Before we talk about how to overwinter banana plants , the first thing we need to get straight is that the banana tree ( Musaspp . ) is not actually a tree . It ’s an herb ! A rather sizeable herbaceous plant .

Its “ torso ” is in reality a cylinder of tightly layered leaves called a pseudostem .

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A close up picture of a bunch of small, ripe, yellow banana fruit on the tree, with the bright green leaves in soft focus in the background in light sunshine.

The banana tree is an attractive herbaceous flowering works that get to a matured height of 12 to 18 ft improbable . Its large leaves , purple flowers , and brilliantly colored yield make a striking statement in the garden .

If you postulate a refresher course on the general care requirements for these “ trees , ” be certain to check out our scout , “ How to Grow and manage for Banana Plants . ”

How to Overwinter Your Banana Tree

It’s a Tropical Plant

There are about 70 species of the genusMusa , and they are indigenous to tropical area of India , Southeast Asia , and northern Australia .

They are now grow in more than 135 rural area , mostly for their fruit , which is enjoyed around the earth .

afford their native climate , it is unsurprising that banana tree plants are cold illiberal . They want mild temperatures to originate ; their leaves will stop growing at around 55 ° atomic number 9 .

A vertical picture of a garden scene with a cluster of banana plants with large green leaves and woody stems in bright sunshine. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

They will tolerate leafage legal injury at 32 ° F , and their undercover rootstock will die at support temperature of 22 ° F or lower .

Having said that , we would be remiss if we did n’t observe that there are indeed a few cold - tolerant varieties uncommitted .

For lesson , the ‘ Japanese Fiber ’ variety ( M. basjoo ) can withstand sub - zero temperature . It ’s stalwart to Zone 5 or 6 , and can be winter in colder area by thin it back and providing a protective mulch around the prow .

A vertical picture of a garden scene with a cluster of banana plants with large green leaves and woody stems in bright sunshine. To the center and bottom of the frame is green and white text.

Nevertheless , most banana tree plants like it hot , and if you do n’t live inUSDA Hardiness Zone9 or high , you may wonder how you may add together one of these tropical beauty to your landscape and keep it live over wintertime .

allow ’s learn more !

Keeping Your Banana Plant Alive

Here , we ’ll offer three ways you may protect and bear on your banana plant life over the wintertime calendar month :

Container Growing

Perhaps the most obvious way to successfully overwinter a banana tree tree diagram is to maturate it in a container and institute it indoors when temperature drop .

It is best to select a dwarf variety for container growing . A 15 - foot “ tree ” in a good deal would be a mo unwieldy !

just revel your potted plant on the terrace or coldcock all summer , and then fetch it indoors when out-of-door temperature begin to throw .

A close up of a large bunch of green bananas still on the tree. The large green leaves filtering the bright sunlight in the background.

You have a dyad pick in term of where you place it indoors .

If you ’d wish to adorn an empty box of your living elbow room , ensure it ’s a sunny spot and be sure to keep the land moist , but not soggy .

Provide humidness by misting the leaves via a squirt nursing bottle filled with water .

A vertical picture of banana trees growing in a raised garden bed with frost on the leaves. Instead of bright green, the leaves are brown and damaged, hanging limply from the stem.

Expect to see tiresome growth during this period .

If an attached garage or creeping quad makes more sense for overwintering your container develop banana , begin preparing the plant by step by step reducing irrigation as the weather cool down .

Before the first rime , cut the stem back to about six inch tall , and place it in a coolheaded , dark place – approximately 40 - 50 ° F .

A close up of a small banana tree growing in a large ceramic pot in the garden. A few green fruits are visible amongst the leaves, contrasting with the light brown stem. In the background is a garden scene with tropical trees and a white building.

Water just enough so that the soil does n’t separate from the sides of the container .

It will go dormant through the cold month , and you’re able to take it outdoors again and start up water it by rights once temperatures go to climb and all risk of hoar has passed .

Cover It

If your plant is grow in the flat coat , one option for safely overwintering it is toprotect it with thick level of mulch .

The finish here is to protect the large rhizome at the theme of the pseudostem , which is known as the “ corm . ” The corm has several growing points that will stock new rhizome – or “ pups ” – which can be transplant .

Cut the plant back to about 4 - 6 inches above the ground , and then pile on at least a substructure ofleaves , straw , or othermulching material .

A close up of a small banana tree growing in a pot indoors on a windowsill. Surrounding it is a purple orchid flower. The background is bright filtered sunlight.

You might also cut through the pile with credit card sheeting , row cover fabric , or a cloche for more protection , and to keep the mulch in blank space .

If you ca n’t pay to cut your works down , you could leave it integral and forge a wire John Cage around the pseudostem , forget one to two feet of horizontal headway from the root to the cage .

Make the coop as mellow as the amount of pseudostem you want to protect .

A close up of a small young banana plant in a terra cotta pot on a windowsill, in a small white saucer. The healthy green leaves are broad and upright. In the background is a garden scene in soft focus outside the window.

After the first light frost , fill the cage with chopped leave or shuck . ensure you pack it in well , so it all skirt the stem .

You may lose any circumstances of the plant that sticks out above the cage , but the covered share and the rootstock underground should be protected .

you could also twine hessian or row screening material around the exterior of the telegram cage to add insulant and keep the material in place .

A small Musa basjoo growing in the garden surrounded by lawn with bright green leaves and a dark stem with a large tree in soft focus in the background.

move out the coop and mulching material when warm weather returns and the plant exhibit signs of regrowth .

Trim off any deadened material and start watering .

you’re able to spread out the shredded leaves or strew around the base of the plant to offer some supernumerary constitutional material to the dirt .

A close up of two hands from the left of the frame scooping out dark, rich soil from a red wheelbarrow, the background fading to soft focus.

Dig It Up

Another manner to protect your banana tree plant during winter is to dig it up and move it to a cellar , crawl space , or similar area where the temperature is systematically 45 - 50 ° F . Ideally , this should be done before the first Robert Lee Frost .

Before you depart affect earth , though , you ’ll want to contract the plant back to about six column inch marvellous . When that ’s done , carefully dig out the rhizomes and ancestor . ensure you dig out at least 6 - 8 inch on either side of the base of the stem .

Place the root clump in a container of more or less moist sand . The Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree will go sleeping so it wo n’t need light , and you should n’t irrigate it at all during this time .

A vertical picture of a small banana tree with brown and dying leaves growing in the garden surrounded by green lawn.

Banana shoetree with pseudostems that are larger than five inches in diam can be labor up and stack away without lopping off the top first . shake up the soil from the roots and dwell the plant on its side on top of a tarp or newsprint in your choose position .

Replant when all peril of Robert Lee Frost has go . You ’ll require to give your tree plenty of water to revive it .

A Statement Plant that Deserves a Second Life

With their large foliage and telling height , banana plants can make a salient command in the landscape painting . But for most of us in the United States , the beauty fade when the winter ’s chill approaches .

Rather than simply abandon your banana to the whims of weather condition , you have several choices for protecting them for a return engagement come spring .

Do you have other plants you involve to protect from the cold ? Check out these guides :

A close up of vivid green banana plant leaves in light sunshine.

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About

Gretchen Heber

A vertical picture showing a banana plant with a large bunch of green fruit contrasting with the light brown stem, surrounded by green leaves. On the ground are some brown, dead leaves around the base of the tree.

Tall bananas with large green leaves against a blue sky background.