Growing a banana plant at homecan provide a lot of satisfaction, and this unusual exotic plant will often amaze us. However, it should be remembered thatcare for a banana growing in a potrequires adherence to strictly defined cultivation rules and providing the plant with the best possible conditions. Here are the secrets to growing and caring for a banana at home!
Bananowiec - Musa
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Banana treecomes from the tropical and subtropical regions of Southeast Asia (Malay Peninsula) and Australia, from where its cultivation spread to the Pacific islands and the shores of the Indian Ocean and South and Central America .The genus banana tree - Musa includes several dozen species of powerful perennials (up to 10 m high). Their underground, tuberous rhizome with numerous adventitious roots grows like a stalk made of closely adjoining leaf sheaths ending with the tips of several meters long, single leaves, often tattered by the wind. The seed heads are also huge, even 2-3 meters high. Plants give us well-known fruits that are eaten raw or processed into meals, juices and alcoholic beverages.
Due to the thermal requirements and the lack of frost resistance, the banana plant cannot be grown in the garden (at most in the summer it can be put outside, and in the autumn it can be put indoors again). However, it is possible togrow a banana plant at homeas a houseplant.dwarf banana treeup to 2 m tall is best for this purpose. A properly cared for plant can bring great joy when it forms an inflorescence after 4-5 years of cultivation.Its formation takes several months, and then fruits are formed - bananas. They are not as tasty as those ripening in the tropics, but also edible. Banana trees create a tropical atmosphere in conservatories and large sunny rooms.
For potting in apartments,dwarf banana(Musa Acuminata), which only grows up to 2 m tall.
Banana cultivation
Banana trees are plants of a hot climate (temperature above 20 ° C), uniformly humid, cultivated thanks to irrigation. They do not like the wind because of weak stems and brittle leaves. The best soils for their cultivation are fine-grained, sandy-clay soils, well irrigated.
Providing proper conditions forgrowing a dwarf bananain an apartment requires some effort. First of all, the plant needs as much light and high humidity as possible. It will feel great on the glass veranda. If you do not have a veranda, a south window sill is enough for young, small copies.Then, when they grow up, they have to be placed as close to the window as possible, in a sunny place.
Dwarf banana tree
Fig. depositphotos.com
Also remember thatbanana treelikes heat - requires a temperature of at least 15 ° C (also during winter rest).
The substrate for the banana plant should be fertile, permeable, slightly acidic (pH around 6.0). A large container or a pot filled with a substrate composed of leaf and turf compost soil with a small admixture of peat and sand will be perfect. It is worth giving a larger pot, because the plant grows quickly and does not like to replant too often. If the existing pot is already too small, the plant should be transplanted to a larger pot in the spring.
Properbanana carealso requires constant soil moisture in the pot. As a rule, it is necessary to water twice a week. However, make sure that the water does not remain on the base after watering.In the autumn and winter period, the plant should be dormant and watering should be limited a bit.
During the growing season of the banana plant, feed every 2 weeks with fertilizer for plants with ornamental leaves (eg Osmocote liquid). In autumn and winter, if the plant remains in a bright and warm place, it is recommended to fertilize every 4 weeks.
Remember that the plant hates drafts and knocks as it has very brittle leaves that are easily damaged. If the leaves are handled carelessly, they can crack along the veins and wilt.
When the summer is warm, the banana plant can be placed outside in a quiet, warm and sunny place. However, you have to be careful not to damage the fragile leaves of the plant during the move.
Ifbanana careis appropriate, the plant will bloom beautifully after 4 or 5 years of cultivation. When the fruit starts to form, apply a fertilizer rich in phosphorus and potassium compounds (e.g. fertilizer for tomatoes).
Banana plant - problems in growing
Properlya cultivated banana tree , which has not been mechanically damaged in its leaves, should not get sick. If spots start to appear on the leaves - most often it means that the plant is staying in a too cool and dark place and it is watered too abundantly.
When it comes to pests of houseplants, spider mites may appear. Their occurrence is favored by too low air humidity in the house.
Banana reproduction
Unfortunatelybanana treeblooms only once and then dies. Therefore, it is very important to get new copies of it before it is too late. You can propagate the banana plant from the root suckers. To do this, when the fruit is ripe and the leaves turn yellow, remove the fruiting shoot. The emerging young suckers will then start to grow rapidly and become new plants.
Gettingbanana seedlingcan be difficult and it will probably be quite expensive.As an alternative, you can try growing from seed. Banana seeds have very hard shells. Therefore, before sowing, slightly damage their husks, e.g. by rubbing them with sandpaper, and then soak (about 72 hours) in lukewarm water.
