Care sheet: Banana tree

Reputed to be the tallest grass in the world, the banana tree is one of the most interesting tropical plants ! Recognized thanks to its therapeutic and preventive properties, the Cavendish banana is the most consumed by athletes.

You will find it under the glamorous name of Barbara at Pousse.

Originally from South East Asia, we can, by respecting certain conditions, cultivate a banana tree in our climates.

Maintenance sheet

You can plant it in pots indoors and just as well outdoors. However, this plant does not tolerate winter temperatures very well, so protecting it or bringing it in from October to May is recommended.

Exposure

Avoid direct sunlight indoors, otherwise its foliage will dry out quickly and it will lose its vigor.

watering

In summer two or three waterings per week are enough but they must be regular! For indoor banana trees it is imperative to mist them regularly, every day if necessary to do well. Before watering your plant, be sure to let the soil dry on the surface, its substrate must however remain permanently moist in a growing pot.

Cultivation errors

As a general rule, the banana tree does not support winter temperatures too much! From 2° it will tend to lose its leaves, it is therefore imperative to protect it from the cold. However, it should start again in the summer because its roots are resistant to cold, so much so that they can withstand temperatures down to -19°. You can therefore ventilate it but under supervision.

Diseases and pests

The banana tree rarely suffers from disease and is hardly susceptible to pests. What can be fatal to it is rotting of the rhizome, usually caused by over-watering, especially in winter. Insofar as it manifests itself by a yellowing of the foliage, then a browning, you will quickly recognize it in its beginnings.

Its main enemies are aphids and scale insects.

The aphid is a small insect that travels in colonies in the heart of the banana leaves, in other words in the "cigar", and feeds on their substance.

• Consequences: By pricking the fragile areas to extract the sap, the aphids injure the banana tree and weaken it.
• Solution : As a contact insecticide, black soap is used, which cleans the leaves and kills the larvae immediately.

Banana trees can also be victims of mealybugs , which are easily identified by the small whitish clusters they deposit on the underside of the leaves.

• Consequences: They can end up smothering the foliage, but the banana tree is generally not its regular species.
• Solution: You can remove them manually if they are not numerous, simply using a damp paper.

How to repot a banana tree

Planting in pots or in the ground: The best time is in spring and summer. Use a good potting soil, such as the banana tree requires, which you can mix with 1/3 of compost if you have some on hand.

1. The pot must be of a good size, to support its growth with dignity! Fill it as needed with special potting soil for green or indoor plants. Outdoors you will prefer a mixture made of potting soil, sand and garden soil.

2. To facilitate drainage, whether your plant is in a pot or in the ground, do not hesitate to lay a bed of gravel or clay pebbles. This operation prevents the underground stems from bathing in water and will thus prevent them from rotting.

3. Apart from spring repotting, respecting spaces of 2 to 3 years, prefer to operate with regular surfacing. This operation will best meet the needs of your banana tree as far as the growing medium is concerned.

4. As for the cuttings, the separation of the suckers at the foot of the banana tree allows rapid and efficient multiplication of the plant. Carry out the operation in mild weather, when the conditions are met to ensure a good recovery.

Good to know

Slowed growth is a sign of soil depletion. Banana trees are very greedy, so they should be fertilized regularly, if necessary by giving them a share of decomposed manure.

Note: Having a banana is an expression that is not overrated, the benefits of the fruit are as many as they are varied!

POUSSE, the plant architecture agency that reconnects your spaces in Lyon, Paris and Bordeaux to nature.
Contact us: bonjour@pousse.fr