Dwarf Banana Plant

The dwarf banana (musa acuminata) is easy to grow indoors, or outdoors in a sheltered spot. If encouraged in a bright enough spot this plant could grow to six feet or even more. It is mainly grown for its foliage but under the right conditions you could be lucky and produce flowers and even ornamental bananas.

This tropical plant does need plenty of light but try to avoid direct sunlight which will scorch the young leaves. Banana plants are jungle plants and need regular watering – don’t let the compost dry out.

As the plant grows it can be re potted in a larger pot. Choose rich compost that will hold water well. You might like to treat your plant to a liquid feed if you want to encourage it to grow. To restrict growth however, keep slightly cooler and darker and restrict pot size. Although this is a semi-hardy variety, it will need some frost protection over the winter if outside or move it inside to a frost-free greenhouse or room.

Over time the older leaves will start to wither away and turn yellow from the bottom, this is a natural process and nothing to worry about. Remove these to allow new growth to form from the centre.

Problem Solving:

Banana plants are very tough plants and most problems are usually the result of under watering. Drooping leaves is the first sign of under watering and can be remedied with an immediate and thorough soaking. Brown tips to leaves are usually the result of either scorching or extreme cold. Marked leaves should be removed from the bottom of the plant, to help encourage new growth from the top.

Split leaves are the result of constant movement, either being brushed by passers-by or buffeted by strong wind. Split leaves will not damage the plant but can look untidy so try to keep your plant in a sheltered spot.