Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

As you can see in the photos, the underside of the leaves are no longer crimson red like they used to be when I first bought it. Now only the midrib of the leaves remain red, the rest of the leaves are all green. Still beautiful, but not red like why I bought it. Is it because it's on the the north side of the house, thus not getting the full sun exopsure? Thanks,

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

Yes, it is likely due to sun exposure. Red coloration in bananas becomes more apparent with increase sunlight, and can almost disappear with low direct sunlight.

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

It is from my understanding and experience that maureliis actually lose their red color with more sunlight. They are the opposite of siam ruby, the sun does not intensify their red coloration - it makes them lose it. Is this correct? Or is my whole collection of maureliis abnormal?

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

I second that...

Ron

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

Could be. I've seen it happen both ways, very very red 'Maurelii' in full sun and in shade. I suppose if that is what you guys have observed it is likely true.

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

My maurelii is in partial shade, when I planted it, it was very red, then it started turning pretty green. About a month ago it started turning really red again, and now it looks like it is starting to green up again.
I wonder if they go through some sort of red/green cycles until they get older?

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

My maurelii lost all its color once too.....and it was in full sunlight. They seem to vary quite a bit from leaf to leaf in my experience.

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

It depends on which ensete you have actually got some stores label a ventricosum as a maurelli and vice versa? The wild ones will have green leafs which are the ventricosums they come from lower down on the Ethiopian mountains. 700 to 1100m as opposed to the maurelli which comes from higher up the mountains which is 1700 to 2350m. The higher up the more the colour intensifies, It would benefit the maurelli if it was south facing with full sun exposure and watered daily if not twice a day until it comes to the early autum then reduce the watering. Also some feed would also help boost it a lot.

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

They are both forms of E. ventricosum. It is a very variable species, the taxonomy on them may be revised one day perhaps but for now they are all classified as the same. It is also a cultivated crop plant with many (at least 50) distinct varieties in Ethiopia. They come in many colors and forms and many are not wild plants anymore, especially in Ethiopia. The original 'Maurelii' was a cultivated plant and not a wild one. The proper name is Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii', it was never described as a separate species even.

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

Hi,
my Maurelli has also lost its colour.
It was two weeks ago.
At the moment the wether here in Germany wasn't very well for bananas.
And so I put the banana in my house to a window in the south side with a Lot of sun.
Now als leafs are getting red.

Perhaps it could be possible, that Maurelli changes the leaf colour during temperatur flactuation?
I don't know, but it could be a reason.

Steffen

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

You are making a big mistake, the days are getting shorter so they
receive less light every day. Besides of that, the weather hasn't been that great the last weeks so I wonder how much sun they actually got.
But as Gabe says, they are highly variable....


Ron...

Re: Why is my "maurelli" losing its color?
 

iMusa may be right, someone here posted a link to Tropical Seeds; Exotic Seeds, Vegetable seed & Tropical Plants Mail Order and their description of E.v.maurelii says:
(quote) The fabulous red, stained foliage is enhanced in our cool climate, turning almost completely green in tropical high temperatures.(unquote)