How do I care for a banana tree plant?
Answer
The banana plant, botanically known as Musa, is a tropical plant native to southeast Asia. Its care requirements are fairly simple, but meeting these requirements is very important to the success of the plant. As bananas are tropical plants, they enjoy warm temperatures of at least 60°F. They do best when in bright light and can tolerate some full sun. These are plants that come from very moist environments, so be sure to keep the soil moist at all times. They also enjoy higher levels of humidity (at least 50%). This can be done by frequently misting the leaves and using a saucer underneath the pot filled with wet pebbles; the water on the pebbles evaporates, increasing moisture in the air. A humidifier can also be helpful but it is not completely necessary. Be sure to fertilize these plants regularly with an organic food, as they are heavy feeders, using a balanced general purpose fertilizer very lightly (1/4 strength) every time you water the plant. Depending where you live, there is a hardy one for outdoors, though not so much for the fruit, growing rather large maybe to enhance a terrace area.
Hope this is helpful.
For tips on a variety of gardening topics, see our Plant Information Guides.
- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service
Topics
Ask a plant expert
Send us an email or use the question form below.