Bananas are fast growing plants native to the tropics and subtropics, and are easy to maintain if you are just starting out with your own organic garden at home.
Many choose to cultivate them for the properties of their fruit as food, since bananas are rich in potassium and magnesium, favor the functioning of the cardiovascular and digestive systems, and improve heart health. But others also do it because they admire the decorative characteristics of the plant.
Although some species can reach 15 meters in height, you can choose dwarf varieties between 2 and 4 meters, which you can grow in pots if you do not have a park or garden. This option, which will allow you to have the plant inside your home, will also help you if the temperature of the place where you live is not very warm. Even so, there are varieties with greater resistance to cold that you can also choose.
In this note you will learn how to grow bananas at home in simple steps. Dare to do it and you will see that there is nothing more delicious than the fruits of your own harvest! Also, by doing so you will know that everything you consume will be free of pesticides and other chemicals that could harm your health.
General procedure for growing bananas in pots
1. When starting the cultivation of your banana plant, it is advisable to do it from a bulb or rhizome of a mother plant, which you must first wash well with warm water to eliminate possible fungi and bacteria.
2. Next, choose a large container about 50 centimeters in diameter, with holes in the bottom base to facilitate drainage. You may need to transplant it into a larger container later. On the other hand, the land you choose should be light, so that the water drains easily. You can also contribute to this by adding 20% perlite (crushed siliceous rock) that will work by aerating the substrate and preventing the roots from rotting. Also try to add compost, to increase the amount of nutrients in the soil in the container.
3. Once you have the soil inside your container, dig a hole deep enough to comfortably fit the roots of your seedling or rhizome. Try to leave a layer of 2 to 3 centimeters on top so that the roots are not fully exposed to light.
4. If the plant receives proper care, you will see that segments will soon begin to sprout. You can easily tell that your banana is healthy by the continued growth of its flowers (which appear around the sixth or seventh month, depending on the variety).
The harvest takes place approximately 12 months after planting, when the bananas are still green, and throughout the year, since they do not have a specific growing season. Then, the fruits are left to ripen in a dark, closed, dry and warm place.
In the following video you will see step by step how to grow your banana plant in soil, but the technique can also be used in your container.
– Protect your plant from wind and cold. In the hottest months you can transport your banana plant outside to strengthen it and then in winter, bring it inside to take care of the low temperatures.
– The ideal temperature for optimal banana growth is between 25° and 28°.
– Due to the large size of its leaves, the banana plant needs a lot of water and requires high humidity. Try to water it two to three times a week to keep it properly.
Trick to achieve higher humidity: place small containers of water around the plant, as this will create humidity in the air and that will favor the growth of the banana.
– To accelerate the growth process, fertilizers rich in potassium are recommended. In addition, an acid soil is preferable, with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5.
– Regarding light, keep in mind that in nature they develop with indirect sunlight. You need 12 hours of heat, which could also be replaced by artificial light inside the home.
– Periodically rotate the container so that all parts of the plant are exposed to light in the same way.
– These plants are not very susceptible to pest invasions, therefore you will need little maintenance. You can help keep your plant healthy by washing the leaves with warm water and neutral soap.