My Aunt Gave Me a Small Banana Tree and It Was Growing Very Well Until
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Sia@South 47th on Aug 08, 2013Is the root system fairing well? One of the many garden Pro's such as @Douglas Hunt or others, will be along to give you some help @Angie Base . Hang in there! xoxHelpful Reply
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The Garden Frog with C Renee on Aug 09, 2013I have never grown a banana tree but from my experience with other houseplants bringing them back I would have to tell you first take and cut off the bad leaves (plant is going to look pathetic for a month or so. Lightly give it a bath with a mixture of ivory soap and water to get rid of any pests (you may not see them but they still could be there). Then I would re-pot it which you do not re-pot but 1-2 inches larger only if it is root-bound. If it is not root-bound, just take out as much old dirt without knocking it off the roots in the pot (I prefer Miracle grow and I do not use the expensive one with water saving gunk). do not over water and use rain water or let the tap water sit in a clean milk jug for a few days. Most plants cannot tolerate sitting in wet soil and even if it is dry on top it could still be soggy at the roots. Good luck.Helpful Reply
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Douglas Hunt on Aug 09, 2013What do you mean by plenty of light, Angie? Bananas do best in full sun. I had one that sulked in a pot on my patio, but is doing great now that it is in the ground and getting much more sun. It's very easy to overwater in a container, especially if it does not have holes in the bottom. Because bananas are heavy feeders, and because the soil in containers can easily become depleted, it's important to have them on a regular fertilization schedule. 20-20-20 would be good. The smaller offshoots are "pups," which may well just hang out for awhile. It was easily a year before one of mine showed any real growth. If your banana recovers and gets happy enough to flower, that stalk (technically a "pseudostem") will then die, to be replaced by the pups.Helpful Reply
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Miriam Illions on Aug 09, 2013I'm tagging @Jeanette S as she has one growing in her garden and may have some insight.Helpful Reply
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Jeanette S on Aug 09, 2013This is my first year to have Banana Trees...I have mine outside in the yard and have never tried to grow one in a pot...??? But I will say, these are large plants and that is a very small pot!Helpful Reply
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Pauline Cobb Choate on Aug 10, 2013I'm doing well with my banana in a container. I started with a 3 gal container when it was young and have since moved it into a large tub. It is thriving, but, it does require lots of sun and it lets me know if I've been neglectful with the water. Fortunately, we've had more than our share of rain here in west central FL so she's a happy banana now. I've learned bananas, as Douglas says, are heavy feeders. To try a natural approach, I've been planting some of my kitchen scraps that are headed for the compost pile, directly around the base periodically. Seems to be working, it's thriving and stands over 4' tall. I fear I'll be seeking an even larger tub soon. Good luck with yours!Helpful Reply
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Wilma Fendrick on Aug 10, 2013My mother and Grandmother grew these when we lived in Arkansas. They always planted them in the ground in the summer. Before winter they would lift them wrap in burlap and store under the house. They would grow above the roof line. My grandmother actually had one set Bananas one year. Maybe yours would do better in the ground instead of in a pot. They do like lots of morning sun also.Helpful Reply
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Mary-Jo Westbrook on Aug 10, 2013is there drainage? looks like it's direct planted, and could have some root rot- plant it in a plastic pot, then put into the decorative pot. You can cover the plastic pot with spanish moss. Make sure the dirt is light with perlite and fillers to allow the roots to breatheHelpful Reply
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Hilliriah Jacobs on Aug 10, 2013i have never seen banana trees growing in pots but if some of you gets it growing to bloom and fruit kudos but they thrive better in the ground with lots of sunlight. i love to see them so much that i bought an artificial tree that looks so real with bananas on itHelpful Reply
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Jeanette S on Aug 10, 2013Angie, I grew up in the country a long time before a lot of pesticides were available for flowers. When my mother saw aphids, she always poured the water from her dishpan over the bush. Since we do not use dishpans any longer, perhaps you can mix up some tipid soapy water and wash it down...be sure and get the undersides of the leaves...it won't hurt. My son told me Banana plants LOVE the hot sun...sure enough as soon as it began to creep up to 90 degrees, this thing took off! Set it out in dapple shade to start with (or in a garage) to give it a chance to acclimate and then put it where it gets some sun. Mine gets about 8+ direct west sun a day! Loves it! Good luck...keep it moist, but not with wet roots!Helpful Reply
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Lori Fuelling on Oct 30, 2014Not wanting to sound mean, but why didn't you just ask your Aunt? From your description she sounds quite knowledgeable about plants. I'm sure she would of helped you without judging, she loved you enough to give you the plant, next time don't be afraid to ask her, she will adore you for it as then she can pass her knowledge onto you, what better legacy. Peace and happinessHelpful Reply
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