Quote:
Originally Posted by BananaCupcake
Hi everyone!
I got my hands on what I think is an Abyssinian plant that I've always wanted, and am absolutely in love with, but it's NOT loving me back. I'm really hoping to be able to turn things around for it!
So the issues right now are: - leaves are yellowing and turning brown and drying out from the ends inward
- the new leaves are never fully uncurling when they unfurl - you will see that the most recent leaf even seems to have a bit of a browned/damaged spot on it when it opened, and it actually tore there when it partly unfurled??
Photos of the plant from approx. a month ago and then from today are in my member image gallery (I hope you're able to view them? Apologies, I'm new to this site!). In the newer pictures, I've trimmed off one of the lowest leaves (visible in the first picture) that had become entirely brown and dried out. The plant also came to me with the lower leaves yellowing/browning, so I at least am not entirely to blame. 
Growing conditions right now:- Indoors (I'm hoping to keep it this way)
- In an East facing floor to ceiling window (which seems to be fairly bright - a tradescantia zebrina plant in the same window gets a bit of "bleaching" (loss of its purple color) on its leaves, which I understand can happen in higher light?)
- Temperature is approx 20C
- Humidity is 45-60%
- Still in the 7" nursery pot that I received it in
- Watered when I feel the top inch or so of soil is dry with filtered water - I haven't fertilized it yet, and I've had it for maybe 3 months
- I'm not sure what type of soil it's in, but it seems extremely dense - it's very hard for me to even dig my finger in below the surface, and it almost feels like I'm tearing it apart if I do? I've not been able to aerate it or break this up for fear of damaging the roots as well (but I assume a repot might be in order for a few reasons)
All suggestions for how to help this guy would be immensely appreciated! I'm really hoping to keep this indoors and have it become a big statement plant, but I'm obviously not on track for that quite yet. I think a repot is in order very soon, so specific advice on soil type or amendments would be amazing, as well as other general advice (since I have no idea what's causing all of these issues) Thanks SO much in advance! |
Your Ensete is doing what they do when kept indoors or when brought indoors for the winter.
Once out of the greenhouse and sold they will decline over time especially indoors.
The plant will lose its oldest leaves first like your photos show.
Like the previous posts stated repot in a quality soil with perlite as an ingredient and cross your fingers.
A water soluble fertilizer of your choice will do fine.
The plant is usually sold as a novelty plant or a filler annual for colorful container plantings.
The plant is not a banana plant.
An internet search or youtube search can give you some additional tools to help your plant thrive.
Many of the videos have great growing tips for your Ensete.
Outdoors they get quite large.