Dividing a banana

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MollyBlooms Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Mar 06, 2016

About four weeks ago I divided a banana (Musa acuminata subsp. zebrina) with two stems, cutting between the stems and into the corm at the base. Each division had a good portion of the corm and lots of roots. I cut the stems to within 6" of the soil line and repotted each section into its own pot with fresh potting soil. I have been keeping them watered well ever since.

But so far, neither division has shown any growth at all. The base of the stem is firm, not mushy, so I think the divisions are still alive, but I am a bit nervous since the plants belong to a friend (who did ask me to divide them so he could have two plants to flank his front door this summer). Should it be taking this long for the plants to come back, either from the base or the stem? I've cut bananas to the ground before and they always came back. I am hoping this time isn't the exception!

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Chris365 Eastliegh, United Kingdom Mar 06, 2016

I'm assuming this is indoors? Bananas are almost in hibernation over the winter. even indoors - lack of light. I don't take mine out of stasis until end of april. and I live in warmer climes. At a guess in a few weeks you'll see some growth

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MollyBlooms Grosse Pointe Farms, MI Mar 07, 2016

Yes, this is indoors, in a cool (55-60 Fahrenheit) greenhouse. I keep it cool in the winter for the sake of my cyclamens and some other plants, but we had a very mild winter here and the temperatures are now going into the 50s. Many thanks for your response -- I will wait and see what happens. Also going to apply some worm casts in a week or two.

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