banana tree care

Like outdoor banana plants, an indoor banana plant needs rich, humus-like and well-draining soil as well as plenty of sunlight. In fact, indoor banana trees require bright light for about 12 hours or so for most varieties. However, you need to protect the banana plant from getting too hot to prevent scorching.

1. How do you maintain a banana tree?
2. Should you cut dead leaves off banana trees?
3. Do banana trees need sun or shade?
4. How do you take care of a banana tree in the winter?
5. How long does a banana tree live?
6. Do banana trees spread?
7. Is Epsom salt good for banana trees?
8. Is Miracle Grow good for banana trees?
9. Can Banana trees grow in pots?
10. Do banana trees need a lot of water?
11. What is the best fertilizer for banana trees?
12. Do banana trees die after they bear fruit?
13. Do banana trees come back after a freeze?
14. How long does it take for a banana tree to bear fruit?
15. Do you need 2 banana trees?
16. How do I get my banana tree to produce fruit?
17. How tall do banana trees get?

How do you maintain a banana tree?

Water the plant generously, and as it grows, expect it to consume more water. You may find yourself watering a large banana plant daily. These plants thrive in warmer temperatures (up to 85 F). If you maintain the plant during winter, try to keep the temperature as warm as possible, with high ambient humidity.

Should you cut dead leaves off banana trees?

Although banana trees do not need much trimming, cutting off old, dead leaves helps stimulate growth. Removing leaves that rub against the banana bunch helps with fruit production. As banana trees stand quite tall, be prepared to climb in your efforts to trim the uppermost leaves.

Do banana trees need sun or shade?

Light and location for your banana plant

Banana plants need plenty of bright light. Plant delivery service Bloomscape recommends a south-facing window and a minimum of 4-6 hours of full sunlight per day. You can also keep them outdoors during summer.

How do you take care of a banana tree in the winter?

Overwintering a Banana Tree Outside

above the ground and either apply a thick layer of mulch or store those in containers in a cool, dark place for the winter, watering it very minimally. You can also choose to leave foliage on hardier types over winter. Give it a good watering in the spring to encourage new growth.

How long does a banana tree live?

Banana trees live for about six years, but each stem only lives long enough to produce fruit. After picking the fruit, the stem will die and a new one will grow from the rhizome to give you your next round of bananas.

Do banana trees spread?

These are large plants that require plenty of room to spread. Take that into consideration before you include them in your landscape. Locate banana plantings well away from property lines (6 to 10 feet), as their ability to spread may cause problems to neighbors who do not want them in their yard.

Is Epsom salt good for banana trees?

Magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salts) and chelated iron are also dramatic stimulators to banana trees on sandy southern soils, where those chemical elements are often deficient.

Is Miracle Grow good for banana trees?

Miracle-Gro produces several different, water-soluble, and granular formulas of synthetic fertilizers. Using Miracle-Gro can promote growth for your banana trees, but follow the instructions carefully to not over-fertilize because the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are quite high.

Can Banana trees grow in pots?

A banana tree (Musa spp.) grown in a pot provides the same large, dramatic leaves and, in some cases, equally dramatic flowers, as a banana grown in the ground. ... Bananas grow in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 7 through 11, depending on the species. All types can grow in pots, indoors and out.

Do banana trees need a lot of water?

Bananas require an average of 4 to 6 inches of water each month, or about 1 to 1 1/2 inches per week, depending on the season. However, overwatering can cause root rot. Make sure the soil drains well and does not have standing water.

What is the best fertilizer for banana trees?

A banana plant's rapid growth rate makes it a heavy feeder. Young plants may need as much as ¼ to ½ pound of fertilizer per month. A balanced fertilizer of 8-10-8 (NPK) is recommended.

Do banana trees die after they bear fruit?

The simple answer is yes. Banana trees do die after harvest. Banana plants take around nine months to grow up and produce banana tree fruit, and then once the bananas have been harvested, the plant dies. It sounds almost sad, but that isn't the entire story.

Do banana trees come back after a freeze?

Even when the pseudostem is killed, the tree will often grow back from the rhizome. ... In areas with long, sustained freezes, it's best to dig up the rhizome in fall and replant it each spring. Once the tree has frozen, wait until spring to assess the damage. Plants often appear dead, but new growth may appear in spring.

How long does it take for a banana tree to bear fruit?

You may allow the flower stalk to grow or cut it off just below the bunch of developing bananas. Bananas generally take four to six months for fruit to reach full size after flowering, depending on temperature, variety, moisture and culture practices.

Do you need 2 banana trees?

Banana trees are self-fruitful, producing fruits from the female ovaries without the need for male pollen or another tree to help pollinate the flower.

How do I get my banana tree to produce fruit?

If your soil is poor, your tree may grow fine but not produce fruit. Your soil should be rich, non-saline, and have a pH between 5.5 and 7.0. Getting banana plants to fruit also requires continuous warmth. A banana plant can survive down to freezing, but it won't grow or set fruit below 50 F.

How tall do banana trees get?

Banana plants grow up to 25 feet tall depending on the cultivar. There are cultivars that grow just 3 to 4 feet tall. Banana leaves can grow up to 2 feet wide and 9 feet long depending on the cultivar.