How to Divide a Banana Plant
Banana plants grow from corms, rooting structures that are similar to bulbs. Young banana plants -- at least seven months old -- that have not yet borne fruit can be divided at the corm to produce two new plants. But to be divided successfully, the corm must be the right size. Each half of the corm should be around 4 lbs. and roughly 3 (or more) square inches after it is trimmed. The general rule is that the larger the banana corm division, the better. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Water the banana plant so that the soil is moist to a depth of at least 1 foot. Moist soil is easier to dig, and drought-stressed banana plants should not be divided.
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Cut the banana plant's stalk back to 4 to 5 inches above the ground with a handsaw. Saw on one side of the thin trunk until you are a little more than halfway through it. Then push the trunk over, away from the cut.
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Dig around the banana plant's trunk in a circle that is just as wide as the spread of the banana plant's leaves and roughly 1 foot deep. Set aside the soil that you uproot.
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Loosen and remove the soil on the interior of the circle with a trowel until you reveal the banana plant's corm. Take care not to damage the corm as you dig. Remove the corm by hand or with the help of a shovel or other lever.
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Brush the loose dirt away from the corm. Then peel back the leaf sheaths covering the corm until you reveal the two uppermost pink-tinted buds (like the eyes of a potato) at the top of the corm.
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Divide the corm in half between the two upper pink buds.
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Trim the sides of each corn so that they are roughly square in shape. Cut to remove the other lower buds and any discolored areas. Do not trim the top or bottom of the corm.
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8
Heat a large pot of water to 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Place the corms in the water and allow them to sit for 20 minutes. This hot bath will help prevent the banana plant from developing disease.
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Remove the corms from the water and place them in a cool, dry place for 48 hours.
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Plant each banana corm under 6 inches of soil.
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References
- Photo Credit David De Lossy/Valueline/Getty Images
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Comments
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When should this be done: spring, summer, fall, winter? We live in north Texas and have 16 banana trees - I'd like to separate them and plant in other parts pf the yard...when is te best time to transplant the trees?
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Suszieaunna
Sep 04, 2008
HELP!! My banana 'tree'- has gotten out of hand! I received ONE plant as a gift; and planted it, I've left it out in the ground, all year round and now, it isn't one, it's EIGHT and they're at least 50 feet tall! I need to divide them without hurting the 'mother'- does anyone know of a way to do it? ...and when is the best time of year to do it? I live in Atlanta, Georgia
