Help with banana trees

United States
May 18, 2010 12:46pm CST
We planted four banana trees in front of the house but they never got any bigger even with watering them each day and all the rain coming down. Eventually they died but the weirdest thing happened. One day we looked out there to see in place of each dead banana tree there are four new banana trees coming up so its like there are now 16 of these little guys. Does anyone know about taking care of banana trees? I don't want these ones to just become a waste like the others.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@max1950 (2306)
• United States
18 May 10
the little one's are called "pups " and will grow into mature trees, fertilize once a month with small pellets, you can get them at wal-mart or any garden store. if you want you can get a small bag of top soil if there isnt any available in your area and put a bag of top soil around the pups and just let the rain sink it in. try not to over water as root rot might set in, as the plants start to grow each day you should see another leaf coming from the center of the plant, if it isnt nice and green, water it. banana trees are almost fool proof once they start from pups they just take off and youll have no problems. if you'd like you can transplant the pups in a different location around your house, dont do them all at once just take 1 or 2 and see how a shaded part of the house works with only morning sun. im sure they will be fine. now of course its going to take 2-3 years before you see any fruit, you'll see a large red pod ( do not ) cut it off, dont let them ripen all the way on the tree unless your going to eat them all at once, pick some green ones and let them ripen in the home.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 May 10
Pups. Haha thats a cute name for them. How tall do you think the trees will grow? Thanks for replying.
@max1950 (2306)
• United States
18 May 10
according to where you live and the soil the plants are in 2 ft maybe 3 ft per year or more, if you dig the packed soil around the plants, keep all weeds away from the base of the plants as they will suck up nutrients.and if your lucky enough to not get a freeze or heavy frost like we had last year in florida they'll grow all year, even then they will come back, just trim the frostbitten leaves off the top. the best place to plant them is along the bank of a canal, pond or freshwater lake. this way if you do get a frost the water in the canal and such will keep the roots warmer than the air. you wont have any problems once they get going
1 person likes this
@quita88 (3715)
• United States
20 May 10
not sure but if didn't water them every day maybe the don't require water each day.
• United States
20 May 10
Yeah. That could be. I always worry they aren't getting enough water but you're right. They may not need much.
@quita88 (3715)
• United States
20 May 10
I've never raised a banana tree before but a lot of plants don't need that much water. Try the finger test if they are in pots. If the soil is wet about an inch down, do not water. If the soil is dry about an inch down, water moderately. I'd look up in your browser, www.bananatreecare Can't hurt.
• Pamplona, Spain
18 May 10
Hiya cupkitties, Wow what a great thing to have Banana Trees growing right in the front of your House. I cannot say anything about Banana Trees or tell you how to grow them Max down there is sure the expert there. How did you get sixteen of them? I love Bananas though. They grow in abundance in the Canary Islands and Tenerife too I think that´s where our main supply of Bananas come from but if yours keep growing like that maybe you will end with a whole plantation. Really nice Story I would be bowled over to have something like that growing in that little bit of garden I have out there and I can´t grow anything anyway as the soil is only a few inches deep. It´s on top of an underground Garage you see. Have you put a photo of them on here? Good luck and I hope they grow really big and tall. If no one else grows them around you you might have loads of people stop and admire them. Does anyone else grow them around there?
• Pamplona, Spain
20 May 10
Hiya cups, Bananas, if you think about it Bananas have so many vitamins and minerals so much of everything that´s probably why they helped the other little banana trees to come out and grow. The other ones you planted first must have made good ground for the others to grow up and out. Do People notice them as they go by? I know I would as I love trees especially anything like that Palm Trees, Coconut ones the lot. Hope they keep on growing nicely.