How to Make Indoor Banana Trees Grow Fruit
Many people think of bananas as fruiting tropical trees, when in actuality they are herbaceous tropical perennials. Musa cavendishii, the banana, is a common fruit staple in many kitchens throughout the world. But getting fruit from the small banana plants most people find in garden centers can be quite a task. When growing bananas indoors, the plants require more care. Does this Spark an idea?
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Choosing a Variety
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A fruiting banana plant is much larger than ornamental varieties. You need to know what type of banana tree you have if you intend to get fruit from it. One reason is because both ornamental and fruiting varieties of bananas exist. Many garden centers sell ornamental bananas because of their showy variegated leaves and smaller size. You also need know what type of banana you have because certain plants can get up to 30 feet tall before fruiting, which can be an issue for trying to grow them indoors. With fruiting bananas, you want the plant Musa cavendishii, the common banana. For indoor growth, some smaller varieties include "Dwarf," "William," and "Canary Island."
Nutrition
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Bananas are accustomed to growing in tropical areas with a higher amount of organic matter in the soil and can be picky plants when grown in pots. For the banana plant to produce flowers and plenty of fruit, it requires potting mix that contains mostly organic matter such as composted material. If the plant is watered well and often, the banana tree should produce fruit. It is almost impossible to overwater or overfeed a banana, so weekly fertilizing with a well-balanced fertilizer helps ensure large fruits.
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Environment
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Because of its preference for growing in tropical areas, the banana tree has a low tolerance for changes in temperature. Banana plants require steady temperatures for their entire growing season and suffer if night temperatures drop below 65 degrees Fahrenheit and daily temperatures rise above 85. Bananas need constant moisture to thrive, so maintain a high humidity and soil moisture for plentiful fruiting. Bananas need at least 12 hours of bright light and should be kept out of windy areas to keep their leaves intact. An indoor humidifier can help to combat dry conditions in a house.
Maintenance
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The dark colored flower or "bell" of the banana plant During a banana tree's growing season, regularly pile organic matter on top of the soil to promote constant nutrition. Mulching helps to prevent weeds if they become a problem indoors. After some months of growth, the banana plant will sprout a large flower on a stalk out of the center of the plant. Eventually, this stalk grows heavy and falls toward the ground, exposing small bananas. Once the bananas are exposed, cut off the large flower at the end of the stalk so energy is not taken away from growing fruit. The banana fruits will grow for another few months until they grow large and begin to lighten in color. After picking the ripened fruits, cut the banana plant all the way down to the ground since it will no longer make any fruit. Small plants will sprout again from the base to make new bananas.
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References
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