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Hi, I bought a Banana Plant this year and it has grown to about 8 feet tall. It also has 4 healthy new plants 2 to 3 feet tall coming up next to it. I live in Elkton, Maryland.
I would like to pot it and grow it over the winter then put it back outside next year. I have an 18 foot high family room with good light so height and light is not a problem. My friend keeps telling me to cut it down, put the root ball in a burlap sack and put it in the basement over the winter.
Can I grow it inside over the winter and how much do I water it? Any suggestions?
You can go either way... but since you've got the space inside, I'd pot it up and enjoy it there by your window rather than storing it in the basement. In a pot, it would probably like to be watered well each week (check first with your finger -- if the soil is moist a couple inches down into the pot it doesn't yet need water), just like any other tropical houseplant.
You'll need a big pot, at least 16 inches across and 20 inches wouldn't be too big from the size of your plant. I have my potted plants in good quality soil-less potting mix (I like Pro Mix) with added polymer moisture crystals. On occasion, they get "Banana Fuel" fertilizer, probably less often than they'd like, but you don't want to overdo the fertilizer either with indoor plants (they'll grow slowly in winter). A little quarter strength miracle gro would probably give it a boost too, maybe once or twice a month.
Thanks, they are going CRAZY.. I planted it in mushroom soil late in the summer and it is about 10 foot right now with 7 and yes I said 7 new plants. I think I am going to try and seperated all of them and re-plant them in pots for the winter. My wife will most likely hate me when I bring them all in the house for winter, Do you want one?
See the section of the article (with photos) on separating banana plants... it's easier to do if you dig up the whole plant and wash away the dirt so you can see the corm and the roots. I wouldn't try separating any smaller pups, especially if you don't think you can get a few good roots with the division.
I've got a few (maybe a couple too many) potted up in my dining room window now... but thanks for the offer!
