table of contents
- During flowering
- Problem: fruits
- Cut off blossoms?
- Mother plant dies
- frequently asked Questions
A Banana tree me blossoms is a special highlight for owners of tropical perennials. There are certain points you need to keep in mind during the flowering period and when carrying the banana fruits.
In a nutshell
- Banana trees bloom after two to five years at the earliest, depending on the temperature and the light conditions
- Care should not be changed during flowering
- Flowers can bloom for 80 to 180 days depending on location, heat and the amount of light available
- Fruit formation can be supported by removing part of the flower
- A successful harvest is not guaranteed despite good care in Central Europe
During flowering
Congratulation. You managed to make a banana tree bloom. As soon as one or more banana blossoms in colors from beige to purple can be recognized on your specimen (Musa), you have to pay attention to one important point: Do not change the care measures. Bananas only bloom when they are comfortable in their current location. That is, by that moment you have done everything right that the banana tree shows you about its flowering. However, there are some aspects that you now have to pay more attention to, as the plant has to use more energy:
- do not let it dry out
- Don't forget to fertilize
- optional: administer potassium
Otherwise, banana trees are quite frugal during the flowering period and should not be pulled out of their routine. Since a banana tree takes between two and five years to flower in the local latitudes, a sudden change in the conditions would disrupt the growth rhythm. So sit back and with a little more luck you can look forward to a fruit.
Problem: fruits
While the flowering is ecstatic over a longer period of time, it can look completely different with the banana fruits. The biggest problem with perennials is the uncertainty as to whether the banana tree will produce a fruit after flowering. After blooming, the banana plant must bloom for a period of up to 180 days before fruiting can occur. If the specimens are well cared for, 80 to 100 days are sufficient. The fruit formation can be seen in small bananas, which are dark in color at the beginning. However, they do not guarantee that the harvest will be successful. To see if you have the Bananas In the end, you need to keep an eye on the following signs:
- Fruit size: 10 to 15 cm
- light, greenish hue
- Plant weakens severely
- Plant loses leaves
Far too often the fruits rot directly on the plant or they no longer ripen. For this reason, you should check carefully whether the fruits are doing worse. In most cases, the care measures were changed during ripening or the amount of light was reduced.
Note: If you are lucky and have enough light available, the bananas in the winter garden can even ripen over the winter. If this is the case, do not change the current care measures so that the banana tree has its peace and quiet.
Cut off blossoms?
There is a method you can use to stimulate fruiting in a banana tree. This is mainly about shortening the rest of the flower as soon as you see the first signs of fruit. Since this part of the banana is very sturdy, you will need the right tools. Are suitable:
- Hacksaw
- Pruning saw
- electric pruning saw
Do not worry. If you proceed carefully, you will not damage the perennial or the young fruits before you can harvest them. The following instructions explain how to shorten the flower:
- Put on protective gloves
- The sap of the banana sticks to the hands
- Position the saw 1 to 2 cm above the flower
- Remove blossom
Do not cut too far into the stem to avoid damaging the young banana fruits. This method is completely optional and should be considered if a larger number of bananas are desired. You can use the same tools to harvest the bananas as these will also grow on a sturdy stem.
Note: When cutting off the flowers, be sure to pay attention to the emerging, clear set of plants. If this gets onto items of clothing or other textiles, the resulting stains can turn a deep reddish brown.
Mother plant dies
A typical phenomenon is the death of the mother plant after the banana tree has developed flowers or banana fruits. But that does not represent the end of the actual plant. Before a banana tree can even bloom, it usually forms kindles over the years. With these, the plant continues to multiply on its own. If Kindel can be seen, you should transplant them into your own pots shortly before the mother plant dies so that they can thrive. If it dies, you can simply dispose of the faded banana tree.
frequently asked Questions
When you choose one type of edible banana, you have a small selection to choose from. The dwarf eating banana 'Dwarf Cavendish' (Musa acuminata 'Dwarf Cavendish') should be mentioned especially as a houseplant. The pink dwarf banana (Musa velutina), the hardy Musa nagensium or Darjeeling banana (Musa sikkimensis) should also be mentioned. Before you buy, make sure to check whether the banana trees could be too big for your living space.
If there is no hope of ripening fruits, you can harvest the banana blossoms. These are cut off one to two centimeters above the flower base and can then be used in the kitchen. The Asian specialty has to be freed from the petals like an artichoke, because only the kernel is edible. They are heartily processed, for example in stir-fries, salads or as a vegan fish alternative.
After you have had a successful harvest, you should let the bananas, ideally still green, ripen. This will improve the aroma. The duration of post-ripening depends on the temperature and the available light. A dark, warm room with temperatures between 15 ° C and 20 ° C is ideal. Add an apple or a pear to the bananas. The ethylene helps the ripening process until they are yellow.
