Can I Grow Blue Java Banana in Pot
Growing Banana Trees in Pots is one of the best ways to cultivate this most popular fruit in colder regions and small spaces! Let's have a look at how to do it easily.
Growing Banana Trees in Pots is a simple way to include this amazing large foliage tropical plant in your home and garden, especially if you don't have much space or you live in a cold climate. Not only for fruits, but you can also grow it for its beautiful big leaves.
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Can a Banana Tree in Pots Bear Fruits?
The first question that may arise in your mind would be whether you will be able to enjoy bananas if you grow them in pots. Well, don't worry! It is possible! The banana tree bears fruits in pots prolifically.
If you plan to grow the plant using a bulb, sucker, or a young tree, which you can buy from a plant nursery–it will take 8-15 months to produce fruits.
However, the banana tree may even fruit early in 5 to 7 months after planting if you buy a young tree from a garden center if you're growing in a favorable warm climate. Or, this would take more time, depending on the specific variety you choose to grow and the growing conditions, for example, if you live in a cold climate.
Incorrect temperature range, inadequate light, lack of humidity, and nutrient deficiencies can slow down the fruiting of banana trees considerably. Also, remember that while some varieties bear edible fruits, others don't, such as Musa basjoo, which doesn't produce palatable fruits.
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Growing Banana Trees in Pots
Banana is a lush green, fast-growing plant that can give any place a tropical look and feel. Many varieties become excellent houseplants that don't need much care and grow up very quickly.
Choosing a Pot for Banana Tree
The banana tree needs deep and wide containers to grow. Ideally, opt for a pot 18-24 inches in depth and width or even more. Depth is important to growing bananas because the roots need plenty of space to expand.
You can even use wine barrels or plant them in large grow bags.
Learn about the different banana varieties here
Growing Banana Trees in Pots in Tropics
Growing banana tree in a pot in a tropical climate is extremely easy. If you're living in USDA Zones 9b to 11, keep your banana tree in the shade in the afternoon in summer, when the plant is young. With little to no care banana tree grows in the container.
All the other requirements are similar, as given below in the article for cool and temperate zones.
Banana Varieties You Can Grow in Pots and Indoors
These dwarf varieties of banana trees restrict up to only 1.5 m to 4 m. (4 to 12 feet) tall and are suitable to grow in containers. You can also grow these banana varieties indoors.
- Dwarf Red
- Rajapuri
- Dwarf Cavendish
- Williams Hybrid
- Dwarf Brazilian
- Gran Nain
- Dwarf Jamaican
- Dwarf 'Lady Finger'
- Ensete ventricosum
- Musa sikkimensis 'Red Tiger'
- Musa ornata
- Hardy Banana
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R equirements for Growing Banana Trees in Pots
Sun
Banana trees grow in tropical and subtropical parts of the world and love the full sun, heat, and humidity. If you're growing a banana tree, keep it in a spot that receives the sun most of the day but is sheltered from strong wind.
Soil
Banana trees require a well-draining growing medium. If you are making it at home, make sure to mix sand or perlite with compost or manure. Use sandy soil rich in organic matter and compost.
Banana needs slightly acidic to neutral soil to produce those potassium-rich nutritious bananas. The soil pH should be around 6-7. If your soil is too alkaline, use sulfur to decrease the pH.
Watering
Banana plant loves moisture. You should water it regularly during summer to keep it evenly and consistently moist. It may need water even two times a day in hot weather where temperature reaches above 100 F (38 C) in summer or when it is root-bound. So, water the tree regularly and profoundly but avoid waterlogging.
Banana Tree Care in Pots
Humidity
The banana plant prefers humidity levels above 50 percent but it doesn't mind growing in dry air either.
Mist the plant and place it on a layer of pebbles in a tray filled with water if the plant is small and if you are growing indoors.
Fertilizer
Banana is a fast-growing plant and requires heavy feeding to grow to its full strength. Feed young plants with a fertilizer rich in potassium, nitrogen, and magnesium and other trace elements–any balanced fertilizer would be sufficient.
Also, side dress the pot with well-rotted manure twice in a year.
Once your banana tree in the pot becomes mature enough to produce fruit, start feeding it with a balanced low nitrogen fertilizer like 8-10-10 or 8-10-8 following the manufacturer's direction.
Pests and Diseases
Some pests that might attack the banana plants are aphids, spider mites, banana weevil, and coconut scale. These pests can easily be repelled using organic pesticides.
To keep most diseases at bay, avoid over and under watering the plant.
Temperature
The plant grows best in a stable temperature range and prefers continental, coastal, and tropical weather. These plants can be grown easily in warm range of 50 to 104 F (10 to 40 C).
Overwintering a Banana Tree
Banana plants stop growing when temperatures are below 50 F (10 C). Before the onset of winter, do heavy mulching and prune extra leaves in fall.
Avoid exposing it to a temperature below 50 F or 10 C. If you live in a colder climate and growing it, start keeping the tree indoors in a cozy room before the arrival of winter. Set it next to a large window so that it can receive plenty of bright light.
Harvesting Bananas
Bananas are ready to fruit within 6 to 15 months and unlike other fruit trees, they fruit year round. The exact expected harvest season totally depends on your climate, you can enquire about this in your local nursery or ask other gardeners in your area that grow this.
Harvesting bananas is as easy as it gets. Look for the yellowest fruits in the bunch, and using a sharp knife, slice them cleanly, without damaging the rest.
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Source: http://balconygardenweb.com/how-to-grow-banana-trees-growing-banana-trees-in-pots/
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