Growing Banana Tree
Growing banana tree: rhizomes
One of the easiest ways of growing banana tree is to purchase a comparatively large banana rhizome. The rhizome is the part of the banana from which all the so called pseudstems grow. The pseudstems are the parts of the plant that we commonly refer to as “banana tree” in everyday language. It is the pseudostems that produce delicious bananas. As soon as a pseudostem has produced a bunch of bananas, it will die and be replaced by a new pseudostem. The rhizome on the other hand has a long life span and can continue to produce pseudostems for 15 years or more.
The banana rhizome comes in the form of a swollen underground stem, as so called corm. You can purchase a rhizome that is already rooted and ready to plant. Some companies will also offer you rhizome that comes with a pseudostem, but the leaves have usually been cut of to make the banana easier to pack and transport.
Growing banana tree: container
In many parts of the world, bananas must be kept indoors since the outdoor climate is unsuitable for them. If you plan to grow banana tree in a container, you should use a container with a drain hole. Banana plants grow fast and you will need to transplant to a bigger container once in a while when growing banana tree.
Growing banana tree: soil and planting
The soil is very important when growing banana tree. Use a well draining soil that will not retain a lot of water. You can for instance purchase a well draining soil mixture and then add 20 percent perlite to make it even better for growing banana tree in. Perlite is a form of naturally occurring siliceous rock. Ordinary potting soil or common garden soil is not recommended for growing banana tree in. When you plant the rhizome in the soil, you should make sure that any roots are covered in soil and that approximately ½ inch of the rhizome base is covered.
Growing banana tree: fertilizer
A fertilizer is very useful when growing banana tree since the banana plant needs a lot of nutrients. Add a high-quality fertilizer to the water to give the banana plant a small dose of fertilizer during each watering. This is better than giving the plant a large amount of fertilizer once in a while. When the banana plant displays no signs of active growth, you should however refrain from adding fertilizer to the water.
Growing banana tree: light
The banana plant is native to parts of the world where the sunshine is very strong and bright light is therefore a good idea if you want to be successful when growing banana tree. Approximately 12 hours of strong light is recommended for most types of banana.
Growing banana tree: temperature
Most banana variants will appreciate a temperature in the 80s F during the day and around 65-70 degrees F during the night. The banana plant should never be subjected to cold.
Growing banana tree: humidity
When growing banana tree, the humidity must be taken into consideration. A humidity of at least 50%, preferably higher, is recommended since the banana plant is native to hot and humid parts of the world. Dry air will damage the banana leaves.
