Description
A vigorous, medium-sized, wild banana from Northeastern India. The pseudostems are densely clustering, dark reddish brown, with a waxy white bloom towards the leaf stalk. The leaf is bright green above with a pale midrib and grayish below with a conspicuous purple brown midrib. Although M. cheesmani has been described half a century ago, we believe this enormously attractive and colorful banana has been introduced into cultivation only recently through our efforts. It is related to Musa sikkimensis and will succeed under similar conditions.
Germination Guide
🌍 Northeastern India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, and Nagaland)
Moderate
Musa cheesmanii, commonly known as Cheesman's Banana, is a vigorous medium-sized wild banana native to northeastern India. This ornamental species features striking dark reddish-brown pseudostems with a waxy white bloom and bright green leaves with distinctive purple-brown veining. Germination is moderately difficult and requires warm, humid conditions with good seed pretreatment for optimal results.
Germination
Germination time
Expect germination in
7 – 120 days
Temperature
Min 25°C
Ideal 27°C
Max 30°C
Substrate moisture
💧 Medium
Sowing depth
Lightly covered
Seed Pre-treatment
-
💧
Soaking — 48 hours
Soak seeds in lukewarm water for 24-48 hours to soften the hard seed coat
-
🔨
Mechanical scarification
Lightly sand the seed coat with sandpaper to improve water absorption
-
📋
Additional notes
Soak dry seeds in warm water for 1-3 days
Substrate & Container
Recommended substrate
well-draining potting mix, perlite, coco fiber, or vermicompost
Recommended container
transparent plastic bag (ziplock), small pots, or seed trays covered with plastic wrap or clear lid to maintain humidity
Growing Tips
Seeds have hard coats and benefit from light mechanical scarification followed by warm water soaking. Create a mini greenhouse effect using plastic wrap or clear lids to maintain humidity (75-85% is ideal). Germination is typically slow and erratic, ranging from 7-30 days in optimal conditions, but can extend to several months. Keep soil consistently moist but never waterlogged. Once seedlings develop 2-3 leaves, transplant to individual containers. Monitor weekly for signs of root formation. The species prefers well-draining substrate and benefits from bright, indirect light during germination. Maintain temperatures between 25-30°C for best results.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.