Plant care and cultivation

Indoor Banana Tree Plant Care and Propagation

 
Ulla Rothschuh Osorio
By Ulla Rothschuh Osorio, Biologist. January 15, 2025
Indoor Banana Tree Plant Care and Propagation

Banana trees can grow to be very large in the right conditions, but they can make surprisingly good houseplants. This is because we can maintain the indoor environment in such a way that limits their growth and provides a lovely potted plant for indoor spaces. Their presence is dominated by their large, glossy leaves which are known for their use in cooking. While there are many types of banana tree plants, they all require the same basic level of care in terms of watering, temperature, substrate and other factors.

Keeping potted banana tree plants indoors allows us to manage their growth and provide a tropical touch to many indoor spaces. Learn more with thedailyECO as we share all you need to know about indoor banana tree plant care.

Contents
  1. Characteristics of the banana tree plant
  2. Banana tree plant light, temperature and location
  3. Substrate for indoor banana tree plants
  4. Fertilizer for indoor banana tree plants
  5. Watering an indoor banana tree plant
  6. Pruning indoor banana tree plants
  7. Indoor banana tree plant propagation

Characteristics of the banana tree plant

The leaves of the banana tree plant are wide, ribbed and very large, reaching up to 6.6 ft (2 m) in length. They grow from a thick stem that grows in several layers one on top of each other. This gives the appearance of having a trunk as if it were a tree, but they are actually large herbaceous plants.

Banana tree plants are striking because the bracts that surround the flowers are colorful, in addition to the curious banana fruits that grow from them as decoration. Many people see a resemblance to small palm trees, reminiscent of these trees from the tropics. There are different types of banana plant trees and some morphological variations. These are some of the most popular species and varieties:

  • Musa acuminata: is one of the main varieties of banana tree, of which many edible versions have been created.
  • Dwarf Cavendish: this is a popular cultivar of M. acuminata. It is the variety that is normally used for pots, and the one we recommend most for the steps we will see later. It stands out for its large leaves.
  • Musa x paradisiaca: the edible banana that is most commonly sold today, with its ancestor also being M. acuminata. It can reach a height of 23 ft (7 m).
  • Musa balbisiana: another of the old varieties of banana plant. The inflorescences are brown to red in color, but the fruit ranges from blue to green.
  • Japanese banana (Musa basjoo): grows to 16.4 ft (5 m) in height. The flowers are cream-coloured and the fruit is inedible.
Indoor Banana Tree Plant Care and Propagation - Characteristics of the banana tree plant

Banana tree plant light, temperature and location

If you want to keep a banana tree plant indoors, we recommend keeping it in a pot. As the plant grows very quickly and can spread throughout the garden, potted banana plants are easier to manage. You will see that every week it develops new leaves, so keeping it in a container or pot will help you restrict its growth.

As for light, they can be fully exposed to sunlight, making them ideal for outdoors or indoor spaces with a lot of light. If you want to have it indoors, it requires strong light for more than 6 hours a day. This can make placement a little tricky, so they are not suitable for homes with no exterior windows.

Since they are tropical plants, banana tree plants require warm climates. This is why they are a popular houseplant in colder regions, since the relatively low temperatures make them too difficult to keep outdoors. Some of us may have suitable climates to keep them outdoors during the warmer months, but require being moved indoors when temperatures start to drop. This is another advantage of keeping banana plants in pots.

Locating the plant in areas with frost is completely forbidden if you want this plant to survive. You will also want to ensure the substrate is not waterlogged, so it cannot be left in the rain for prolonged periods. We learn more about banana tree plant irrigation in the next sections.

Indoor Banana Tree Plant Care and Propagation - Banana tree plant light, temperature and location

Substrate for indoor banana tree plants

Choose a pot for the banana tree plant that has holes at the bottom to promote good water drainage. Also, consider that the pot should be about 24" (60 cm) high to be able to hold the plant well.

The substrate you use in the banana plant for potting should also have very good drainage, as well as enough nutrients to replicate the natural environment of the plant. If you use poorly prepared substrate that retains water, the roots will rot. To achieve this, the substrate used for banana plants should contain 30% sand, with the rest made up of equal parts of worm castings and peat. Alternatively, you can use black soil instead of peat.

Discover how to make your own worm castings at home with our related guide.

Fertilizer for indoor banana tree plants

Banana plants are very fast growing, so they will need food during the growth season, which runs from spring to summer. This is also essential for banana tree plants in pots, as they will quickly consume nutrients without the possibility of replenishing themselves when in an isolated environment. Apply liquid fertilizer once a week in spring and summer. This is very important for the plant to grow well.

It's a good idea to repot banana tree plants regularly. Do this when it seems that it's getting too big for the space in the pot. If you see its roots coming out of the holes in the bottom of the pot, this is a clear sign that it needs a change. Each time you repot it, add an additional layer of worm castings.

If you don't think you have the room for a banana plant tree indoors, you may want to see alternatives with our guide to winter outdoor plants for pots.

Watering an indoor banana tree plant

Watering is crucial for this species of indoor plant, as is the aforementioned fertilizer. Despite requiring adequate drainage, it also requires abundant watering during the growing season and when the temperature is high. As stated above, this is between spring and summer. Watering must be spaced out when autumn and winter arrive. We should limit this even further if we have an indoor banana tree plant that doesn't receive much sun in winter.

Learn about how to care for another plant known for its beautiful leaves with our caladium plant care guide.

Indoor Banana Tree Plant Care and Propagation - Watering an indoor banana tree plant

Pruning indoor banana tree plants

Banana tree plants do not require any specific pruning, but you should remove the leaves that begin to wither and dry out. These are easily removed by gently pulling them with your hand, but to remove some damaged or diseased areas it is advisable to use pruninjg shears which have been previously disinfected.

Indoor banana tree plant propagation

Banana trees reproduce by means of shoots, meaning that if you have them in a pot, they can easily spread out of control. To do this, it will be good for you to learn how to take shoots from a banana tree in a pot. Take note:

  1. Dig up the banana tree at the root.
  2. Locate where the different stems rise up to make the division.
  3. Cut in that area using previously washed and disinfected tools.
  4. Once you have made the cut from the root, protect the roots from the air with your hands. Ideally, use gloves so that whatever is on your hands does not affect them.
  5. Transfer the plant to a new container prepared with the potting soil for banana tree plants.

You can learn more about reproducing another glossy-leafed plant with our guide to xanadu plant care and propagation.

If you want to read similar articles to Indoor Banana Tree Plant Care and Propagation, we recommend you visit our Plant care and cultivation category.

Bibliography
  • Baker, S. A. (2011). The Complete Guide to Keeping Your Houseplants Alive and Thriving: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply. United States: Atlantic Publishing Group.
Write a comment
Add an image
Click to attach a photo related to your comment
What did you think of this article?
1 of 4
Indoor Banana Tree Plant Care and Propagation