I need help determining if it is water or light. My banana indoor gets lots of direct light all day. The leaves get yellow and brown on the ends. Am I giving it too much or too little of something? Window faces northwest in a loft with lots of light. Water about one time per week-soak the soil and let it run out the bottom. It is not sitting in water. Tree is about 8 ft tall. Can I leave pups on bottom if they are 2-3 feet? or do they need to be repotted? Thanks for any suggestions.

If it's indoors, it probably does this because the air is dry. Try misting it a few times a day, and set a pan of water near it (if you have room) to increase the humidity.

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Happy Gardening

Tony O.

thank you, what about pups? Should I leave them alone?

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They'll do fine as a group as long as they get enough water & fertilizer. You'll have to separate them sooner or later though, or they'll bust the pot. The problem is, do you have a lot of room for more pots. Then on the other hand, they would make great gifts to other plant lovers.

As a side note. Did you know if they get enough water that the leaves will drip any excess water from them? If they overhang a carpet, the drops can stain it.

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Happy Gardening

Tony O.

I have read in a few places that the banana tree dies after it finally produces bananas. Is this true? Why and also, what is the minimum amount of time they need sunlight to grow well?

Paul Ogle

Yes, they do die after flowering. This is a common trait of many plant species, including Bromeliads and even some palms, like Pigafetta & Corypha species.

Most species of banana will produce multiple pups before reaching the flowering stage and the flower also produces a rhizome, so future propagation is easy enough. In terms of sunlight, there isn't a strict minimum, and the minimum level will vary between species, but with most bananas indegenous to areas relatively near the equator, they are used to little variance in day length between the seasons. Ideally 12 hours of light, be it direct or indirect would keep any banana happy, but the hardier varieties like basjoo, etc. can live without any light at all for months providing they are not actively growing at the time.

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http://palm-trees.org

Thank you for your help. I bought a dwarf banana plant. I think it said it would possibly grow to be 8 feet tall. I'm not sure how long that will take, or how fast I will have to keep transplanting it. It is about 10 to 12 inches right now in a 12 inch pot. It was 8 to 10 inches about 3 weeks ago.

I try to give it at least 9 hours of direct sunlight and 3 hours of indirect light. I am moving it in the house and outside the house to regulate the temperature and the lighting. I'm sure it isn't the best, but I want to make sure it grows and does well.

Paul Ogle

Good job Mr. Paulogle.
Your banana plant would even like what you are doing, even though it's not the best. Way the Go Mr. Paulogle!
I don't know.
Thanks

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Plant a Banana in Soil;
And Before you know, it will start to grow...

I love my new banana plant. It seems like it is doing well. I do need a fertilizer. Does anyone on the site know of a place to purchase good fertilizers for the banana plants?

Thanks,

Paul Ogle

If you don't want to spend much money, an organic fertilizer works best. Fertilizer high in potassium is best for bananas, making sure the nitrogen is low. You could use banana peelings that is chopped and buried under the soil near the banana. Another is the banana trash. Fallen leaves are copped, moistened and used as mulch. Pottasium that the leaves had taken will go back to the plant and the banana plant will grow robustly. Another is coconut husks placed at the base of the plant. That's all I know. Also, you can use plain compost.

Thanks

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Plant a Banana in Soil;
And Before you know, it will start to grow...

I am new to the banana world. I have a banana but do not know what kind I have. I have it in a fairly large pot 16". my problem is when it is in direct sunlight outdoors, it destroys the leaves. I must keep it in partial shade. So far when it gets new leaves it hits the 8 ft ceiling and bends the leaves and damages the ends badly. I have 2 2ft plants coming up the side of the main plant and I am awaiting my flowers

Are you sure the leaves are destroyed by the sun? Maybe the leaves are just shocked and will be established for some time. You can just wait for the plant to flower. If it is just 2ft. high, it would take at least 8 months 'till flowering.

Thanks.

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Plant a Banana in Soil;
And Before you know, it will start to grow...

The leaves do have dark spots the more time it is in the sun, but I wouldn't say it is ruining the leaves. It may cause it to grow faster. My Banana plant is growing pretty quickly, but there is some coloration on the leaves when it gets a lot of sun. The lower leaves die as the upper leaves continue to come onto the new plant.

Paul Ogle