expect to add together a banana tree to your ( house)plant solicitation ? It is n’t the easy industrial plant to care for ( when you look at the size and mood requirements ) , but if you ’re up for the challenge , you could surely uprise your own banana tree plant indoors or outdoors — and even get yield from it !
But how do you keep yours alive ? Can you turn it in a pot inside your domicile , or put it on the balcony ? Or is it simply better to plant it in the garden ?
The solution is : all of the above !
I grew an integral grove of banana tree plants when I inhabit in Southern California , and now keep a banana industrial plant indoors as a ( very large ) houseplant . Thirteen years later , you could say I love a thing or two about growing banana tree plants in all conditions .
Here ’s everything you need to know to care for your own banana tree plant and maximize your chances of getting yield .
revelation : If you shop from my clause or make a purchase through one of my links , I may receive commission on some of the products I recommend .
All about banana plants
Description
The vernacular name “ banana tree plant ” is employ to a cluster of different species in the genus Musa , the bananas and plantain . The genus contains some 70 dissimilar plants , most of which are n’t edible or just not very pleasant to eat due to their bombastic seeds . A hybrid called Musa × paradisiaca is sound out to be the parent of most edible banana tree cultivars .
comestible bananas , the result of tameness and selective cultivation by humans , have been around for alongtime . Research has indicated that the cultivation of banana , now one of the most common crops worldwide , began around 7,000 class ago in Southeast Asia . There are now figure to be well over 1,000 unlike cultivars out there .
Banana plants are often confused with ribbon ( hence their misnomer “ banana tree palm ” ) , but they actually form part of the ordering Zingiberales , alongside plants like ginger and Strelitzia ( bird - of - promised land , another democratic houseplant ) .
And while they ’re usually refer to as “ banana trees , ” they are assort botanically asherbaceous perennialsbecause they never form a woody stem ( aka a body ) the path a tree does — the “ trunks ” are really lush stalks ( pseudostems ) .
Banana “ tree diagram ” are characterized by their massive leaf , which are quite fragile . In banana tree trees kept outdoors , the leaves usually reckon torn and shredded , but this does n’t rile the flora itself .
Because banana works die off after blooming but give rise plenitude of offsets ( also known as pups or shoots ) before doing so , ripe ones that have been leave to raise wild will often consist of a bunch of dissimilar stems growing together .
When they bloom , they form a eccentric - look hanging stalking with bunches of yield on top and a swelled , dark reddish - to - purple flower dangling below .
Did you know?
Because they do n’t form honest woody stem ( at least until they flower ) , but rather pseudostems that are really just made up of leaf sheaths that sprout from a fundamental rootstock , banana are officially considered to be herbaceous plant . And even more astonishingly , banana are both herbsandberries !
Habitat
Although Musa is n’t a huge genus , it does have a pretty broad spread . It can naturally be establish as far west as India and as far east as northerly Australia , opt tropic and subtropical regions ( in what is shout the wet tropical biome ) . Some occur in high altitude forests , while others call shrubby zones at sea level their home .
Nowadays , of course , banana plants grow in tropical regions all over the world . Humans have had passel of clip to spread them everywhere , and the banana has supported many civilizations since it was first cultivated . Musa seems to have come out up in Africa around 4,500 geezerhood ago , for example .
Meanwhile , most of the bananas exported nowadays are grown in South America . Central America , in turn , was really the site of huge cultural fermentation due to the disproportionate powerfulness that banana tree companies ( like United Fruit Company , now Chiquita ) held .
( In fact , that ’s where the term “ banana republic ” originate — not from the aggregated retail store , whose corporate marketing has made most the great unwashed incognizant of its true etymology . But I digress . )
In Europe , the Spanish Canary Islands are huge banana exporter .
If you want to know more , I plunk deeper intobanana history and cultural significance here . There is so , so much more to these humble lily-livered fruit than what we see in our local supermarkets .
Unfortunately , some banana flora coinage are endangered in their lifelike habitats . Among the ones listed as Critical are M. argentii , zaifui , arfakiana , bauensis , exotica and a good bunch more . There are just a few twelve left of some of them !
The principal cause tends to be habitat loss due to human activeness like factory farm , mining cognitive operation and cut off down of woodland for logging purposes .
Types of banana plants
As I mention , there are over a thousand banana cultivars , so I could dedicate a whole book to describing all of them ! Some are eatable , some are ornamental , some are both . There are loads of funky varieties to be regain , like one that produces pinkish fruits ( Musa velutina ) and even vary banana tree flora .
When it comes to farm a banana plant as an ornamental , the most important matter to remember is that there are large and low variety show .
Some full - sized metal money of Musa naturally grow to up to 30 feet eminent or even more , which means they are n’t really indoor , balcony , or patio fabric . Something like a Dwarf Cavendish , however , does n’t be given to go past 10 foot .
Here are a few types of banana tree plant you may come across at your local garden center :
Where to buy
Some banana industrial plant are not banana flora at all .
For example , one member of the house Musaceae you might find for sales agreement is the Red Abyssinian banana tree , which does n’t actually develop edible fruit but is cultivated for its alimentary corm . It ’s not a Musa , but instead call Ensete ventricosum . It ’s very decorative and its care essential are like to that of true bananas !
Another exemplar is the golden lotus banana , the sole member of the genus Musella in the family Musaceae . This one was named for its beautiful yellow blooms .
Growing a banana plant indoors
Are banana plants suitable as houseplants?
Although your banana plant will fuck living outdoors at least part of the year , it can do well indoors too . Just remember that these are tropicals , which herald from passing cheery , humid regions . They like the comfy temperature in our dwelling house , but you need to check that you get together their other needs as well .
You ’ll want to place your banana tree flop in front of the sunniest windowpane you could offer , unless you ’re willing to put up grow lights . It ’s also important to keep the humidity high-pitched , or those large , lush farewell will soon be crispy and brown .
If you ’re only overwintering your banana tree plant life indoors , that ’s a little well-situated . The sound thing is to leave it alone as much as potential . It wo n’t grow much and might lose some leaf , but it ’s just biding its time until it can render alfresco .
Indoor banana plant varieties
As mentioned in the section on banana tree plant change , there are some metal money and cultivar that remain under 10 feet . If you keep these indoors , where their growth is often a little scrawny equate to outdoors , they likely wo n’t outgrow your home any time presently .
Indoor banana tree plants generally wo n’t fruit , so you do n’t have to worry about whether the case you ’re after produce eatable bananas or not . Consider one of the following , for example :
Indoor plant care
Once you ’ve found a nice and sunny maculation for your banana works , you may plant it in a container with a drain hole and rich , acidic but well - enfeeble territory . Everyone has their own favorite mixtures , but something like this is a expert start point :
If you require your banana plant to uprise cock-a-hoop , be sure to repot on a yearly basis , choose a container that gives it plenty of space . To slow down its growth a little , you may choose to lead it in a small container for retentive . They do n’t bear in mind being a bit theme constipate .
advocate products for indoor banana tree plant care :
When growing a banana plant indoors , overwatering is more of a hazard than outside . Still , these plant do like plenteousness of wet , so keep the dirt lightly moist .
You may have to water as often as twice a week during the summer month , while in wintertime , your industrial plant may only postulate body of water every one - and - a - half week or even more infrequently . you’re able to look into the soil moisture level by sticking your fingerbreadth in the pot ; water when the top 2 to 3 inches feel ironical .
by from watering , as refer , it ’s important to keep the humidity up . If your plate regularly drops under 40 to 50 percent humidness , it might be a good idea to race a humidifier . Your banana plant , your other tropical houseplants , and your own sinuses will thank you .
It will even helpprevent bothersome wanderer mites from overrun your tree diagram . They jazz banana tree plant ’ big foliage , but they favour dry air .
Although they do n’t need quite as much in terms of plant food indoors , your banana tree plant will still appreciate a even piffling cost increase . They ’re always working on new leaves that need nutrients to turn !
you could utilise a normal liquid balanced houseplant fertilizer every other workweek or so while tearing . Do n’t inseminate if your banana is dormant during winter .
Recommended fertilizer for banana tree plants :
Growing a banana plant outdoors
Can a banana plant overwinter outside?
As you probably guessed , the solution to that question depends entirely on where you live , as well as what kind of banana flora you ’re spring up . It also depends on whether you ’re growing for fruit or for the plant ’s ornamental note value .
If you want to be able to keep the plant outdoors twelvemonth - troll in a cooler zone , you ’ll have to go for the dauntless varieties that do n’t produce decent fruit .
The most dusty - intrepid bananas are Musa basjoo and the somewhat hard to find Musa sikkimensis ( Darjeeling banana ) , which hails from gamy - altitude regions in Bhutan and India . The origin on these specie can outlive in USDA zone 5 or up .
Even though the root will die off , they come right back in springtime . Since bananas are ready grower , yours will be back to last year ’s glory before you cognise it !
Basjoo and Darjeeling bananas are grown for their ornamental time value , not their unpalatable , seed - filled yield . If you do want to keep a fruiting banana outside year - round , this can well be done in zona 10 , but becomes more difficult in cooler zones .
Depending on the cultivar ( retard before you buy ) , some , like ‘ Dwarf Orinoco ’ will exist as far north as geographical zone 7b .
Mulchingyour banana plant thick in winter , using frost covers , and any other security you’re able to offer can help the corm ( or even the whole plant ) make it through until spring .
Outdoor banana plant care
As with indoor banana tree plants , the most important thing for your outside banana is sun . Sun , sun , sun ! They love soaking up as much as they can get for sound growth .
If you ’re planting in the ground , select the fleck carefully . You wo n’t be able-bodied to change your mind until the tree produces its first offsets .
Outdoor container growth can be a little challenging because the plant will be less lively and maturate irksome , but it comes with the Brobdingnagian vantage of being able-bodied to move your banana tree plant indoors if things get parky .
If you are planting in a pot , scroll up to the instructions for the ideal banana tree plant grease mix described in the part on indoor guardianship . weigh summate a lilliputian less moxie than common , because these guys are very athirst plants and the grime may dry out too quickly otherwise — at least in summer . A little more compost can go in its place .
If you desire to plant your banana tree in the reason , choose your site cautiously . The industrial plant will develop grandiloquent and encompassing , so you do n’t want it shading any nearby plants that require full sun . It will also multiply rapidly via shoots , so your one banana works can turn into several within a couple of years if you keep all the shoot .
For growing in full soil , just hollow a trap that ’s around twice as bombastic as the container you bought the plant in . Take the plant out of its pot , lightly shake the extra land from the root and crop up it in the hole . Backfill with more soil , lend a 1- to 2 - inch stratum of compost on top , and irrigate it in well .
Most banana tree plant recover from being embed within a calendar week or two and continue farm as if nothing happened !
Whether your banana works is in a tidy sum or in the ground , it will get it on piles of water during summertime . Unless you live in a topographic point that gets hatful of rain , you ’ll have to irrigate every other day or so .
During wintertime , unless it stays quick where you live , they need a portion less . After all , when exposed to the frigidness , they go almost amply dormant and stop growing .
Be careful not to overwater ! The soil should be lightly moist , but never wet , for prevent deadly radical rot . Containers should always have a drain hole .
Because they ’re such prompt - raise industrial plant when you keep them outdoors , banana tree are great feeders and need regular doses ofNPKduring the spring , summertime , and other autumn month to do their secure .
My top choices for banana tree works fertilizers include compost ( applied once a year in other give ) , worm castings , or a dear all - intent fertiliser or yield tree fertilizer , applied per the package ’s recommended schedule .
Recommended fertilizers for outdoor banana tree works :
If the banana tree plant can keep growing year - round in your zone , or if you fetch it indoors to shelter it from winter temperature , it ’s by all odds potential . Most banana tree varieties take nighttime temperature of at least around 70 ° F during the summer fruiting season , but your gasoline mileage may alter . It ’s always a number of trial and error !
Once your plant begins fruiting , refer to my guide on how to harvest at the right prison term andkeep the bananas from splitting .
Your banana plant will become quite top - sullen as it grow tall and the banana tree bunch matures . Without support , it ’s not rare for banana tree plants to topple over in the fart or cave in under the weightiness of their own fruit .
To keep your banana tree works from falling over or bending in one-half , you ’ll need to brace the stem with a tall , sturdy support . I typically use 2×4 fleck baseball bat , wedged under the stem turn at an angle and nuzzle firmly in the primer . ( thickset bamboo poles or large PVC tube also work . )
There are two position in which you ’ll want to clip your banana plant life : If it ’s see a bit scruffy due to yellowing or bushed leaves , or after it has cease flowering and fruiting . The former is easy … As long as the plant is not producing yield , just remove the leaves you do n’t care the look of .
The latter is n’t too complicated either , but it does involve chopping down the full independent stalk . After all , a banana plant will die back after fruiting — don’t be alarmed when this occur .
Before it completely dies , however , the female parent plant will produce one or multiple pups ( showtime ) at its base that will take over next yr .
To forbid the large , spent still hunt from have rot or crushing the pup when it eventually live down , it ’s best to just cut it yourself . The stem is n’t hard , so it should n’t be too hard with a hired hand saw .
After you ’ve sacrificed the mother plant life , you may leave the healthiest - looking for offset in its place so it can radiate next twelvemonth . The others can be cautiously dug up and remove so they do n’t compete for food .
This is not a must , and multiple big shuck left together do give off sultry hobo camp vibe that make you feel like you ’re on a tropical vacation . Personally , I ’ve often let two or three pup ( from the same mother ) mature into full - grown plant side by side . But , leaving only one specimen can assist with yield yield if you ’re serious about that .
you could constitute the puppy you bump off somewhere else or give them away . Remember , most domestic bananas do n’t produce right seeds , so using the pup is really the only path to multiply yours .
Common questions about growing bananas
Do banana plants produce fruit indoors?
Let ’s put it this room : I ’d be very surprised if my indoor banana plant managed to successfully develop a bunch of bananas .
If you want yield , your best bet is to direct the works outdoors during summer , although there are still no guarantees . Although they go and grow very well , indoor conditions and lighting are just not idealistic for them .
How fast do banana plants grow?
Indoors , as long as they get wad of Dominicus , banana plant develop plenty tight . They ’ll almost always have a new leafage unfurling , except maybe in the dead of wintertime .
alfresco , banana tree plants growinsanelyfast . They can reach their full potential height in under a year . That can be up to 30 groundwork !
What are signs of an overwatered banana plant?
An overwatered banana plant will show symptom like yellowing parting , chocolate-brown spots , and/or mold on the root word . In extreme cases , the stem can even go mushy .
Remember to use well - run out dirt and a plantation owner with a drainage hollow . plant ask less pee in winter .
Are banana plants toxic?
Nope!Banana plants are safe to grow around dogs , Arabian tea , and other animals .
References :
This post updated from an article that originally appeared on February 1 , 2023 .
