- 1). Select the proper container for your dwarf banana tree. Plastic, fiberglass and terra cotta containers are all good choices. Make sure the container has drainage holes and is not overly large. A 6- to 8-inch pot is a good starter pot for your dwarf banana tree.
- 2). Plant your banana tree in a mix of 4 parts well-draining potting mix to 1 part perlite. Do not use potting soil or garden soil; these are too heavy for your dwarf banana plant. Banana tree plants are usually sold in rooted rhizomes, with a trunk 6 to 8 inches long. Make sure the rhizome, or root, is planted upright and that it is covered at the base with a 1/2-inch layer of soil.
- 3). Place the pot in bright light; a south-facing window is ideal. Your dwarf banana tree plant should get at least 12 hours of bright light a day.
- 4). Test the soil with your finger to determine when your banana tree plant needs watering. When the soil is dry to 1/2 inch deep, it is time to water. Irrigate the plant thoroughly, until water runs out the drainage hole. To avoid root rot that could result from standing in water, empty the saucer after watering. Watch your dwarf banana plant closely to make sure it does not dry out; container plantings, as a rule, should be watered more frequently than plants in the garden.
- 5). Fertilize your banana tree plant once a month during the growing season. Use a granular balanced fertilizer in an 8-10-8 NPK (nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium) formulation, spreading it evenly around the roots but not allowing it to touch the trunk. Do not fertilize your dwarf banana plant in the winter months.
- 6). Provide high humidity for your dwarf banana tree plant. According to the Banana Tree website, banana plants require a humidity of 50 percent or higher. Use a humidifier if necessary.
- 7). Provide your dwarf banana tree plant with the warm temperatures that it needs to flourish. Daytime temperatures over 80 degrees F -- along with nighttime temperatures of about 67 degrees -- are optimal.
- 8). Provide good air circulation to avoid fungal diseases. An overhead fan, set on low, is ideal. A small household fan may be used, but don't aim it directly at the plant.
- 9). Cut the bananas from your dwarf banana tree when the fruit is plump and rounded but still green. Hang bananas by the stems in a cool, dim place to ripen.
- 10
Prune your dwarf banana tree by removing excess shoots that do not appear likely to produce fruit. Ideally, a banana plant should have only one primary stem arising from the rhizome that is allowed to bear fruit. After harvesting the bananas, cut the stem the fruit grew on back to the ground.
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