Growing Banana Plants: Indoor, Pruning And Plant Care

Banana trees, or banana plants, can create a nice decoration and supply a delicious fruit. For colder climates it is entirely necessary to grow them indoors.

Indoor banana plants require many of the same things that an outdoor banana tree would require such as light soil that will drain well.

Banana trees also need an ample and endless amount of light. For growing indoors, a fluorescent light will do, but natural light is highly recommended and will produce better fruit. Keep the soil moist and the banana plant away from drafts and cold temperatures; banana trees like temperatures between 65 and 70 degrees. Any leaves touching a cold window will begin to wilt. Feed your banana plant every three to four weeks a 15-30-15 mixture and follow directions on the fertilizing package. A 15-30-15 mixture has 15 percent nitrogen, 30 percent phosphorus and 15 percent potassium.

According to mgonline.com, washing the stems and leaves with a mild dish soap and sponge is essential to banana plant care. This helps to keep away dust and mites, which will hinder appearance and fruit growth. Also, allow a natural leave cycle to occur. When the foliage turns from green to yellow to brown, do not cut them off. Instead, allow them to fall and reabsorb back into the plant. A popular indoor variety is the Dwarf Cavendish, which grows only to five or six feet.

Every four months, it is essential to prune the suckers to allow more nutrients and effort to go towards the blooming fruit. Banana plant pruning is simply cutting away the unwanted suckers from underneath the ground. This ensures the rhizomes will not continue to grow.

A few suckers are needed for transplanting later because bananas do not have seeds. By limiting the numbers, you are allowing the mother plant to focus her attention on the fruit.

Banana plants need to be harvested when the fruit is the right size as well as nice and green. A machete is usually used to chop down a whole hand off the banana plant and the bunch is then hung to ripen. It is possible to ripen the bananas faster by placing them in a plastic bag alone or with an apple. This works because of a gas emitted by the bananas and the apple called ethylene gas, speeding up the process.

Between proper banana plant care and correct pruning, any hobby grower will be on their way to a fruitful season and many to come.

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