How to Grow and Care for a Banana Tree

Place the banana plant in a light or sunny spot. During winter you can place the plant in direct sunlight, but during summer it’s best to move the Musa to a spot with filtered sunlight. When you’d like to place the Musa in direct sunlight during winter, it’s best to allow the plant to get used to it. Gradually place the plant closer to the window over the course of a few weeks.

Banana plant care

Did you know… the banana plant is expected to have originated some 10,000 years ago? It is even suspected that this plant produced the world’s first fruit. On this page you will find all information on Banana plant care. Follow these Banana plant care guidelines and help your live a long and healthy life.

The Musa is also known as banana plant or banana tree. The plant is native to Southeast Asia and Australia, but today the banana tree is grown in many tropical places. There are about 400 varieties, but in the average living room you will almost always find one of the following two varieties: the Musa tropicana or the Musa acuminata Dwarf Cavendish. These plants are relatively small in stature and are therefore also known as Musa Dwarf. In contrast to the average houseplant, the Dwarf Banana Tree is not small at all. With proper care, this species can reach a height of up to 2 meters.

The Banana plant is not too difficult to care for. The main thing to keep in mind is that the potting soil should never dry up. Read on for all plant care tips.

Banana plant light requirements

Place the banana plant in a light or sunny spot. During winter you can place the plant in direct sunlight, but during summer it’s best to move the Musa to a spot with filtered sunlight. When you’d like to place the Musa in direct sunlight during winter, it’s best to allow the plant to get used to it. Gradually place the plant closer to the window over the course of a few weeks.

If the leaves are turning yellow, this could mean that the Banana plant is receiving too much light. It could also mean that it needs water. First check the potting soil to see if it’s moist. If that’s the case, then the yellowing leaves are most likely caused by too much (sun)light. We then recommend moving the Musa a bit further away from the window.

If the leaves are drooping down, it could mean that the plant is not receiving enough light. But, once again, this could also be attributed to a lack of water. Check the potting soil before moving the plant closer to the window.

During summer you could also place the banana plant outdoors. If you have potted the banana tree in a pot without a drainage hole, make sure it has some type of shelter, whether it’s a roof on your porch or anything of the sort. Whilst rainwater is healthy for plants, too much of it can be fatal.

• Care level
• Care level Easy peasy
• Height
• Height 30 cm incl. pot
• Pot size
• Pot size 12 cm

Banana plant Musa tropicana

Banana plant water care

The banana plant consists of 80% water and will therefore need regular watering. Make sure the potting soil is always moist, by regularly giving the Banana plant small amounts of water. Never give a large amount of water in one go, and make sure there’s never a layer of excess water at the bottom of the pot. The plant needs more water during spring and summer, as compared to autumn and winter.

Given its tropical origin, the banana plant requires high humidity. Regularly mist the plant using a plant sprayer, especially during winter. This has to do with the fact that the heating significantly lowers the humidity. It’s best to mist the plant with lime-free water or rainwater. You could also place it outside for a bit during a summer shower.

Repotting tips

The banana plant is a fast grower that should be repotted once every year. Do this during spring, when the plant recovers fastest from repotting. Be careful not to damage the roots too much when repotting. Use a pot that is at least 20% larger than the current pot, allowing the roots plenty of room to grow. We recommend placing a layer of hydro granules at the bottom of the pot when repotting. That way, it won’t matter if you overwater the plant, as the hydro granules provide drainage.

• Suitable for Suitable for All indoor plant types
• Weight
• Weight 1.5 liters

Hydro granules

• Suitable for Suitable for All indoor plant types
• Weight
• Weight 500 ml

Pokon Plant Food

• Suitable for Suitable for All indoor plant types
• Weight
• Weight 5 liters

Universal potting soil 5 liters

Fertilizer requirements

Once you receive the Musa, it will not need any fertilizer during the first 2 months. There’s enough fertilizer in the fresh potting soil to last the plant 2 months. After this you’ll only need apply fertilizer during spring and summer. For the specific amount of plant food, have a look at the instructions on the packaging and never use more than recommended. This can cause damage to the roots. The plant doesn’t need any fertilizer during fall and winter.

Is my Banana tree poisonous?

All outdoor and indoor plants on Plantler have a decorative purpose; they’re not fit for consumption – unless it is explicitly stated that they are. The banana tree is generally not known to be a poisonous plant.

Particularities

Brown leaf edges:

The lower leaves of the banana plant will eventually develop brown edges. This is part of the natural process and nothing to worry about. You can simply cut these edges to maintain their ornamental value. In time, the lower leaves will die completely. Cut this leaf stem about 5 centimeters above the trunk. These 5 centimeters will then slowly shrink, after which you can easily remove them.

It is important not to cut the leaf stems right at the trunk! When you cut a stem, it becomes susceptible to diseases. If you cut the stem 5 cm above the trunk, only this small part could become infected. And because the plant sheds this remaining 5 cm, it cannot become infected itself.

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How to Grow and Care for a Banana Tree

Vanessa Richins Myers has a BS in horticulture and over 10 years of training and experience as a professional horticulturist and gardener.

Barbara Gillette is a Master Gardener, herbalist, beekeeper, and journalist. She has 30 years of experience propagating and growing fruits, vegetables, herbs, and ornamentals.

There are dozens of species and varieties of banana and plantain trees (Musa spp.). While these tropical fruiting plants, including the banana plant, are commonly referred to as trees, they’re technically huge herbaceous plants, meaning they don’t have a woody stem. Instead, they have fleshy, upright stalks from which large, oblong, bright green leaves grow. Showy flowers appear typically in the spring, giving way to the fleshy, elongated, green or yellow fruit.

No matter the size of your yard or home, there is a banana tree to fit. Plus, banana trees can make good indoor plants with enough light, though they typically don’t bear fruit indoors. Banana trees generally have a fast growth rate and should be planted in the spring.

Light

Most types of banana plants prefer to grow in full sun, meaning at least six hours of direct sunlight on most days. However, some varieties can scorch easily and will do better in partial shade.

Soil

These plants love organically rich, deep soil with good drainage and a slightly acidic soil pH. They typically have poor tolerance for salt in the soil.

Water

Banana trees are tropical and originate in rainforests, so they need a lot of water and plenty of moisture in the air. They do best when planted in groups fairly close together, as this helps to retain moisture in the leaves. Water regularly to make sure the soil stays evenly moist but not soggy. Avoid overwatering, which can cause root rot.

Temperature and Humidity

These plants thrive in warm, humid conditions, but they don’t like temperature extremes. Even the hardy, cold-tolerant banana tree species prefer consistent temperatures ranging between 75 and 95 degrees Fahrenheit. Cold temperatures and dry conditions can cause the plants to quickly die back. To increase the level of humidity, mist the leaves daily.

Fertilizer

Banana trees are heavy feeders. Apply a balanced fertilizer regularly throughout the growing season, following label instructions. Also, mix compost into the soil annually to raise the level of organic matter.

Types of Banana Trees

There are roughly 70 species and even more varieties of banana trees, including:

• Musa acuminata: This species reaches around 12 to 20 feet tall and is often grown for its ornamental foliage thanks to its paddle-shaped leaves that can reach around 6 to 10 inches long.
• Musa ornata: Commonly referred to as the flowering banana tree, this species is mostly grown for its ornamental value; its small fruit is not typically eaten.
• Musa basjoo: Known as the Japanese banana, this species has fairly good cold tolerance and reaches around 6 to 14 feet tall.

Pruning

Before the banana tree fruits, prune it so there is only one main stem. After it has been growing for six to eight months, leave one sucker (small shoot at the base of the stem). This plant will replace the main stem in the next growing season. After the fruit is removed, cut the main stem down to 2.5 feet. Remove the rest of the stem in a few weeks, leaving the replacement sucker intact.

Propagating Banana Trees

The best method of propagation is division. To divide banana plants, separate the suckers from the rhizome (horizontal underground stem) using a sharp spade. Before you do this, wait until the suckers are at least 3 feet tall and have their own roots. Once you separate a sucker from the parent plant, allow the surface of the rhizome section to dry for a day or so. At this point, it will be ready for replanting in any appropriate location.

Potting and Repotting Banana Trees

Banana trees can grow in containers, but they generally will need at least a 15-gallon pot at minimum for optimal growth. Ensure that the pot has drainage holes, and use a loose, organically rich potting mix. A benefit to potting your banana tree is you will be able to bring it indoors to shelter it from cold and inclement weather. However, potted banana trees tend to have higher watering and feeding needs, as they will use up what is in their limited soil faster than banana trees in the ground. In addition, they likely won’t reach their maximum size and might not bear fruit. Still, many people prefer them for their foliage. You typically will need to divide and repot container banana trees every three years, separating any suckers from the parent plant.

Common Pests and Plant Diseases

Owners of banana trees need to stay vigilant of the many pests and diseases that can afflict a banana tree. Pests include the following:

• Aphid insects: These pests cause curled and shriveled foliage and can also transmit other diseases that will affect any fruit produced.
• Black weevils: If you see jelly-like sap oozing from the plant, you may have black weevils that can be eliminated with pesticides.
• Nematodes: This is the banana tree’s most common pest that will rot the plant and fruit.
• Sap-sucking insects:Small white mealybugs and red spider mites are also common to banana trees.
• Scarring beetle: This pest invades bunches of the plant’s fruit and can be eliminated with pesticide.
• Tiny thrips: This pest will stain and split the peel of the plant’s fruit.

There are many diseases common to banana trees in large orchards and are taken care of with commercial fungicides and pesticides. As for indoor potted banana trees, be on the lookout for root rot, leaf-spot disease, wilt, and powdery mildew.

Banana trees are easy to grow if they have optimal conditions (indoors or outdoors) to thrive. Giving your banana tree lots of water and light are the key to helping it grow strong.

A banana tree’s height can grow quite large, so try the dwarf Cavendish banana, which grows 8 to 10 feet tall.

A banana tree, like the papaya plant, can make an excellent houseplant, just don’t expect it to produce fruit as an indoor plant. To produce fruit, the plant needs tropical conditions outdoors. With the right conditions, a banana tree may bear fruit in around a year. Make sure you plant a type of banana tree that bears edible fruit, as not all types do.

Though you might find a few tiny “seeds” in a banana you buy from the grocery store, you can’t grow a banana from those seeds. The commercially sold bananas are genetically altered so they do not produce seeds. If you find wild bananas with seeds, you might try growing a tree from those.