Banana trees give a tropical look to indoor and outdoor areas. These plants grow vigorously from a rhizome, similar to a bulb, sometimes to a height of 12 feet, depending on the variety. Banana trees need an evenly warm environment and regular fertilizing to thrive and produce their edible fruit. They can be grown outdoors in tropical and subtropical climates, as well as indoors in northern areas, but they require some special care to ensure healthy growth.
Plant the rhizome in a 6- or 8-inch pot with a drain hole. Transplant to a larger container when the plant appears crowded in the pot.
Place the tree near a window with bright light. Banana trees need around 12 hours of bright light per day. Use artificial lights if necessary to provide sufficient lighting for growth.
Regulate the temperature of the area carefully. Banana trees require temperatures in the 80s during the day and no lower than 67 degrees Fahrenheit at night.
Water the banana tree whenever the top 1/2 inch of soil becomes dry.
Fertilize banana trees with a balanced fertilizer lightly every time you water. Bananas are heavy feeders that will be unable to produce fruit without a regular source of nutrients. A balanced fertilizer is one in which the three numbers on the label indicating the percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are all equal.
Plant the banana tree in full sun. Though bananas can tolerate light shade up to 50 percent, but will produce more fruit in brighter locations.
Add organic matter to the soil to ensure good drainage.
Water banana trees weekly. Bananas need 4 to 6 inches of water per month, whether through natural rainfall or irrigation. Water banana trees 2 to 3 times each day when temperatures rise above 90 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure good fruiting.
Weed areas around banana trees to prevent competition for nutrients. A 2- to 6-inch layer of organic mulch such as wood chips will help to prevent weeds and keep moisture in the soil.
Fertilize trees 4 to 6 times each year with a 6-2-12 fertilizer. Add micronutrient fertilizer with zinc and manganese annually.
Things You Will Need
- 6- to 8-inch pot
- Balanced fertilizer
- 3-6-12 fertilizer
- Micronutrient fertilizer with zinc and manganese
- Organic mulch
- Temperatures below 32 degrees Fahrenheit can cause damage to the plant tissues, such as browning of leaves, failure of the fruit stalk to develop or graying of the developing fruit. Temperatures below this may cause the tree to die to the ground, but new growth will form from the underground rhizome when temperatures warm, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension website. Fruits will mature 10 to 24 months after planting.
- Hot, dry air will destroy banana trees, according to the TheBananaTree website. If the growing environment is very dry, you must raise it artificially to 50 percent by running a humidifier or misting the plant regularly.
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