Banana Trees

Banana trees are quick to establish and produce heaps of fruit. If you’re thinking of planting a banana tree but don’t know what timeline to expect, we’ve got you covered!

It takes banana trees about 9 months to grow to full height, and only 12 months to bear their first fruit. On average, banana stalks last for about a year and a half to two years, but the plant that they stem from could last anywhere between 6 and 25 years.

The banana plants we grow today are genetically altered, which we’ll discuss more below. We’ll walk you through the full timeline of a banana tree’s life so you’ll know exactly how long it takes to grow, and what its lifespan looks like. Plus, we’ll cover some maintenance tips to keep your tree healthy and fruitful.

What Is A Banana Tree And Where Did They Come From?

Did you know bananas are technically berries, botanically speaking?

According to the Australia Banana Grower’s Council, bananas may have been the first fruit originating over 10,000 years ago. 

The original bananas and those we know of today are different, of course, thanks to the fact that our modern bananas are modified to have no seeds and lots of edible fruit. Originally, there would have been a large pit and not much edible pulp surrounding it. 

In fact, the modified bananas we eat today make it so that we have to either buy seeds from distributors or propagate already-existing banana plants to grow new ones. We’ll dive deeper into that soon, though.

The bananas we eat today come in a few varieties, sometimes referred to as plantains when they are not as sweet. The most common variety, however, is called the Cavendish after a 19th-century English Duke who propagated these plants and caused the eventual spread of these plants.

Bananas are a nutrient-dense fruit favored by children, athletes, and other adults alike. Its potassium, B vitamins, fiber, antioxidants, and other qualities make it a quick, cheap, and filling supplement for all diets.

So, you’re thinking of growing a banana tree of your own. Let’s talk about where to start: location.

Just How Fast Will My Banana Tree Grow?

Banana trees grow extremely fast. 

How long does it take a banana tree to bear fruit?

From planting a banana tree (sowing the bulb of the tree) to being able to harvest fruit successfully, it is only a 9-12 month process. 

This is quite contradictory to many trees. For example, an avocado tree can take up to 13 years to grow to maturity and begin producing its fruit. We have an article all about the avocado tree’s growth and lifespan, as a matter of fact!

This short, yearlong timeline of a banana tree may seem rather short. That’s because it is. 

However, when we stop to consider bananas grow from banana stalks that shoot out of the overall tree itself, it is easier to see how this works. 

Banana trees are a collective of individual stalks that produce fruit and then must be trimmed away. So, we can see how these trees might grow and begin producing bananas so quickly.

Okay, let’s look at the timeline of a banana tree itself.

Full Banana Tree Growing Timeline

So, you’ve decided you love bananas enough to grow them yourself. Congratulations. What should you expect, though? 

What is the process like?

You want your bananas by next year, but there’s no way that’s realistic… right?

Wrong. 

You can plant a banana tree and have the fruit within 9-12 months. Pretty cool, huh?

Not only that, but the tree can reach its full height of 20-40 feet tall within that 9-month period before fruit forms. Talk about fast-growing!

Day 1: Finding The Right Banana Seed 

The very first day of our timeline consists of finding a way to plant your banana tree. 

Modern Cavendish bananas and plantains don’t have seeds, as you’ve surely noticed.

So, how are you supposed to even plant a banana tree?

Bananas have been genetically altered so that they no longer have seeds, but they must come from somewhere. 

In the wild, bananas still have seeds. They take up so much of the fruit that the pulp of it is difficult to eat and nearly inaccessible. 

You can procure seeds from a supplier of some sort, whether that is a local provider or online. For example, you can purchase things like these Mini Bonsai Banana Tree Seeds to start your own banana tree growth.

You’ll want to follow a few steps to start growing your banana tree:

• Soak your seeds. 
  • Seeds should soak for a day or two to prepare for planting.
    
• Plant the seeds.
  • You can plant the seed in a pot for the first week or two if you need, but you should aim to plant it directly into permeable soil. The seed should be about an inch deep, in holes that are 4 inches wide for best results.
  • Space your banana plants about 2 meters from one another, to avoid overcrowding and the sun being blocked from any given plant.
    
• Keep the soil well-suited for banana growth.
  • Moist soil is another key to successful growth, as bananas grow best in tropical environments with this sort of moist, well-drained soil. 
  • The soil temperature should also stay between 60-70 degrees Fahrenheit in good conditions, as is expected in a tropical environment
    
• Wait for germination. 
  • This can take anywhere from a month to 6 months, depending on the type of banana tree. This is when you’ll see vegetative growth.

Remember, this will give you a unique, less common variety of banana. If that is your goal, go for it. If not, keep reading for planting option number 2.

Alternative Day 1: Propagating A Banana Sapling

Now that you know what planting from a seed, or bulb, looks like, we should talk about the propagation option.

This one is far more common and is probably easier if you have any sort of access to other banana plants. 

You can grow a Cavendish banana tree by propagating it, as seeds are not a part of this adapted variety of bananas.

An easier, more orthodox method is to take a pup, or sucker, both names work, from an already-established banana tree. This means that you are taking an offshoot, separating it from its main banana tree, and replanting it as its own tree. 

This is not as difficult as you may imagine, because banana trees themselves are made up of many stalks and sections that bear fruit and then need to be removed. So, the removal of a section a bit early allows it to establish itself as its tree, and continue the cycle.

Day 1–Month 6: Vegetative Growth Period

Though we call them banana trees, banana plants are technically quite different in their growing process than any other trees. 

They will grow pseudo stems, or leaves that build upon each other to support the main stem, in place of a trunk. 

Since they don’t have a traditional trunk, the growth of these plants can take place much more rapidly. 

The period of vegetative growth that takes place, in essence, is the majority of the tree’s maturing process. As it grows and develops these pseudo stems, you’ll want to provide your plant with a little extra water to ensure the healthy development of the plant. 

If you are concerned about forgetting or not adequately estimating your watering, you can always use an irrigation system. This Flantor Garden Irrigation System could be the right starting place to help you get your banana tree going, without the stress of remembering when and how much to water it.

Month 6-Month 9: The Flowering Period

Once the vegetative growth period has given your banana tree its own legs to stand on as a tall, established plant, the flowering will begin. 

This is realistically going to happen around month 9, but could be earlier in some conditions and later in some conditions. 

One reason to plant in an area that is opportune for your tree (read: USDA hardiness zones 9-11) is that the weather will allow your tree to hit its expected milestones. 

If you plant in an area that is too cold, it could take up to a year and a half for your tree to flower, effectively delaying your access to fruit and stunting the tree’s natural cycles.

This period is the connection between growth and fruit production, so it is an important one that leads us to our end goal: bananas.

Month 9-Month 12: Fruiting Period

Once you’ve gotten past the germinating, vegetative growth, and flowering periods, your plant will finally be ready to produce fruit!

Individual banana stalks will only produce fruit one time, so it is important to maintain your banana tree yearly to adjust for this. 

You’ll need to cut back the stalks after you harvest the fruit to make sure new stalks can form and new fruit can grow in the same place.

Bananas will grow in large bunches called hands, each of which has about 20 bananas. You’ll see 10 or more hands on healthy, stable banana trees, meaning you can expect to yield at least 200 individual fruits.

Now that is bananas! 

See what we did there? Anyway, you harvest the fruit after it develops during this 3-month period. 

From there, any green bananas will take about a week to ripen after being harvested. Any ripe bananas should be consumed, distributed, or stored for later. 

You can also help improve the aesthetic of your bananas by putting bags over the fruit. This is done in commercial farming to help regulate the look of the fruit, as well as keeping it safer from pests.

Where Banana Trees Commonly Grow Best

Hawaii, Florida, and other hot, humid climate areas in the United States are best for growing bananas.

Around the world, bananas are found growing in many tropical regions, from African regions to China, India, and many of the South and Central American countries. 

Anywhere with a tropical climate can, and probably does, grow bananas thanks to their quick growth and massive yield. 

Recently, Ecuador has been the top exporter of bananas in the world, followed up by the Philippines, Costa Rica, and other similar-climate nations.

In the United States, bananas grow best in USDA hardiness zones 9-11, though zone 10 is the ideal zone for this plant. Unsure of what this means? We’ll go further into these zones and their significance a bit further down.

Where To Plant Your Banana Tree

Banana trees need environments that are tropical, meaning warm, moist, and sunny. These factors will help to keep your banana tree and its fruit healthy and prosperous.

USDA hardiness zones ranging from zone 9 to zone 11 are best, though zone 10 is the prime location for banana trees to grow.

If you are looking to grow a banana tree anywhere in the United States, reference the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map.

This map will help you determine which regions are the best suited to grow and sustain your banana tree. 

What The Heck Is A USDA Plant Hardiness (Growing) Zone?

The USDA has created the hardiness zones distinctions to help define different regions of the country where plants might be best fit to grow and not only survive but also thrive. 

These zones are based on the average, extreme, minimum temperatures of any given area. Essentially, in extremely cold winters, what would the average lowest temperature be?

While a region may look good in a normal year, it’s important to look at those extreme weather factors before planting any trees or other plants. This will help you identify the risks involved with the wintertime in the area, and how your tree might fare. 

The hardiness of a tree, by definition, is its ability to handle cold temperatures and adapt. So, trees that do well in low hardiness zones are extra hardy and can handle super low extreme temperatures. 

Those, like the banana tree, that require higher USDA hardiness zones to do well, are less hardy and will not do nearly as well as temperatures drop to their extremes. 

Hardiness zones are broken up into ten-degree sections by number and then split into 5-degree subcategories that are divided by A and B.

The fact that banana trees do best in zones 9-11 means they can handle the extremely low temperatures in zone 9a up to zone 11b. 

Zone 9a has minimum temperatures of 20-25 degrees Fahrenheit, while 11b has a minimum range of 45 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit.

These average minimum temperature ranges are in line with what you might expect for a heat-loving, tropical tree that is adaptable but not too much so.

How To Transplant Your Banana Tree Sapling

If you opted to plant your banana tree from a wild seed to get a unique type of fruit, or you thought your sucker (also known as a pup) would do best to start in a pot, you may need to know how to transplant your tree now. 

Helping your tree adjust to a transplant begins by transplanting correctly at the beginning.

Plan to follow these next few steps to make sure you go about the process in the right way:

• Location, location, location!
  
• Banana trees are meant for tropical environments. This means that they love sun and heat. So, pick a location that allows your banana tree to get lots of sun and enjoy that nice warm weather it wants. At least 6 hours of partial to full sunlight is ideal.
  
• Also, try to avoid planting your tree too close to any structures or other trees. Remember, banana trees grow fast and you don’t want a foundation issue, to be overshadowed by your tree, or to block light to other plants.
  
• You’ll want to ensure that you have a hole that can fit the roots of the plant, giving them space to grow and flourish as your tree gets bigger.
  
• Place your banana tree into its new home and watch it grow.
  
• Generously water the tree to help the roots get established so that the tree can grow well.

Keeping Your Banana Tree Healthy And Thriving

It’s always important to keep in mind that trees of any sort do best in the climate that they originate from.

Since banana trees are tropical plants, keeping them in a warm, sunny environment with moist, well-drained soil is key to their success.

It’s all well and good to know how to grow a tree, how to transplant it, and how to care for it, but if the tree is not in a location that can sustain it, your efforts may not be worth the hassle.

You want to water your banana tree regularly, making sure that it gets 1-1.5 inches and up to 6 inches of water per month.

Remember to note that soil should be able to drain well, because you don’t want your banana tree sitting in lots of water, either. This will cause stress on the tree and likely hinder its progress.

Too much of a good thing can be a bad thing.

That’s All For Now!

Okay, don’t go bananas, but we’re done for now. 

We hope this timeline helps you prepare to grow and sustain a banana tree, with fewer surprises. 

This tree is unique, from its quick growth to odd lifespan and fruit-bearing process. Growing a banana tree isn’t the easiest job out there, so props to you for giving it a go.

Starting from an established tree and going the propagation route is simply going to be your best option, and is the one that we recommend. 

The process is interesting, and it can be quite exciting and rewarding to see your banana tree spring to life. We know that you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor quite literally, once you harvest the bananas your tree will produce. 

If you want your very own home-grown bananas by next year, what are you waiting for? Start now, your future self will thank you.

Thanks for allowing us to be a trusted part of your tree journey. Happy planting, friends!

References

Kilwinger, F. B., Marimo, P., Rietveld, A. M., Almekinders, C. J., & van Dam, Y. K. (2020). Not only the seed matters: Farmers’ perceptions of sources for banana planting materials in Uganda. Outlook on Agriculture, 49(2), 119-132.

Lecompte, F., Ozier-Lafontaine, H., & Pages, L. (2003). An analysis of growth rates and directions of growth of primary roots of field-grown banana trees in an andisol at three levels of soil compaction. Agronomie, 23(3), 209-218.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been seeing lots of videos showing the harvesting of juicy, colorful fruit — all with bags over them! The first thought that comes to my mind is to prevent bugs, but why else? If you haven’t seen this with banana trees before, I’m sure you’re intrigued!

Bags on banana trees help prevent infestations from insects, damage from the environment, birds, or other animals. A lot of the bags used on commercial fruit farms are laden with insecticides to protect bananas from insect damage. It also helps improve the outer aesthetic of the fruit.

Keep reading to learn more about why they put bags on banana trees, and how it works!

Why Do They Put Bags On Banana Trees?

Banana bagging, or bunch covering, has been used for centuries. Originally, banana leaves were wrapped around banana bunches to protect them from winter temperatures.

However, bagging is now common practice throughout the world on fruit farms and is proven to increase the yield and quality of fruit.

Bagging, to be more specific, is the physical practice of placing a bag over banana bunches at different stages of growth!

Bagging not only protects the banana fruit against insect damage and animals, but it also creates a microclimate! This microclimate protects bananas from frost damage and helps maintain a more consistent temperature.

This process also enhances external and internal fruit aesthetics by reducing blemishes and improving color. Banana covering is labor-intensive and pretty costly, but for many farmers, the benefits outweigh the costs. 

There are a few methodologies and practices to follow for bagging banana trees. Let’s dig deeper into the world of bananas!

How Do Banana Bags Work?

Bananas have a thick peel, often a bright yellow when ripe, and have little to no blemishes on them, at least in the grocery store. This is where banana bags come in! There are a few different banana bags or also known as bunch covers.

These covers have unique characteristics and different uses. Let’s find out more.

Protect Against Damage

This includes transparent, blue polyethylene, half blue and half silver plastic, all-season bunch covers, and PP non-woven skirting bags. Some bags, mainly used by commercial growers, are saturated with insecticides to protect banana crops.

These bunch covers or banana bags protect bananas and other fruits against pathogens, damage from wind, birds, and sun, scarring, and damage during harvesting. 

Additionally, banana bags can protect fruits from freezing temperatures and reduce stress. So, as you can see, there are a multitude of reasons banana growers choose to use banana bags on their fruit.

Block UV Rays From The Sun

Transparent bag covers are mainly used to block UV rays from the sun. These bags allow for better light and temperature to penetrate the bananas and increase their growth. In certain conditions, where sunscald is an issue (basically sunburn on bananas), transparent bags are not used.

Blue polyethylene bags are commonly used in large-scale, or commercial banana farms. Sunscald, as we mentioned above, can be prevented using these bags.

The blue polyethylene blocks UV rays but still allows heat to penetrate, promoting optimal growth. These bags also prevent infestations from insects, and protection from birds, and other environmental factors. 

Maintains Proper Temperature Of The Bananas

Half blue and half silver plastic bags have a dual feature, and are pretty cool! 

The silver part of the bag faces toward the sun, with the blue side facing the trunk. Facing the blue side towards the north increases the temperature within the bag during the winter months.

The opposite is true during the summer and warmer months. Facing the silver side towards the north during the summer months decreases the temperature within the bag. This dual feature helps keep a constant temperature in the bag to improve fruit growth. 

An all-season bunch cover is a bag used to protect against harsh growing conditions. It was developed in Australia and ensures even heating, lighting, and development of bananas. They also have more UV protection than other banana bags.

Controls Ripening Of Bananas

Next is the PP (polypropylene) non-woven skirting bag. These bags are made up of a fabric that protects without sacrificing water permeability.

This type is supposed to help control the ripening of bananas and allow airflow and moisture circulation. It is also said to block insect and pathogen infestations completely!

When you’re picking out bananas in the store, you probably go towards the ones with the least amount of blemishes, bruises, or cuts on the outside of the peel.

Well, your bananas have probably been covered with banana bags! Banana covering yields better fruit quality and increases its market value, specifically because of a blemish-free appearance.

Effectiveness Of Banana Covers

It has become the most common practice in commercial banana production to cover bananas. They vary based on thickness, color, and type, as we mentioned above. 

The thickness of banana bags doesn’t affect the efficiency but affects the overall cost. What the thickness of the banana cover does is control and influence the overall temperature within the bag and can actually increase issues with bananas themselves if the climate isn’t just right.

The color of banana bags is another factor that influences banana growth and fruit quality. 

Banana covers come in white, blue, and silver, as we mentioned above. Using different colors of banana bags depends on the season, climate, and region. Each has a different impact on growth depending on what they’re used for. 

White-colored bags let in the most light, and blue covers let in the second most light. This leads us to what is better, white or blue? 

Blue banana bag covers result in bigger and heavier bunches of bananas. 

Why do you think this is? If you said UV rays, you’d be correct! 

The blue bag covers let in the most amount of heat without letting in UV rays, meaning no sunburn!

Another study from the Agricultural and Food Engineering Department of the Indian Institute of Technology looked at why colored bags are superior to non-colored bags. Colored bags not only reduced the time between flower emergence and harvesting, but they improved the quality and yield of bananas and offered protection against UV rays and pests. 

As we mentioned above, the different bags are used for different reasons and in different seasons, climates, and regions. Banana bagging can also quicken the maturity of banana bunches, ensuring on-time harvests for banana farmers. 

The effectiveness of bunch covers is substantial. Bananas covered with bags don’t show signs of scratches, blemishes, or physical injury, compared to uncovered bananas. 

In case we didn’t make the point earlier, banana bunch covers increase yield, quality, and size. Bananas also mature much quicker when covered with polyethylene covers. Using these bags can also limit the use of insecticides used on banana crops.

However, it depends on the insects growers are targeting, and the efficiency of the bag by itself.

Can I Grow My Own Banana Tree?

If this article is getting you excited about growing plants, well you’re in luck. You can grow a banana tree from the comfort of your own home!

There are ornamental banana trees (which produce fruit but you can’t eat it), and those that produce edible fruit. 

Whatever variety you decide on, bananas trees need full sunlight and at least 12 hours of sunlight. Depending on the type of banana tree, like the dwarf cavendish banana tree, they are self-pollinating, meaning you don’t need another tree near it to produce fruit. 

Additionally, banana trees need specific soils and consistently warm temperatures to produce fruit (you can view the best banana tree soils here.)

They will not survive if temperatures reach below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. So if you live in a USDA Hardiness Zone under 8, your banana tree will be a seasonal plant to have around the pool or patio, or grown as an indoor plant. 

If you want to grow it inside, it will not produce fruit, however, if you live in a tropical climate there’s a chance your banana plant can fruit! 

The Brighter Blooms – Ice Cream Banana (tree) is a great way to get started. It comes in three different sizes, so you can choose which size works best for you. This tree company even has a warranty, in case your banana tree doesn’t arrive as expected. 

Now that you know a little more about growing your own banana tree, you can boost your banana tree’s health by using fertilizer. 

The Dr. Earth INC 756P Exotic Blend Palm, Tropical & Hibiscus Fertilizer is a perfect option. It is non-GMO and organic! It’s made in the USA and has amazing reviews of reviving plants that were on their last leg. 

That’s A Wrap!

By now, we hope you feel you know why banana bagging is important to quality fruit harvests. The next time someone brings up fruits, you’ll have lots of exceptional facts to share about why their fruit looks so good!

That was a lot of information at once, so let’s recap why they put bags on banana trees and how it works. 

Bags on banana trees help prevent infestations from insects, environmental damage, and damage from birds and other animals. 

Bagging is a physical practice that involves placing a bag over banana bunches at different stages of growth. 

Most banana bags used on commercial fruit farms are saturated with insecticides to protect bananas. When the insecticide-laden bags rub against the fruit, it helps prevent insect infestations from forming.

Banana bagging has been used for centuries. Banana leaves were wrapped around banana bunches to protect them from winter temperatures before the use of bags. 

There are a few different banana bags, which include transparent, blue polyethylene, half blue and half silver plastic, all-season bunch covers, and PP non-woven skirting bags.

These bags all have different purposes and are used depending on the use, location, and climate. 

If you live in a tropical climate or want to grow an indoor plant, well, you can grow your own banana tree! While it may not produce fruit, it’s still an amazing plant to have in your landscape or houseplant collection. 

Thanks for sticking around and reading with us and learning why they put bags on banana trees, and how they work!

References 

Amani, M., and G. Avagyan. “Effect of polyethylene bunch cover on fungal diseases control of banana (Musa acuminata L.) in Iran.” International Journal of Farming and Allied Sciences 3, no. 10 (2014): 1054-1057.

Damour, G., Garnier, E., Navas, M. L., Dorel, M., & Risede, J. M. (2015). Using functional traits to assess the services provided by cover plants: a review of potentialities in banana cropping systems. Advances in agronomy, 134, 81-133.

Pathak, Purnima, Kartik Baruah, and Bhupen Kumar Baishya. “Influence of bunch covers on appearance and maturity of banana cv. Jahaji under high density planting system.” Research on Crops 17, no. 3 (2016): 512-516.

RODRIGUES, M. G. V., SOUTO, R. F., & MENEGUCCI, J. L. (2001). Influence of polyethylene banana bunch cover for irrigated banana tree in the North of Minas Gerais state. Revista Brasileira de Fruticultura, 23, 559-562.

Santosh, D. T., Tiwari, K. N., & Reddy, R. G. (2017). Banana bunch covers for quality banana production-a review. Int J Curr Microbiol Appl Sci, 6(7), 1275-1291.

Have you always wanted to have a banana tree in your yard? Maybe you are looking to start a produce business and banana trees would fit right in. After making sure you have the right climate for one, you need to find out about the best soil for banana trees.

If you live in a tropical climate, you won’t have any trouble finding the right type of soil to grow your banana tree in, which consists of lava rock and sand. Without this climate, banana trees can thrive in cactus-specific soil coupled with a sunny location.

Once you learn how to get the soil prepared for your banana tree you will be reaping the fruits of your labor in less than a year (I know, I couldn’t resist!) With a few added details and just the right soil, your banana tree will grow at its optimum level for many years to come.

What Are Banana Trees?

Banana trees are the plants that produce the sweet yellow fruit that you find in the grocery store and on produce stands. They love the tropics but the truth is you can actually grow them just about anywhere if you pay attention to their needs.

There are around 1,000 different kinds of bananas that can be found growing in over 150 countries. Some are pretty familiar, but a few will surprise you. 

The most common is the Cavendish, which are the ones that we buy at the grocery store. An interesting variety is the Blue Java, also known as the ‘Ice Cream’ banana because it tastes similar to vanilla ice cream. Musa Velutina bananas bear pretty pink fruit but have a lot of seeds and are difficult to eat.

According to Perdue University’s Center for Crops, the banana tree is a large herb (for the sake of this article we are going to continue calling it a tree.)

Because their makeup doesn’t include a woody stem, banana trees are considered to be an herb. As an herb, they can grow as tall as 40 feet high making them one of the tallest in this class in the world. 

Even though it is technically called an herb, it really looks more like a tree. The structure of this plant lies in the way the leaves grow. At the base of the banana tree, the leaves intertwine with each other creating what is known as a pseudo-stem, which can carry the weight of the tree. 

6 Conditions Banana Trees Need To Thrive And Bear Fruit

You may be wanting to grow banana trees just as an addition to your yard or you may be wanting to start a small banana plantation professionally. Either way, certain conditions that must be met for them to thrive and produce beautiful sweet bananas by the bunch.

1. Banana Trees Need A Humid Climate

Ideally, banana trees would like to have a flowered lei around their neck and call Hawaii home, but any place that is warm and humid will do. This does not mean you can’t grow a banana tree in an area that gets a little chilly here and there. More on how to deal with that in a minute.

2. Banana Trees Need Warm Temperatures

For a banana tree, a good day is when the temperature is around 80 degrees and it is humid outside. You will want to make sure you live in an area where the temperature doesn’t get below 55 degrees. 

You can up the humidity of your banana tree by misting it daily, or if it is in a container you can put it on a tray of pebbles or small rocks. Inside, you can place it near a humidifier.

3. Banana Trees Need Full Sun

They really like to bask in full sun, but you may need to keep an eye on the and give them a little bit of shade now and then. Six hours of sun is what they want, but you have to make sure they don’t get burned. (Think of it like telling your kids to make sure to wear sunscreen.)

4. Banana Trees Need Well Drained Soil

Ah, the all-important part that is truly the base that will help the banana tree thrive and bear fruit. Make sure not to get just any potting from a home and garden department. Banana trees need soil that can drain easily or the tree will die if it is left in any kind of water build-up.

Banana Plant Potting Soil Mix is a hand-made mixture that has been created specifically for banana trees! It comes in an 8-quart bag that will be the perfect soil for your banana plant.

5. Banana Trees Need Frequent Watering

During the summer months, a banana tree should be watered about every couple of days. When watering, take your time and make sure it is reaching down deep and getting to the roots. Do not overwater or the roots will rot. Feel the soil and if the top inch feels dry, it is time to water it again.

6. Banana Trees Need Fertilization

While your banana tree is growing, you should fertilize your banana tree every month. An all-purpose 10-10-10 fertilizer will work well for your banana tree. Southern Ag All Purpose Granular Fertilizer 10-10-10, has equal parts nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous, to help your banana tree flourish.

How Do You Prepare The Soil For Your Banana Tree?

There are a few things you can do before you plant your banana tree that will give it the best chance not only of survival but the most productive life it can have. You don’t have to wait until it’s warmer if you plan on planting your tree in the cooler months, just make sure it is not cold.

Because the roots of the banana tree do best when they have enough room to spread out, make sure the hole you dig is not only deep but wide. Put some of the special soil you have for your tree at the bottom of the hole so it can get directly to the roots right away.

To prepare the soil, make sure it is loosened up so it is porous enough for the water to drain properly. You can mix in some compost If you have some peat moss or manure will help with the mixture as well.

The soil should be one that is specifically for growing banana trees. These blends ensure that the roots get enough hydration but the soil can drain and not clump up leaving your banana tree sitting in water. 

Can You Grow Banana Trees In Pots? 

Not only can you grow banana trees in pots you can actually grow them inside your home. If you don’t have enough land to grow a banana tree with its expansive root system, you can easily grow a banana tree in a plastic, ceramic, or wooden pot. Just make sure you start with at least a 15-gallon pot.

Once it begins to grow and needs to be moved to a larger pot, you can either move it and plant it outside or find an even larger pot to plant it in. Growing your tree indoors you will need to make sure that the soil can always stay well-drained. Look for soil that has a good combination of vermiculite and perlite.

When you grow a banana tree indoors it is important to get just the right soil for it to grow. The soil has to be able to drain while still keeping the banana tree hydrated. Once you water your tree, make sure it is well-drained and dry before you water it again.

Until you decide if you want your banana tree to continue to grow indoors or if you want to move it outside, you may want to start with Soft POTS.

The 15-gallon pots are made of a thick fabric that is made from recycled water bottles. They are breathable providing good aeration for your trees and it has handles on each side so you can move them around when they need more or less sun.

What Is A Dwarf Banana Tree? 

A dwarf banana tree is actually just a smaller version of the Cavendish banana tree. This is the type of banana tree that produces the bananas that we currently get at our local produce stands and grocery stores.

While the conditions it requires are similar to the regular-sized banana tree there are a few things it requires that are different. It does like full sunlight but it can exist in some shade.

As for the soil for the dwarf Cavendish banana tree, it likes it to be loamy and able to drain well. The makeup should be a combination of silt and sand with some clay added. They also like their soil to be more acidic with a pH level that ranges from 5.5 to 6.5

The Best Soil For Indoor And Outdoor Banana Trees

While the soil needs for banana trees for indoor, outdoor, and dwarf banana trees are similar, here is an easy breakdown for each and how to prepare it.

Outdoor Banana Trees

The main type of soil that an outdoor banana tree must-have keeps the tree wet but not sitting in water. That will end up causing issues for your banana tree. It prefers some sandy soil but still needs to be well-draining.

If you are adding a banana tree to your existing outside garden, you can add some perlite to keep it well-drained. In the summer months when the weather is warmer, you should water your banana tree once or twice a day. 

Keep the pH level of your banana trees at 5.5 to 7. Make sure it does not go above 7.5. Keep an eye on the pH levels and invest in a home test so you can check it at least once a year.

Bananas have a lot of potassium in them and it is because they require a high level of potassium while they are growing. Use a fertilizer that is high in potassium and it will help the growth of your banana tree, and even add some compost to the soil. Mist them daily to bring up the humidity level.

Indoor Or Potted Banana Trees

When you are dealing with an indoor banana tree that you are growing in a pot, you may want to select a soil mixture that uses organic materials or one that will continuously provide nutrition. This will give your indoor tree nutrition regularly as it releases it in a time-release manner.

Make sure you keep the acidity level under the pH level of 7. Banana trees need to be in pots that are large enough to accommodate their spreading root system. And while they are growing, fertilize them regularly with a 10-10-10 combination of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous. 

Banana trees love to be treated with a lot of potassium. But they are not stingy with it, they use it to pass it on to their fruit.

Dwarf Cavendish Banana Trees

These mini versions of the common Cavendish banana trees are easy to grow and will make a great ornamental addition as a potted plant, or a fruit-bearing tree in your outside garden. 

Just like the other types of banana trees, they like soil that will drain well but still keep them hydrated. The soil should have a pH level of 5.5 to 6.5 and your banana tree should be fertilized every couple of months. You can plant it outside if you have room or inside in a roomy pot that has a good drainage base.

That’s A Wrap!

No matter where you live, the good news is that you will be able to grow a banana tree. If you have plenty of room you can grow several. 

If you don’t have much room you can grow just one.  And if you don’t have enough room for any trees you can grow one right in a pot in your home. 

Knowing the best soil for banana trees in each type of environment will give them the best chance not only for survival but for producing fruit on an ongoing basis. And if it looks like they are done producing bananas, don’t count them out.

Once they finish growing a bunch of bananas, another rhizome will pop up on the other side and will soon enough produce another bunch.

Thanks for sticking around and learning all about the best soil for banana trees! We wish you the best of luck on your banana tree journey!

References 

Collins, J. H. (1924). Growing Our Own Bananas. Scientific American, 131(2), 86-139.

Lahav, E. (1995). Banana nutrition. In Bananas and plantains(pp. 258-316). Springer, Dordrecht.