If you want to plant an Indian banana, you will find it in local tree nurseries and online shops. But the tree, which originally comes from North America, is not exactly cheap to get there. The idea of propagation quickly arises. But how can this succeed?
How can the Indian banana be propagated?
The Indian banana can be propagated by seeds, grafting and root cuttings. Propagation from seeds requires cold stratification, while grafting and propagation from root cuttings each require an existing tree and technical skills.
Feasible propagation methods
Even if a mature plant is available. The propagation of cuttings, which easily helps us to produce new specimens for many plant species, is a wasted effort here. These three methods promise more success:
- Propagation from seeds
- Refining
- Propagation by root cuttings
Propagation from seeds
You can grow the Indian banana from seeds. However, this requires some effort as it is a cold germinator.
Some online shops offer seeds for purchase. Ten of them cost less than five euros. You can also get seeds from a ripe Indian banana, but you have to remove the pulp from them.
- Place the seeds in sand and store them for 8 to 10 weeks at a temperature between 2 and 6 degrees Celsius.
- Then sow the seeds in potting soil.
- Place the cultivation pots in a bright place and at least 20 degrees Celsius.
- Patiently wait for germination. This takes place after around 60 days, occasionally later. The roots develop first, followed later by the above-ground shoots.
Tip
The sown trees should be grafted after about two years, otherwise they will produce small fruits.
Refining
Refining an Indian banana is the common method of propagation when it comes to obtaining a cultivated variety. As a starting point, you must already have an Indian banana, as well as a scion of the desired Indian banana variety.
However, getting a suitable rootstock and a scion is not always easy. It may be that purchasing an expensive Indian banana that has already been refined is the better alternative. What makes matters worse is that the refinement requires professional skill and can therefore be unsuccessful for a hobby gardener.
Propagation by root cuttings
The Indian banana has fleshy roots. That's why it can be easily propagated through root cuttings:
- Start propagation in autumn
- Cut finger-sized root pieces from the mother plant
- drive into moist peat
- Store cool and frost-free until winter
- In winter, cut into pieces about 8 cm long
- put in sand-peat mixture
- sprinkle a 2 cm thick layer of slightly moist soil over it
- store in a cool place at the beginning
- Keep soil moderately moist all winter
As soon as the roots have sprouted visibly above ground, the pots are placed in a brighter place.
