Why Is Banana Tree Not Fruiting?
If your banana tree is not fruiting, there’s probably a few things you can do to remedy the situation. Bananas are bulbs, and their vegetative parts consist of tightly packed leaf petioles called a pseudostem. These leaves are what form the fruit and flower buds. These buds grow underneath the soil and emerge through the pseudostem at the top of the tree.
Importance of sunlight for banana tree
First, make sure your tree is receiving plenty of sunlight. It needs at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. It also needs plenty of water to keep its large leaves hydrated. If you live in a hot climate or one with low humidity, you should check your plant frequently. Also, avoid overwatering during winter. Although banana trees are tough enough to survive a frost, they may die from too much water.
change your care regimen
If you’ve noticed that your banana tree hasn’t begun to produce fruit yet, you may need to change your care regimen. Bananas need airflow, and increasing airflow around the tree can help reduce humidity. In addition to this, excessive heat can cause bananas to discolor and lose their flavor. To harvest bananas without losing their flavor, they should be picked at the right time of day. The best time to pick bananas is while the skin is still green. If the skin is yellow green, the banana is already ripe.
If you have a warm climate, bananas will usually mature in about nine to 15 months. In colder climates, however, they may take longer. This is due to their need for frost-free conditions. If your climate does experience frost, you should wrap the tree in an old blanket to protect it from the cold.
If you don’t want to wait until the banana tree blooms to get fruit, try cutting back the plant by pruning it. This will allow it to grow more manageable height. After six months, you may see the first banana flowers, which will show the “hand” of the banana underneath the petals.
The soil pH levels of banana trees are also important to their fruit production. Bananas grow best in neutral to slightly acidic soil. If the soil’s pH level is higher than that, you’ll need to bring it down by adding decayed plant leaves, bone meals, or other organic fertilizers. Moreover, reducing the salinity in the soil is critical to banana tree production.
Fertilze banana tree
If your banana tree is not fruiting, it’s a good idea to give it a healthy dose of fertilizer every month. Since the banana needs high amounts of nutrients to grow, a pound of fertilizer every month will help it grow healthily. Ideally, you should choose a balanced 8-10-8 NPK fertilizer for your banana tree.
If the tree is not fruiting, your tree may have not received sufficient pollination from a male banana plant. The banana plant produces both male and female flowers inside its heart-shaped flower. Male banana flowers don’t produce pollen, while female flowers produce banana fruits.
