The banana plant originally comes from Southeast Asia, but it is now grown all over the world - almost exclusively in the tropics. With us you can keep bananas as a houseplant or in the winter garden. However, some species are so robust that they can even stay outside.
Can you keep a banana tree outside?
In fact, you can even leave some bananas outside over the winter months. TheJapanese fiber banana(Musa basjoo) in particular is considered sufficienthardyand can withstand temperatures of up to minus ten degrees Celsius. In the summer months, however, all bananas feel comfortable outside.
Which banana tree can you overwinter outside?
If you are looking for an exotic banana tree to plant outside in the garden, you are well advised to go with theJapanese fiber banana (Musa basjoo). The fast-growing decorative foliage plant can grow up to five meters high and two meters wide - as long as it doesn't get too cold in the winter months, because then the above-ground parts of the plant freeze back. Musa basjoo develops a false trunk and spreading fronds. With a bit of luck, the exotic plant will even bloom and produce small, edible fruits. This type of banana can also be cultivated well in large containers and in the winter garden.
How much cold can a banana tree tolerate?
TheJapanese fiber banana, the banana tree most commonly kept outdoors in Germany, can generally tolerate temperatures of up tominus ten degrees CelsiusHowever, there are big differences in frost tolerance between the different cultivars.
Most other bananas, however, require atropical climate with lots of warmth and high humidity all year round. Therefore, these species only have something to do outdoors in the hot summer months and should otherwise be cultivated in the winter garden or as houseplants in the house.
How to care for a banana tree outside during the winter?
However, you should not put the frost-hardy banana tree outside in winterwithout protection. Proceed as follows:
- Cut Musa basjoo down to about one meter high.
- Drive three to four wooden stakes into the ground around the false trunk.
- Wrap around this with close-meshed rabbit wire (€14.00 on Amazon).
- Fill the device with straw, wood shavings and leaves
Don't stuff the filling too tightly so that the air can still circulate between the surrounding area and the trunk. You can also cover the root area with a thick layer ofmulch material to protect it from the cold. Typically the leaves freeze off in winter, only the trunk remains and sprouts again in spring.
Can you put the banana tree outside in summer?
You can put a non-hardy banana tree outside in summer as long as thesunis shining and it iswarm enough. However, the plants do not like cold, wind and constant rain and should be brought back in such weather.
Banana plants need a lot of light, so asunny and sheltered location is optimal. After a certain period of getting used to it, bananas tolerate a full sun spot very well, as long as they are watered sufficiently.
Tip
Why do the leaves on the banana tree turn brown?
Brown leaves on a banana tree are often an indication that the plant is not getting enough light. Place them in a place that is as sunny and warm as possible, of course only after a period of getting used to them. If you change suddenly, even bananas can get sunburned.
