In the words "home banana" there is something fabulous, fantastic. Often people think that growing banana trees at home is an impossible task. But no, a tropical plant straight from Africa can easily become an inhabitant of a home or garden, you just need to make a little effort. The article provides information on how to choose a plant variety for the home, care features and difficulties that you may encounter when growing.
Is a banana a tree or grass?
Residents of our country often wonder how bananas grow - on the grass or palm? But the question is, on what trees do bananas grow, children often ask their parents. As a rule, they get the answer - on a palm tree, but this is fundamentally wrong.
Banana tree in the wild
Banana is considered an herbaceous plant on which the fruits ripen. The plant, of course, looks like a tree, but by its nature is grass.
Banana fell into the grass category due to the lack of wood on the trunk. The trunk itself consists of leaves that grow overlapping each other. Over time, they dry and darken, becoming a brownish color, and really become like ordinary trees.
Interesting fact: banana is the second highest grass, second only to the bamboo record holder.
Green bananas
Dwarf varieties for home growing
All varieties of bananas are conditionally divided into 2 categories - decorative and fruit.
In residential premises, decorative species are most often grown: their fruits are inedible, but have a variety of colors and shapes. However, they do not grow to enormous size. It is noteworthy that some amateur gardeners manage to grow fruit varieties at home that can be eaten.
Decorative (dwarf) varieties:
- Velvet Banana - Musa velutina.
A small tree, reaching 130 centimeters in height, usually blooms pink with yellow overflow, flowers. It gives pink fruits with a velvety texture, which is not only practical to collect, but also brings aesthetic pleasure.
Pink Velvet Bananas
- Purple Banana - Musa violacea.
This variety reaches more than one meter in height. It blooms at any time of the year with bright pink-purple flowers, and the fruits acquire a rich lilac hue.
- Bright Red Banana - Musa coccinea.
Reaches one hundred centimeters in height and stands out beautifully bright red bract.
- Lavender Banana - Musa ornata.
This species is especially appreciated for the delicate shade of flowers and fruits.
So, bananas are not just yellow edible fruits, but also bright flowers that stand out in the rainforests.
Features of banana care at home
Any plant is demanding care, and tropical, which they try to grow in the northern latitudes, especially. It is necessary to create a suitable microclimate in the apartment and carefully monitor the growth of the plant, then it will always delight you with a healthy look.
Banana tree care at home
- Temperature
The most optimal temperature regime for banana growth is + 23-28 degrees, and in winter from +17 to 20.
Temperature and high humidity are the key to active growth. In the event that the temperature drops to +15 and below it will greatly affect the growth.
- Lighting
Bananas grow in nature under the scorching rays of the sun. This means that the open window sill on the south side of the apartment will be an excellent option for the location of the pot.
The place where the plant stands must necessarily be well lit, because a lack of light will affect growth and development.
- Watering and spraying
One of the main principles of good banana growth is constant humidity. In the warm season, it is necessary to spray the banana leaves and the air around it at least once a day.
You can also place a bowl of water next to it so that it evaporates and maintains a humid climate. In the event that a palm tree with bananas grows in the garden, you can arrange watering and spraying it from a garden hose.
Features of banana watering
An important point must be taken into account - moisture should not stagnate in the pot, it should be watered at the moment when the top layer of the earth has dried up, about two centimeters.
Important! Periodically, you need to loosen the earth for the best flow of water and air to the roots of the plant. This should be done very carefully - it is better to use a simple wooden stick.
Banana tree pot and soil
The roots of a banana tree require space, so the pot must be selected based on the size of the root part. You should also remember that you need to make holes in the pot and put 1-2 cm layer of drainage.
It is worth remembering that stagnation of water is fatal for any plant, including a home banana.
The preferred soil for the plant is neutral or slightly acidic.
You can prepare land for a banana at home, this will require:
- Bucket of soil (suitable for linden, walnut or acacia).
- Ash - 0.5% liter.
- Humus - 1 liter.
- Coarse sand - 2 liters.
Potted banana
The resulting mixture of the earth is best poured with boiling water to get rid of possible pests.
Plant nutrition
The family of banana plants has always been characterized by active growth and "appetite." Plant nutrition is required weekly in the summer and monthly in the winter.
Feeding can be arranged by natural means, for this it’s suitable:
- Cow humus.
- Ashes.
- Sidereal fertilizer.
Important! You can not feed a banana with a chemical type of fertilizer, they negatively affect its roots.
Winter Banana Care Features
During the onset of cold weather, you need to take care of the warming of the plant.
The root part should be covered with dried sawdust, and the ground part should be covered with a cardboard box. Then you can wrap everything with cling film and fix it so that the structure does not fall apart.
The main thing is to protect the roots from freezing. The main difference between winter care and usual is a decrease in the intensity of watering the plant.
How a Banana Palm Blossoms
To start flowering a banana, a period of 8-10 months is required. At this time, flower stalks break out from the tuber, which pass through the entire length of the trunk. At the time of flowering, something is very much reminiscent of a large bud of purple or green color.
How a Banana Palm Blossoms
At the bottom of this "bud" flowers are formed, located in several tiers and divided into male, female and bisexual flowers. They all have the same flowery structure: three petals and sepals.
How a banana palm propagates
You can grow a banana with the help of seeds, or just buy a ready-made seedling.
Attention! Often, from the seeds we get a wild, actively growing plant with a high level of survival and resistance to various diseases.
You can also buy a ready-made seedling - you can find it in specialized stores. Such a plant, with proper care, will give edible fruits, a large harvest, and will also please its owners and guests with its appearance.
Seed cultivation
You can buy seeds in almost every garden store. It is important to remember that they are protected by a very dense shell, so scarification is required before planting.
Plant seeds in small pots, up to 10 centimeters in diameter. The soil is composed of peat and sand, the seeds are planted superficially, slightly pressing into the prepared soil.
Next, you need to cover them with film, put in a bright and warm place. Watering and hydration occurs every three days.
Banana propagation
Growing in this way requires a lot of patience, because the first sprouts appear only after 2-3 months of continuous care. That is why the method is not very popular - novice lovers of banana trees often do not wait for the emergence of seedlings, believing that the seeds have died.
Growing from seedlings
Initially, the seedling is placed in “quarantine” for several days, after which it should be transplanted into a suitable pot with a nutrient mixture for active growth.
Then cultivation occurs by maintaining a suitable climate. Care is carried out according to the scheme described above.
Possible problems in growing a banana
There are a number of problems that arise when growing homemade banana:
- Growth slowed down, foliage withers and falls - an insufficient amount of nutrients affects. It is necessary to feed the plant and, if possible, transplant it into a larger pot.
- Foliage dries up, young shoots wither - air is too dry, more thorough moisturizing is necessary.
- The leaves turn pale and shrink in size - the point is in poor lighting.
The main problems in growing
- Soft leaves indicate low temperature, inappropriate climate.
- If the plant in the spring "did not wake up", did not start to grow - it is necessary to feed.
- Dimming the stem or the appearance of soft patches on it is the worst danger to the plant. The stem begins to die from a large amount of moisture. Urgent measures are required - first of all, to reduce watering.
Of course, a banana palm is not the easiest plant to care for, but it’s very unusual. A tropical plant can be a great addition to the interior of your apartment or garden, as well as surprise guests. "Green friend" will certainly please with its exoticism. And if you manage to grow a fruit variety, then the household will also get edible home-made bananas.
