Banana Plant

    Banana Plant - please refer to plant caretag for specific variety information

Varieties - Musa gran nain and musa zebrina rojo

Features - Perfect for creating the lush look of the tropics. Healthy plants can reach 6 metres in height, with huge paddle-shaped leaves that can reach 1.5 metres in length. This dramatic foliage can be stunning specimen in your collection of beautiful tropical plants.

Spacing - If you have multiple plants, don't put them so close together that they'll eventually shade the soil. Also, if they're too close together (less than 5' or 1.5m apart) they'll compete for nutrients and won't produce as much fruit. There should also be enough sunlight for the leaves and to keep the soil surrounding the roots warm (over 68°F or 20°C).

Height - The plant can get quite large (7.6 m or 25' tall, with leaves up to 2.7 m or 9' long). Select an area large enough to accommodate their eventual size.

Soil and water - Best in rich (lots of organic material), moist and well drained soil. Banana plants require regular watering. You should expect to water slowly and deeply every 2 or 3 days during the warmer months. Test the top 1/2 to 1 inch of soil, when it is dry it is time to water.

Light requirements - Plant in part or full sun. Banana plants love the bright light and the heat, they do not tolerate the cold well.

Best use - Use in garden beds or containers.

Growing tips - Feed with fertilizer every month. Bananas are heavy feeders, drawing a lot of nutrients from the soil (especially potassium). Remove all leaves that dry out and those that are diseased. If diseased plants are discovered, treat them immediately or uproot and remove them. Insect pests should also be controlled right away. Support the plant to avoid toppling of the plant due to strong wind or bunch weight.

The tropical garden

A tropical garden features tropical plants and requires good rainfall or a decent irrigation or sprinkler system for watering. These gardens typically need fertilizer and heavy mulching.

Tropical gardens are no longer exclusive to tropical areas. Many gardeners in colder climates are adopting the tropical garden design, which is possible through careful choice of plants and flowers. Main features include plants with very large leaves, vegetation that builds in height towards the back of the garden, creating a dense garden. Large plants and small trees hang over the garden, leaving sunlight to hit the ground directly.

The more your local climate differs from the natural habitat of your plants, the more challenging it can be to maintain your tropical garden. Lots of light and lots of water are key elements for success. The large leaves that feature in tropical plants require the soil to be humid at all times, so irrigation is critical depending on the specific varieties in your garden. Although be careful not to over-watering as it will cause the roots to rot.

A tropical plant that is not cold-hardy should be brought indoors during the winter and returned to the garden for the summer.