We've been asked to adopt a banana tree ... my cousin got it in the spring and has decided that it doesn't really work for his garden. I've never done the banana tree thing, but I see them everywhere. It doesn't look like they need any special attention ... does it??
It's in a pot, and we will prolly keep it in a pot on the patio or something. I have no idea what kind it is, and neither does he. It's about 5 ft. tall and not too very full right now. Is there anything I need to know before commiting to this plant?
Cheri'
Banana tree question ...
Just feed and water and give it sun. I think that is about it.
Water it a lot. If you plant it, it will be pretty care-free but again, water it a lot. It may melt in the winter frosts, but should come back in the spring.
Alrighty then, we'll adopt that plant right now. Water isn't usually a problem here, and the patio is pretty well protected from the north, so it should be good to go.
Should we whack it down when it starts to get cold? Or just let Mother Nature run her course?
Cheri'
sundry if the leaves fry you can cut them off...but it's best to not cut the stalk till the last frost then just less then half way down,sometimes they will resprout without cutting if the frost was not that bad : ) Use to live and garden in 9a and know how it can be sometimes!Those dang March frosts were the pits!
February and March are the pits, and March is so sneaky! LOL
I have noticed that people whack the banana trees down to the ground after it starts getting cold. I wondered if that was for the benefit of the tree, or for cosmetic reasons. They do look nasty after a frost ...
If it's solely cosmetic, I prolly won't bother doing it. I am such a wimp when it comes to cold weather ... Once it gets cold I don't go outside unless I have to. I'll deal with the mess after the last frost.
Thanx for the help!
Cheri'
It is a cosmetic thing. I live in a similar zone as you. I love my banana trees. They do die back with the frost. I leave them alone. The dying leaves help insulate the main plant. Comes back in the spring. I started with 2 trees. In the spring, 8 pups grew from the mother plants. If planted in the ground , LOTS of water but good draining soil. And heavy of the fertilizer (heavy feeders!). Banana trees love potassium. Dont put the fertilizer too close to the trunk, you dont want to burn it.