How to Trim an Indoor Banana Tree

Since banana trees are tropical, they do not tolerate cold temperatures well and will die during extended freezes. For this reason, many gardeners in the U.S. grow their trees in pots placed indoors. Although indoor potted bananas do not produce as much fruit as those outdoors, they can thrive for many years. An important part of banana tree care is trimming back the dead portions regularly so that new green growth can replace them. Removing dead plant parts sends water and soil minerals to the other portions and enhances growth.

Hand pruners
Pruning saw
Gardening glove
Old clothing

Instructions

- 1
  Look at the base of the indoor banana tree where it emerges from the potting soil and locate one or two of the strongest central stalks. Prune off all other stalks at the surface of the soil using loppers or hand pruners. This gives the plant a tree form and produces better yields.
- 2
  Look at the leaves, which should appear green and shiny. Locate any that are yellowing or have brown or dry areas, which indicate the tissue is dead. Trace the leaves back to where they attach to the stalk and cut them off using hand pruners. Do not injure the main central stalks as you cut off the dead leaves.
- 3
  Monitor the one or two central stalks after fruit development. Once fruit ripens, pick it since the stalk dies after fruit production. When a stalk begins to yellow, trace it back to the soil line and cut it off flush using a pruning saw. New green stalks emerge from the root system continuously to replace the ones that die.
- 4
  Look at the base of the plant where the smaller green stalks emerge from and select the strongest one to replace the one that died back. Prune off all other shoots again using the hand pruners so you only have one or two central stalks remaining.

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