Successfully overwinter and repot the banana plant

In summer, the banana plant often stays outdoors. But how is the banana plant successfully overwintered? We have helpful tips and tricks.

All but one type of banana (Musa) come from the tropical to subtropical regions of Asia and from the western Pacific region. They are used to plenty of sun and warmth. Very few species occasionally see some snow in their homeland. Therefore, the exotic perennials usually do not get along with our frosty winters. Nevertheless, we see more and more bananas planted in our gardens at home. The trick here is choosing the type. With a hardy banana, you save yourself the annual purchase and the hassle of replanting. However, even the hardiest bananas can only survive the local winter if they are well wrapped up. We will show you which bananas survive in the garden all year round.

Variety selection of hardy banana plants

It is hard to imagine that bananas will make it through the winter here too. But the Japanese fiber banana (Musa basjoo) also survives the central European winter well wrapped up. There are extra frost-hardy varieties such as 'Nana' and 'Saporro', which were bred for planting in our latitudes. They are also often sold under the name "garden banana". The leaves are hardy to -3°C. At lower temperatures, the above-ground part dies and the plant hibernates underground as a rhizome. Temperatures down to -12°C can be withstood without any problems. The banana will sprout again in the spring.

More types like Musa sikkimensis (hardiest edible fruit bearing species), Musa itinerans (Variety 'Burmese Blue' is hardy), Musa balbisiana, Musa cheesmanii, Musa yunnanensis are considered conditionally hardy. They tolerate short phases with slightly below zero, since the species come from the high mountains and sometimes get to see a little snow in winter. It is possible to overwinter plants of these species outdoors in regions with mild winters. Depending on the severity of the winter, however, it is more or less uncertain whether the plants will sprout again next year.

Overwintering banana plants: Optimal conditions

In winter, temperatures can sometimes drop below -12°C. In order for your banana to survive such extreme temperatures, it needs proper winter protection. Proceed as follows for planted bananas:

• Drive four wooden slats into the ground around the trunk
• Wrap wooden slats with chicken wire or insulating material
• Fix rabbit wire/insulating material with rope
• Stuff the gaps tightly with autumn leaves or straw
• wrap everything with thick, diffusion-open foil (mulch fabric).
• Watering: Don't let the soil dry out
• Fertilize: monthly with liquid fertilizer in the irrigation water
• Unpack again when new growth occurs

Insulation boards or old mattresses can be used as insulating material. Bubble wrap can also be used instead of mulch fabric. Since this is not permeable to air, about 10 cm are left free above the ground. A rain protection roof made of foil or corrugated bitumen roof panels is installed to protect against rain. Raise the canopy occasionally to air it out.

Overwinter bananas indoors

The temperatures in the winter quarters should not fall below 5°C over a longer period of time. Most strains do best at 10°C. A bright basement or conservatory are therefore the ideal winter quarters. Some varieties also like it warmer. But your bananas don't like it too warm, because the plants need a hibernation of about three months so that they sprout vigorously again in spring. If the plants are in heated rooms, they are not granted this hibernation. This leads to a growth stop of a few weeks to months. But that's not the only thing to consider, because when bananas are overwintered, the following applies: the warmer, the brighter the banana needs to be.

With bananas that are overwintered in heated rooms, our short, dark winter days can quickly become a problem. An additional light source is often necessary even at window seats. An insufficient supply of light manifests itself here by shedding leaves. However, the plants usually recover in the spring. The dry heating air quickly becomes a problem with indoor bananas in winter. Therefore, spray the plant with water several times a day and use a humidifier. In addition:

• Water when the substrate separates from the edge of the pot
• Check regularly for pests
• Fertilize: Monthly with liquid fertilizer in the irrigation water

Overwintering banana plants: Should you cut them off beforehand?

The aerial part of the banana plant dies off in severe frosts. So you can safely anticipate the whole thing. After the first frost, the frozen leaves are cut off and the pseudostem of the banana is shortened to about a meter with a sharp and clean saw. This rest protects the rhizome. The material that is cut off is chopped up and ends up on the compost or is used as mulch material. With the right care, the shortened banana can already have grown back to a height of three meters by August. How one Caring for banana plants properly should, find out here.

Our tip: Sprinkle the cut on the trunk with charcoal powder to prevent pathogens from entering the wound.

Repot banana plants

Banana trees grow at an impressive rate, so time flies by so quickly until a larger pot is due. It's time for that about every year or two. But don't use a container that is too big. Otherwise it will take too long for your banana to take root and gain the necessary stability in the pot. Pay attention to the following:

• It is best to use a clay pot/bucket with a drainage hole
• Lay out a drainage layer on the bottom
• Fill pot with substrate
• Don't plant too deep
• Press the soil down firmly so that the banana sits firmly in the bucket

Banana plants have a very manageable lifespan. After a few years, the leaves turn yellow, then brown, and finally the plant dies. This time can be used to remove the dying mother plant, separate off any runners that have formed and place them in a new pot. But offshoots do not only appear on the deathbed of your banana tree. Do not let the developing baby bananas get too big, but remove them in good time and give them a home of their own. Plants don't want to live with mum forever either, they want to stand on their own roots.

tips for Buying banana plants you can read about it in our related article.