How to Grow and Care for a Banana Plant Indoors

When you think of tall, glamorous houseplants, banana plants are probably not the first thing that springs to mind. Elephant ears, monstera or snake plants may already have a place in your home and heart, but there is always room for more plants. Banana plants add a tropical feel to any room with their huge, glossy leaves. However, don’t expect a bunch of bananas hanging in your living room. Banana plants produce little fruit indoors. So get a big planter and clear some space because a banana will be your next addition to your houseplant collection.

The best banana varieties for indoor cultivation

You’re probably most familiar with the Cavendish variety, the variety of bananas sold in supermarkets across America. We use its classic yellow fruits as a main snack or smoothie mix-in. However, not all bananas have a yellow skin. Blue Java bananas have a turquoise skin, while red bananas have a deep burgundy skin. In the wild, a banana tree can easily reach a height of 20 to 40 feet. Their red or purple flowers eventually produce the bunches of bananas we’re used to seeing in grocery stores.

When growing a banana plant indoors, be mindful of the space you have. Because they can grow so large, the classic Cavendish is not a good choice. Instead, look for dwarf varieties of banana plants. These are the best choice for growing as a houseplant.

• Dwarf Cavendish (Tropicana) grows 8-10 feet tall.
• Dwarf Red grows to 6 feet tall.
• Porch grows up to 10 feet tall.

If you’re thinking of growing a banana plant from a store-bought fruit, note that these bananas were grown to be seedless. Otherwise, bananas would be virtually inedible due to the large, hard seeds that grow inside the fruit. The downside is that all Cavendish bananas are clones or genetic copies of each other. This makes them all vulnerable to diseases that could quickly spread to all of them. The best way to grow a banana plant indoors is to buy one from a reputable seller.

How to grow a banana plant indoors

stew

Give your banana a pot about twice the size of the plant’s root system. Make sure your container has drainage holes. Fill the container with fresh potting soil. Do not cover the leaf layers of the stem with soil.

light

Banana plants, native to tropical areas near the equator, need plenty of sun. “Outside, bananas grow in full sun,” says Justin Hancock, gardener at Costa Farms. “So indoors you want to give them as much light as possible, be it natural light, artificial light or a mix of both. You want your plant to cast a strong shadow for most of the day.” Purchasing a grow light would help keep your banana plant healthy through the winter.

“Banana plants do best with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, which means they need to be placed near a south- or west-facing window,” says Pangborn.

temperature and humidity

Banana plants like it warm and humid. They can grow in zones 9-11 in the United States. Indoors, the plant should be kept between 67-90℉. At colder temperatures, they stop growing. Banana plants grow fastest at temperatures between 80-95℉. With more water, banana plants can handle higher temperatures, but they prefer not to.

Bloomscape gardener Lindsay Pangborn explains: “Norwegian in humid environments, your banana plant may show signs of stress if the air in your home is too dry. Protect plants from drafty areas and vents, and add moisture with a gravel box or humidifier placed nearby.

water

Water your banana plant frequently enough to keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. If left standing in water, this plant could develop root rot.

fertilizer

Banana houseplants are gluttons. Give your a healthy and frequent dose of fertilizer. Try giving your banana plant fertilizer once a month. For best results, distribute an even amount of a balanced, soluble fertilizer throughout the pot.

repot

The bigger you want your banana plant to be, the bigger the pot you should give it. Banana plants grow to the size of their surroundings. The best time to repot a banana plant is in spring, before the active growing season begins. Banana plants are not fussy plants that need to be repotted often. They don’t mind being a little tied to the roots. As a rule of thumb, try to repot your banana plant about every three years.

pests and problems

The most common problem with indoor banana plants is root rot from overwatering. Make sure you never leave your plant standing in water. In rare cases, your banana plant may encounter some leaf diseases such as powdery mildew. These can appear when it is too humid without adequate airflow. Cut off any affected leaves and gently blow a fan over the leaves until the problem is resolved.

Watch out for spider mites. These tiny, almost translucent pests usually hide on the underside of leaves. Telltale signs are yellowish bumps and cottony tissues with small dots (the mites) on them. To get rid of spider mites, use a mixture of 1 part rubbing alcohol to 4 parts water (e.g. 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to 2 cups water). Wipe or spray the leaves of your plants with this mixture.

Dust, dirt, and debris will settle on the leaves of your banana plant over time. A quick wipe down will help keep the plant healthy and looking its best. Run a clean, soft cloth over your plant’s leaves about once a month.