popper1

I have several different types of variegated plants. Some, Ae Ae for example, always remain variegated. Others sometimes loose the variegation, or it comes sporadically. Any if ideas what is going on? Is this just normal for some variegated plants (I have a few others, a Caesalpinia for example, that are losing their variegation)? Is the position of the plant important (lots of sun versus partial or even shady? Some other cultural remedy?

thanks!

popper1

sunfish

varig8

most variegated plants are not stable, they are not genetic clones....Most are somatic mutants. Each mutant plant will have a different degree of chlorophyll, (or lack of) within its meristem. 'Outside' conditions, such as sunlight, amt of water, fertilisers, etc., will have very little, if anything, to do with the amount of mutation within the plants system. A non genetic variegated plant will sometimes (depending on the amt of variegation in that particular plant), overcome the variegation as the normal green parts quickly overtake the smaller amount of variegated tissue as it will naturally grow quicker than the variegated parts, and seem to 'loose' the variegation. Woody, branched, and stem plants can be cut back to the last place where variegation was produced to induce new side shoots or new growth of variegated tissue. You would also be wise to cut out the majority of the normal green growth so as not to allow it to overtake the desired variegated portions. As far as bananas go, it all depends on the AMOUNT of mutant tissue within the meristem and WHERE that tissue is located when the leaves are produced.