Bananas (Musa spp.),
are herbaceous perennials. Their stem is not a true stem, what we see above
ground is leaf part only. Many leaf bases wrap tightly around each other and
form a cylindrical stem like structure. Bananas are grown at homes to bring a
tropical feel. Also they are low maintenance plant. In India female banana
plant is worshiped.
Propagation
You can’t grow bananas from seeds as banana
plants don't produce seeds. At the base of a banana plant, under the ground, is
a big rhizome, called the corm. The corm has growing points and they turn into
new suckers. These suckers can be taken off and transplanted, and one or two
can be left in position to replace the mother plant. Best way is to start with
these mentioned suckers. When the suckers or "pups" start to form,
allow at least 4 leaves to develop before attempting to remove it from the
mother plant. Once cut, remove the pup with as much root as possible and pot up
in a new container. Or order corms online, after receiving wash the corms
with lukewarm water to remove any fungal or bacterial growth which may have
developed during shipping.
Soil
The first priority to consider when
growing a banana is to use the proper soil. Use a well drained soil. Add
compost to the soil, it enhances water retention capacity in sandy soil and
increases drainage capability in clay. Bananas like an acidic growing mix with
a pH between 5.5 and 6.5.
Container
/ Site
Grow banana in a medium sized ( 6
inches or 8 inches) container. Container should have drainage hole as banana
doesn't like to stand in water. Plant the stem (corm) upright and cover with
soil partially. When the pot becomes crowded, transplant in large container.
While growing outdoors, plant bananas
in clumps, not single rows as they need crowded environment generally available
to tropical plants.
Water
Banana plant has high water
requirements due to its large leaves. Keep soil moist always. To help with
this, you can add a layer of mulch (dried leaves, straws, bark etc) to help
plant in retaining water. Allow soil to dry slightly between watering. Maintain
high humidity environment around the plant as the plant likes that.
Sun
/ Temperature
Bananas, being tropical plants, like
bright, indirect light. So provide maximum sun light and warmth. The ideal
night temperature would be 67° F (19° C) and day temperature would be 80° F (27°
C). They can handle extreme high and low temperature but do not like it and as
a result leaves may turn yellow, fruit skin may turn grayish).
In frost areas, plant above ground dies
in frost but corm can survive and re shoot.
Fertilizer
When plant start to fruit, feed it once
a month. In case of liquid fertilizer, dilute it in water at half strength. If
your plant is blooming continuously then also you may need to feed it to keep
up with its nutritional needs at that time.
Pruning
Most gardeners prefer to keep spent
leaves than cutting them off as they turn from green to yellow to brown then
shrivel which is a normal cycle. This allows your plant to re-absorb the leaf
nutrients.
Caring
There are relatively few pest problems
with indoor bananas. Wash stems and leaves with detergent mixed water. It will keep
them dust and bug (mites) free. Be sure to clean the bottom sides of the leaves
as well.
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