Banana

Family: Musaceae. Native range: Southeast Asia (SEA), in particular the Malay Archipelago.

Bananas also refer to the fruits of these plants that are consumed as food. At present various cultivars of the sterile triploid cultigen Musa paradisiaca (an artificial species not found in the wild), created on the basis of some species of these plants, are widely cultivated in tropical countries and in many of them constitute an important share of exports. The banana ranks fourth among cultivated crops in the world, surpassed only by rice, wheat and maize. The genus includes over 40 species, distributed mainly in Southeast Asia and on the islands of the Pacific Ocean. The northernmost species is the Japanese banana (Musa basjoo), native to the Ryukyu Islands of Japan; it is grown as an ornamental plant on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, in Crimea and Georgia.

Banana prefers bright, diffused light; it should be shaded from direct sunlight, for example with translucent tracing paper or a thin fabric. A window for a fruiting banana should face south, southeast, east or, at worst, west. North-facing windows do not promote good growth and fruiting, although with supplemental lighting some success can be achieved. The most suitable option for the banana is a spacious humid greenhouse.

In the spring-summer period the optimal temperature is 24-30°C, with constant humidity; in summer the temperature should not be allowed to drop below 16°C, as this may lead to a cessation of plant growth. In summer the plant can be placed outdoors, but it should be shaded from strong light. In the autumn-winter period it is desirable to provide a rest period for better growth and flowering: keep the plants in a bright room at 18-20°C, not below 16°C.

Water the banana abundantly during the active growth period, but so that water does not stagnate in the saucer, as this can cause the plant to rot. In the autumn-winter period watering of the banana is reduced; water moderately and carefully (if plants are kept at 18-20°C), as abundant watering at low temperatures can lead to rotting of the roots. If you cannot provide the plant with the required temperature for the rest period and it is kept at a higher temperature, water as the top layer of soil dries and mist the plant constantly. Use soft, well-settled water at room temperature or 2-3 degrees warmer.

Banana prefers high air humidity; if it is insufficient the leaves dry out and lose their sheen. Regular misting benefits the plant; to increase air humidity you can place the plant on a tray with damp moss, pebbles, expanded clay or another porous material. Periodic washing under a shower is useful, but if the plant is large the leaves can be wiped with a damp sponge or cloth.

During the growing season apply feedings every two weeks, alternating mineral and organic fertilizers. Feedings are given after watering to avoid burning young roots.

Transplant the plant every year, but it is better to shift-pots (replant with minimal root disturbance); use pots 2-3 centimeters larger in diameter than the previous one. A newly acquired plant is transplanted into a container proportional to the plant. If you purchased a plant in the winter months, allow it to recover after the change of place. Inspect it carefully; if there are no roots protruding from the bottom of the pot and the plant's leaves are not yellowing or falling, the transplant can be postponed until spring. If these signs are observed, the plant can be repotted. When repotting, the plant's roots are treated for 5 minutes in a pink solution of potassium permanganate, the roots are inspected, brown and unhealthy ones are removed, and the cuts are dusted with crushed charcoal. Pots for the banana should be wide and roomy, as lack of space in the pot can stop or slow the plant's growth. Always plant the banana deeper than it was originally planted. This promotes the formation and growth of additional roots and subsequently better yield. Try not to disturb the root system when repotting. After repotting the banana should be watered abundantly with warm settled water and placed in a bright location. After two to three days the soil under the plant should be carefully loosened so as not to damage the roots.

The substrate is composed of turf, humus, leaf soil and sand (2:2:2:1), or turf soil, humus and sand (2:2:1); bone meal or horn shavings can be added. The bottom of the pot must have good drainage: expanded clay, gravel or various harmless loose or granular materials. The thickness of the drainage layer depends on the pot size and ranges from 3 to 10 cm. The surface of the drainage should be covered with wet river sand so that the soil does not penetrate to the bottom of the pot and does not impede the drainage of excess water during watering.

Bananas are propagated by pups, by dividing fleshy rhizomes, and some species by seeds.

Seeds are sown in a moist substrate consisting of equal parts leaf mold, peat soil, sand and charcoal. Before sowing the seeds are scarified (mechanically treated) and then soaked in warm water for 1-2 days, changing the water periodically. Seeds are sown to a depth equal to their size and covered with a glass cloche or a transparent bag. Maintain a temperature of 24-26°C, mist constantly and ventilate regularly; when using a small greenhouse germination occurs faster. Shoots appear in one to two months. When the seedlings have two to three leaves, they are pricked out into pots of appropriate size filled with a substrate of leaf mold, peat soil and sand with good drainage. Seedlings grow quickly. With good care they may flower at one year of age.

Pups are separated from the mother plant together with a part of the rhizome. The cut is dusted with powdered charcoal. Young plants are planted into a substrate of two parts leaf mold, two parts peat soil and sand.

Features: The banana is a plant demanding of humidity, light and warmth. If you cannot provide it with optimal growing conditions, you should not attempt to cultivate it.

Possible difficulties: In indoor conditions, without supplemental lighting and in dry air the plant enters a forced rest period (from October to February). During this time the banana is watered less frequently, especially if the apartment temperature is 18°C; otherwise frequent watering will lead to rotting of the root system. In that case the leaf margins become brown and dry, and growth stops even with high temperature and good lighting in spring. If this is observed, the plant should be immediately repotted into fresh soil, after washing the roots and cutting away the rotten parts with a sharp knife. The cut root surfaces should be dusted with crushed charcoal or ash to stop further rotting.

Growth has slowed or stopped: The reason may be a pot that is too small for the plant. Carefully remove it from the pot and inspect; if the roots have encircled the entire root ball, the plant needs repotting. Another reason may be too low a temperature in the summer—the optimum is 24-30°C, not below 16°C—or insufficient light.