoors as well).
Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years
Michelia wilsonii will be getting a new name since Michelia is being absorbed. The new name is Magnolia ernestii according to the provisional classification of Magnoliaceae.
Junglekeeper Esteemed Contributor 10 Years
Thanks, Paul and Jim, for your input. Sadly, the plant appears to have gone on to plant heaven where I'm sure it'll grow profusely. I'll note the information for future reference. Sometimes one has to accept the limitations in one's growing environment, that some plants cannot be accommodated without great trouble and expense.
Appearance
Cultivation
- Sadly this plant is not at all hardy and will not survive in temperate or cooler zones. It has great drought tolerance but is not suitable for desert scenarios either. The tree is excellent used as a screen or planted near the home so you can enjoy the fragrance. The tree responds well to annual pruning. Pruning banana shrubs should be done when the plant is most dormant in winter or spri…
Reproduction
- Propagation is through stem cuttings using a rooting hormone. The flowers do turn into small hard fruits with multiple tiny seeds but the seeds are generally not viable.
Ecology
- Michelia banana shrubs are low maintenance trees with no root invasiveness. Once established they are remarkably resistant to most pest and disease problems. Scale insects, however, are of particular concern and can cause severe defoliation but are easily managed with organic horticultural oil.
Management
- Some root rot conditions may arise where the soil is too rich and moist. Young plants should be trained to one leader for the best overall effect on mature specimens. New banana shrub care should start with effective pruning of extra stems and suckers at the base of the plant. Choose the strongest, straightest trunk to provide a stable and attractive base for the plant.
Prevention
- Cut just after a bud node and remove any branch back to the branch collar where it sprung from the parent wood. Remove any dead or broken plant material and continue training young plants. Use a stake and tree sling when trees are forming, to help support the young growth. Remove these items when the plant is established and strong.
Culture
- Michelia banana shrubs tend to grow straighter in one central leader in lower light situations but in full sun they require more pruning maintenance. You can even keep the trees trimmed in a low habit so you can grow them in a container.