Yellow delicious banana fruits ripen in clusters on tall bushes with broad leaves spread out to the sides. Despite the fact that these plants are quite tall, they are herbs.
The article provides information about indoor banana, the features of its cultivation.
General information
Many people like to grow fruit plants. This is a rather fascinating section of home floriculture. Of course, flower growers tend to get such exotic fruits in the house not for the sake of "harvest" (it is small). The main thing for them is the process itself. It is very interesting to get the final result. Indeed, in nature, such fruits ripen only in distant tropical countries.
The houseplant banana has settled in flower collections relatively recently and is still considered exotic.
General botanical description
Genus Banana Botanists refer to the Banana family. There are approximately 70 species of plants in it, which are herbaceous perennials. These species are native to the Pacific Islands and Asia (Southeast). However, thanks to the efforts of people for several centuries, bananas have been growing on almost all continents with warm climatic conditions.
It should be noted that the fruits of not all species of this plant genus are tasty. Among the huge abundance of varieties, only a few are a source of tasty food. Many of them are almost sterile (or produce small and inconspicuous fruits) or the fruits are tasteless.
There are types of bananas, reaching a height of 12 meters. However, their appearance is deceiving. The trunk itself is shortened and practically invisible above the ground. This is just a false dense stem with huge fleshy leaves. Leaf plates are collected at the top of the stem in a bundle. The leaves can reach a length of 3 meters and a width of 0.5 m. Most varieties have green leaves, but there are also types with purple leaves.
The powerful peduncle of the plant breaks through the tube of leaves, forming a large inflorescence at the very top of the bush. The flowers are yellowish green and may be male, female or bisexual. Only on the female inflorescences located below, fruits (berries) are formed. Birds and bats are part of the pollination process.
Externally, the houseplant banana is similar to its exotic counterpart presented here, growing in naturalconditions.
Varieties
Indoor bananas can be of different types, but not each of them can ripen edible fruits. There are ornamental varieties grown only for their beautiful foliage. The most popular among flower growers are several types.
Banana Cavendish dwarf. A low-growing species, abundantly fruiting small-sized bananas. Outwardly, the peduncle resembles a burgundy bright candle
- Super-dwarf banana. It is the best type for home growing. Like the dwarf Cavendish, this plant is artificially created by crossing the Balbis banana and the pointed banana. Houseplant popular with gardeners.
- Banana is bloody. A purely decorative look with expressive leaves that have a green-burgundy pattern. Inedible fruits are burgundy.
- Banana Paradise. Widespread variety in agriculture. Dwarf varieties of this species have taken root well in indoor floriculture. There is one drawback - the plant is too bulky (rarely found below 2 meters).
- Velvety banana. Houseplant, often referred to as pink or dwarf. Can bloom even at the age of one. Feature - bracts of a bright yellow hue have a delicate aroma. Light green leaves are decorated with a reddish edging, which makes the plant attractive. Small fruits have a pinkish tinge.
The above species are the basis for creating many varieties.
Soil
Banana can be attributed to plants that are unpretentious in almost all respects. This is a completely undemanding culture. Any universal mixture is suitable for her, only the acidity should be close to neutral. The soil is desirable permeable, loose and nutritious.
For self-preparation, the following mixture is convenient: mix humus with leafy and soddy soil in equal proportions. Add some sand to it (approximately 20% of the total volume).
Growing conditions
When buying indoor banana plants, consider their size. Even dwarf varieties have a decent height and spreading, broad leaves. It should be noted that these plants look great indoors with large windows, with wide and spacious window sills. They require heat, moisture and light.
Banana loves bright light, and it tolerates even the direct rays of the sun. He needs light even in winter. And heat should be kept indoors at all times of the year. In spring and summer periods, the temperature should be within +20…30 °С and more, and in winter - not lower than +16…17 °С.
Feeding
Banana, however, like many other plants, needs additional feeding, especially during the growing season, flowering and fruiting. You can alternate mineral universal fertilizers with organic top dressings.
During the growth period, bananas should be fed once aweek. Feeding is not needed in autumn and winter. Below in the article, information is provided in more detail on the use of banana peel as a fertilizer for indoor plants.
Air humidity and watering
Bananas do not grow well without sufficient air humidity for them. It must be raised constantly and by any means. We can say that such work is the most difficult process in growing such a plant at home. You can regularly wipe the leaves with a damp cloth or spray them. On warm days and nights, the plant should be exposed to the open air. This is good for his development.
Water bananas need not be very often, but plentifully. The plant responds well to a warm shower, only the excess water from the pot must be drained. In hot and dry weather, you can water twice a day. In winter, this should be done as the top third of the soil layer dries out completely.
Banana as fertilizer for indoor plants
Many people know that this he althy and tasty fruit contains a lot of potassium. Its pulp contains important trace elements.
The rind of this fruit is usually discarded, although it can be used in floriculture and horticulture. It also contains important vitamins and minerals: calcium, potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus. Many experienced gardeners and gardeners use these useful skins as fertilizer for indoor and garden plants. This improves their growth.
Banana peel withsuccessfully used as a substitute for phosphate and potash fertilizers. Today, there are several ways to use banana peels that have been tested by gardeners. Fertilizing indoor plants with a banana is in no way inferior to fertilizer with such means as soluble sticks and humic concentrates. The use of the peel in combination with grape branches makes it possible to obtain an excellent complex fertilizer, which contains almost half of the chemical elements from the periodic table.
Preparation of fertilizer
Effective enough is the simplest way to use banana peel for houseplants. It can simply be cut into small pieces and buried at a shallow depth in the soil. After 10 days, nothing remains of them, since they are completely processed by soil microorganisms. It has been noted that even the most weakened plants quickly respond to such top dressing, developing lush foliage.
There are many ways. It is only important to consider that some precautions should be observed. Bananas or the peel should be washed in hot soapy water, and the white fibers from the pulp should be removed, as manufacturers use different chemicals, wax coatings and other harmful substances during transportation. In addition, banana plantations are treated with pesticides several times a year.
Concluding reviews
Most lovers of exotic plants speak positively about indoor banana. In addition to decorativeness, it attracts both fairly rapid growth and relativeunpretentiousness. This is especially true for super-dwarf varieties. Many note that the banana is almost not affected by pests and diseases. For example, spider mites and whiteflies do not treat certain types of plants very well. Especially flattering reviews regarding the Kyiv banana variety, which is not only decorative, but also bears excellent fruit.
