Banana plants for the garden or containers have been found in Germany for several years now. The exotic plants are considered to be quite easy to care for and robust. But what are the reasons if the trunk suddenly rots? Can the banana be saved?
What to do if the trunk of the banana plant rots?
If the trunk of the banana plant rots, only astrong pruning will helpCut away all soft, rotten parts of the plantfar into the he althy tissue, then after a while the banana shouldsprout againThis only works as long as it works theroots are intact.
Why does the trunk of the banana plant rot?
If the banana plant has a soft, mushy trunk and/or even mold on it, it is simplytoo wetThe rot is caused by eitherwaterlogging- for example due to missing or blocked drainage - or becausewatered too much. Like so many other plants, bananas - which are basically heavy drinkers - cannot tolerate excessive moisture and react to it with fungal rot diseases. Another cause that occurs especially in hardy banana plants growing in the garden isFrost Damage
How can the rotting banana plant be saved?
Cut away the rotting areas on the trunk of the banana plantdeep into the he althy tissue. You usually have to cut the plantincluding the leaves. If necessary, you can also cut them tojust above the ground. As long as theroots are intact, the banana will sprout again at temperatures of around 20 °C and will grow very quickly, up to one centimeter per day. Potted bananas should also be repotted into fresh substrate and kept much drier in the future.
Can you prevent stem rot on banana plants?
You can prevent rot on the trunk of the banana plant by thesemeasures:
- watering as needed
- no waterlogging due to loose soil and drainage
- cool but frost-free wintering of the Musa basjoo
Especially theDrainage is important in this context: the earth orthe substrate should be loose and well-drained. At the bottom of the pot there should be several drainage holes for excess irrigation water and a layer of expanded clay (€19.00 on Amazon) or gravel several centimeters thick. In addition, water wanted to be removed from the saucer or planter promptly after watering. “Winter-hardy” banana plants often rot because they were packed airtight and/or the winter was too wet.
Tip
How often do you have to water a banana plant?
In summer, banana plants need a lot of water because the moisture evaporates quickly through the large leaves. Always keep the substrate slightly moist, but definitely not wet! Except in very hot, dry periods, it is usually sufficient to water once or twice a week. In winter, depending on the type of hibernation, you may only give a little water once a month at most.
